The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-02-01

sNot SO great as In my mother. It's
aIr'- She stopped abruptly, and be
understood
Like being drawn back TO her cash
register, Redf1eld turned to say: my
dear young lady, don't suppose you
remember me, but I knew you when
you were a tot Of five or six. knew
your father very well"
Ibid your Her face lighted up
Yes, poor fellow; he went away
from here rather under a cloud, you
know"
81 remember a little Of It. was
here when the shooting took place"
$50 you were. Well. since then much
has happened to us ALL" he explained
to the ranger. There wasn't room for
a dashfng young blood such as Ed
Wetherford was In those days" He
turned to Lee. "He was no worse than
the men on the other side-ft was dog
eat dog-but some way the people
rather settled on him as a scapegoat,
He was forced out, and your mother
has borne the brunt Of it since. Those
were lawIess days"
More and more Lee Virginia's heart
went out in trust toward these two
men. Opposed to the malodorous, I'M
shaver throng which filed the room,
they seemed wondrously softened and
sympathetic, and in the rangers gaze
was something else-something which
made her troubles somehow less intol-
cradle. She felt that he understood
the difficult situation in which she
found herself.
Redfeld went on. "You find us hor-
ribly uncivilized after ten years alb
sence?'
II find this uncivilized." she replied
with fierce intensity, looking around
the room. Then, on the impulse, she
added: 81 can't stand it. l came here
to live with my mother, but this is too
too horribler'
II understand your repulsion." re-
piled Redfield. "a thousand times l
repeat, apropos Of this country, Where
every prospect pleases and only man
Is vile.'"
do you suppose 1t was as bad ten
years ago?" she asked. "Was every
thing as dirty-as mean? Were the
houses then as full Of flies and smells p
I'm afraid ting were. OF course
the country isn't all like this, and
there are neat homes and gentle peo-
pie in Sulphur. but most cattlemen
areas they've always been-a shift
less, happy-go-lucky lot at best, and
some of them have been worse, as you
know"
81 never dreamed Of finding my
mother in such place." she went on
81 don't know what to do or say. She
isn't well l ought to stay and help
her, and yet-oh, 1t Is dishearteningr'
Lie tapped Redfield on the Shout
der. "Come over here, Reddy, If you
have finished your breakfast. l want
to talk with you"
Redfeld rose and followed his land
lady behind the counter and there sat
in earnest conversation while she made
change. The tone In which her moth
er addressed the supervisor, her action
Of touching him as one man lays hand
NPOSA oAOShCAS Wuc pIOIOuuuIy IcFcdl-
ing to Lee Virginia. She revolted
from it without realizing exactly what
1t meant, and, feeling deeply but vague
" the forest rangers sympathy, she
asked:
''sHow can you endure this kind Of
life?"
II can't, and don't" he answered
cautiously, for they were being closely
observed. II am seldom in town. My
dominion is more than a mile above
this level. My cabin is 1900 feet
above the sea- It is clean and quiet
up there"
"Are all the other restaurants in the
village like this?"
Worse. I come here because it is
the best"
She rose. II can't stand this air and
these flies any longer. They're too
disgusting"
He followed her into the other
house, conscious Of the dismay and
bitterness which burst forth the in
slant they were alone. what am I
to do? She is my mother, but I've lost
all sense of relationship to her. And
these people, except you and Mr. Red
field, are all disgusting to me. 1t isn't
because my mother Is poor, it isn't