Putnam patriot., 1911-07-07

fell you of her. Now I am going 10 let Ross know all of this as soon as can II will make whole lot of diff. ference in what he thinks of you She uttered all this much as q man would have done with steady voice and with bright eyes but Lee Vir- ginla could feel beneath her harsh in- hections the deep emotion which Vi bratcd there and her heart went oui toward the lonely woman in new rush Of tenderness Now that she was released from the necessity of excusing her mothers faults-fauts she could now ignore now that she could look upon her as q loyal friend. she was moved tO pity and t0 love. and. rising. she went To her and put her arms about her neck and said: This won't make any difference. l am going 10 stay with you and help you just the same"
 The tears came 10 The old woman's eyes. and her voice broke as sine re- piled T knew you would say that Lee Virgis-i. but aiI the same l don't intend fo lsiye you do any such thing You've got tO cut loose from me alto gcthcr. because some fine chap is go Ing 10 come along one of these days. and he won't want me even as q step mnther.in=law No 1 have decided that you and me had better live apart. I'll get you q place 10 live up in Sulphur, where 1 e.E' yisir you now and again. but | guess am elected to stay right here in the Fork They don't like me. and | deni like them. but l have kind of got used to their ways of looking at me sidewise They don't matter as much as il would up there in the city"
 Lee turned back Wistfully toward the story of her mother Where did my mother meet my father? Do you know fhatY'
 No. 1 don't It was q runaway match Ed said 1 never did know who her folks were. only know they thought she was marrying the wrong man"
 The girl sighed as her mind took in the significance of her mothers com Ing to thIs wild country. leaving all that she knew and loved behind Poor little mother. IL must have been very hard for her"
 "I am afraid she did have a hard time. for Ed admitted to me that he hadn't so much Us T saddle when he Innded in the state. He hadn't much when l met him first. but everybody | liked hlm He was one of the hand somest men that ever jumped sad | dle 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 l lationship to LiZe Lees heart light | eued It would make q difference to | Ross IL would make d difference to | the Redhelds. Trnitorous as 1t seem | ed. il was great relief. joy. to know that her own mother-her real | mother-h had been nice" She must l have been nice or Lze would not have | said SO" she reasoned. recalling that | her stepmother had admitted her feel | ing of jealousy.
 I | reckon we had better turn in It Is getting chilly and late"
 As they were about to part at the | door of the tent Virginia took I.ize's face between her hands. Good night, l mother" she said and kissed her to show her that what she had said would not make any difference. But Lze was not deceived. This | unwonted caress made perfectly plain to her the relief which filled the girls l heart
 Lee Virginia was awakened some hours later by Il roaring cracking sound and by the flare of yellow | light upon her tent. peering out. she saw flames shooting up through the roof of the rangers cabin while be side it. wrapped in a blanket, calmly 1 contemplating it. stood CAvauagh with folded arms X little nearer to the bridge Rediield was sitting upon an | upturned box
 With cry of alarm she aroused Der
 mother. and Iize heavy eyed. msgard with sleep. rose slowly and peered cut at the scene with eyes ot duil amaze meut "Why don't they try to put il l outg" she demanded as she took in the l import of the passive figures
 Dressing with tremulouS haste Lee l stepped from the tent just in time to see Swenson come from behind the burning building and join the others l in silent contemplation of the scene 1 There was something uncanny in the calm naction of the three strong men Slowly wunderingy, the girl drew uear and called to Cavanagh, who turned quickly crying out Don't come too close and don't be frighten
 cd | set tue place on fire myself
 The poor old herder died last night
 and Is deceuty buried in the earth, and new We are burning the cabin and
 every thread it contains to prevent the
 spread of the plague, Hugh and Swen- son have divided their garments with
 tue. and this blanket which l wear k
 my only coat All that l have k In
 that cabin now going up in smoke
 my guns, pictures, everything
 How could you do itI" she cried
 out, understanding what his sacrifice
 had been
 "I couldnt.' he replied. "The su-
 pere3ser dii it. They had to go. The
 cabin was saturated with poison. IL
 had become Go me a plague spot. and
 there was no other way to stamp il
 out l should never have felt safe if
 had carried out even so much as a
 letter.
 Dumb and shivering with the chill