Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-02-23
ou and Mrs. Redlield will come with


him.
I'D like it above everything" she
responded fervently. Then her voice
changed. But all depends on my
mothers health"
1t hurt him to hear her call Eliza
Wctherford mother. He wanted to
forget her origin for the moment. He
was not in love with her-far from 1t.
But she was so alluring. and the pro-
prietress of the Wetherford House
was not nice, and that made one
doubt the daughter.
She broke the silence. 1T seems
dreadfully dark and mysterious up
there" She indicated his path.
1T isn't as bad as it looks. There Is
good trail, and my pony knows it
as well as / do. l enjoy riding by
night
"But there are bears and other wild
things, are there nOt?'
"Not as much as l wish there We're"
"Why do you say that:"
81 hate to see all the wild life killed
Off. Some day all these forests will
have game refugees like the Yellow
stone National park. They are COM
ing each year to have greater and
greater value to the people Of the
plains. They are Fairgrounds. like
the Alps. If should ever settle down
to home it would be In Il canyon
like this. with great peak at my
front door,
ut Is beautiful" the girl said in the
tone Of sadness with which we con-
front the perfect night the perfect
flower, the tiawless landscape. 1T is
both grand and peaceful"
This tone of sadness pleased him.
1t showed her depth Of perception.
and he reflected that she had not ut
tered vacuous or silly phrase since
their first meeting. "She is capable
of great development" he thought.
Aloud he said. you are strange
minging of east and west. Do you
realize it?'
"In what way?" she asked, feeling
something ardent in his tone.
"You typify to me at this moment
this whole state. You fill me with en-
thusiasm for its future. Here yon
are, derived from the lawless west,
yet taking on the culture and restraint
of the east SO readily that you seem
not in the least related to-"
He checked himself at this point.
rough as she seems, Mr.. Cavanagh."
"She must be more of the woman
than appears or she could not have
borne such a daughter But do You
feel your relationship to her? Tell me
honestly. for you interest me-"
II didn't at first. but do now.
begin to understand her, and, besides.
feel in myself certain things that are
in her, though l think am more like
the Wetherfords. My fathers family
home was in Maryland"
Ross could have talked on all night
so alluring was the girls dimly seen
yet warmly felt figure at his side, but
sense Of danger and knowledge
that he should be riding led him at
last to say: 1T is getting chill. We
must go in, but before we do so let me
say how much I've enjoyed seeing you
again. l hope the doctor will make ia
vorable report on your mothers case
You'll write me the result Of the ex
animation. won't your
IF you wish me to-
81 shall be most anxious to know"
They We're standing very near t6
Il = Il.
ranger, made very sensitive to wo
mans charm by his lonely life, shool
with newly created love of her. A
suspicion, a hope, that beneath her cul
tivated manner lay the passionate ma
ture of her mother gave an added force
to his desire. He was sorely tempted
to touch her. to test her, but her swee
voice. little sad and perfectly un
conscious of evil Gained him. Sht
. said:
Il hope to persuade my mother t.
leave the Forks All the best people
there are against us. Some of then
have been very cruel to her and to me
and, besides. | despise and fear thu
men who come to our table"
you must not exchange words will
them" he all but commanded. BE
ware Of Gregg: he is a vile lot. Do no
trust him for an instant Do not per
NIT any of those loafers to talk will
you, for if you do they will go away t.
defame you. | know them. They arr
unspeakably vile. 1t makes me angry
To think that Gregg and his like hay,
the right to speak to you every day
while l can see you only at long inter
walls. l wish my station We're not :,
far away. But I'll ride down as offer
as my duties will permit. and YOU mus
: let me know how things 90. And i
any of those fellows prosecute YOU
; you'll tell me, won't you? | wish You,
look upon me as your big brother
viii you do that?' His voice entreat