Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-02-21

ttll you OF ltft NOW ! mn gong 10
lot Ross know all OF this Ms soon M
Cnn. II viii mako n whole lot Of ar.
ference IN what no thinks Of you"
She uttered all this much as man
would have done, with steady voice
and with bright eyes, but Lee Vlr-
ginla could feel bcnenth her harsh In
ncctlons the deep emotion which vi.
bratcd there, and her heart went out
toward the lonely woman In new
rush Of tenderness Now that she was
/ released from the necessity OF eGcusing
| her mothers faults faults she could
now lgnOre-now that she could look
upon her as loyal friend, she was
moved TO pity and to love, and, rising,
she went 10 her and put her arms
about her neck and said: This won't
make any difference am going to
stay with you and help you Just tho
same"
The tears came TO the old woman's
eyes, and her voice broke ms she 10.
piled u knew you would say that,
Lee Virginia, but all the same ! don't
intend TO have you do any such thing.
You've got TO cut loose from me alto.
/ gcther, because some fine chap is go
Ing TO come along one OF these days,
snd he won't want me even as Il step
/ mother-in-aw No; have decided that
| you and me had better live apart. III
| get you place to live up In Sulphur,
where can visit you now and again,
but guess | am elected to stay right
here In the Fork They don't like me,
and don't like them, but have kind
Of got used TO their ways OF looking at
me sldewise They don't matter as
much as It would up there in the city"
Lee turned back wlstfully toward
the story Of her mother. "Where did
my mother meet my fatherl DO you
know that2'
mo, ! don't II was n runaway
match, Ed said never did know
who her folks were, only l know they
thought she was marrying the wrong
man"
The girl sighed MS her mind took IN
the significance of her mothers com
Ing to this wild country, lcnvng all
that she knew and loved behind,
Poor little mother 1t must have
been very hard for her"
81 am afraid she did have hard
time, for Ed admitted to mo that he
hadn't 50 much as Il saddle when he
| landed in the state. lie hadn't much
when | met him first but everybody
liked him He was one OF the hand.
soonest men that ever jumped Il sad
die. But he was close mouthed. You
never could get anything out OF him
that he didn't want TO tell, and was
never able TO discover what he had
been doing In the southern part of the
state"
As she pondered on her changed re-
latlonship TO Lie, Lees heart light,
cncd 1t would make a difference to
Ross, 1t would make difference to
tho Reddeds Traitorous as It seem
ed II was great relief, Joy, to
know that her own mother-her real
mother-hRd been mice" "She must
have been nice or Lie would not have
said so,' she reasoned, recalling that
her stepmothcr had admitted her feel
Ing Of Jealousy
At last Lie rose "WGl, now, dearic,
reckon We had better turn I'm. 1t
is getting chilly and late"
As they We're about to part at the
door Of the tent Virginia took Lie
fuCe between her hands Good night,
mother" she said and kissed her to
show her that what she had said
would not mako any difference.
But Lie was not deceived. This
unwonted caress made perfectly plain
to her tho relief which filed the girls
heart
Lee Virginia was awakened some
hours later by n roaring, cracking
sound and by the flare of a yellow
light upon her tent Peering out she
saw flames shooting up through the
roof OF the rangers cabin, while be
side II, wrapped In blanket, calmly
contemplating II, stood Cavnnagh with
folded arms, A little nearer to the
bridge Redhed was sitting upon an
upturncd box.
with cry OF alarm she aroused her
mother, and Lie, heavy eyed, laggard
with sleep, rose slowly nnd pcered out
at tho scene with eyes Of dull amaze
ment why don't they try to put It
outY she demanded as she took In the
import Of the passive figures
Dressing with trcmulous haste, Lee
stepped from the tent Just In time to
SEQ Swensou come from behind tho
burning building and join the others
in silent contemplation OF the scene.
There wns something uncanny In the
calm lnactlon of the three strong men.
Slowly, wonderingy, the girl drew
near and called to Cayanagh, who
turned QuicSly crying out; Don't
come too close and don't be frighten.
ed set the place on tirs myself
The poor old herder died last night
and is decently buried In the earth
and now we are burning the cabin and
every thread II contains 20 prevent tho
spread Of the plague Hugh and Sven
son have divided their garments with
me, and this blanket which wear Is
my only cont All thnt | have Is I'm