Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-02-03


so alluring was the girls dimly seen
yet warmly felt figure at his side. but
a sense of danger and a knoYled e
that he should be riding led him al
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. | hope the doctor will make IA.
yorable 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 tC
each other at the moment. and the
ranger. made very sensitive to wo
mans charm by his lonely life. SHOOK
with newly created love Of her. \
suspicion. hope. that beneath her cul
dvated manner lay the passionate M.
ture of her mother gave an added force
to his desire. He was sorely tempted
to touch her. to test her. but her sweet
voice, a little sad and perfectly un-
NouSSiouS VI Shii, NNiAItu n4LAl' GLt
said:
Il hope to persuade my mother to
leave the Forks. All the best people
there are against US. Some Of them
have been very cruel to her and 10 me.
and. besides. despise and fear the
men who come to our table"
nj .
them" he all but commanded. BE
ware of Gregg; he is vile lot. Do not
trust him for an instant. Do not per-
NIT any OF those loafers to talk with
you, for If you do they will go away to
defame you. | know them. They are
unspeakably vile. 1t makes me angry
to think that Gregg and his like have
the right to speak to you every day,
while can see you only at long inter
walls. | wish my station were not so
far away. But I'll ride down as often
as my duties will permit. and you must
let me know how things go And if
any of those fellows persecute you
you'll tell me. won't you? | wish you'd
look upon NE as your big brother.
Will you do that?" His voice entreat-
ed, and as she remained silent he con
tinued: Roaring Fork is one of the
worst towns in the state. and a girl
like you needs some one as a protector.
! don't know just how to put it so
that you will not misunderstood me.
but, you see. protect the forest, the
streams and the game. | help the set
tier In time of trouble. am a kind Of
all round big brother to everybody
who needs help in the forest In fact,
I'm paid for protecting things that
can't protect themselves, and so''-here
he tried to lend his voice the accent of
humor-"why shouldn't be the pro-
tector of a girl like you, alone worse
than alone-in this little COW town.
She remained dumb at one or two
points where he clearly hoped for a
word. and she was unable to thank
him when he had finished In this ST.
lence a curious construction came into
his throat. 1t was almost as if he
had put his passion into definite words.
and as the light fell upon her he per-
ceived that her bosom was heaving
with deep emotion
Il am lonely" she faltered out at
last-"horribly lonely. And know
now how people feel toward my moth
er, and it hurts melt all hurts me.
But I'm going to stay and help her
She paused to recover her voice And
you do seem different. IL trust your
"I'm glad you understand me, and
you will let me know if l can help
you, won't your
"Yes," she answered simply.
Good night" he said, extending his
hand.
She placed her palm to his quite
frankly, but the touch of it made fur
ther speech at the moment impossible.
They went in with such telltale faces
that even Redfield wondered what had
passed between them
Excusing himself almost at once,
Cavanagh left the room, and when he
looked in few moments later he was
clothed in the rangers dusty green
uniform, booted and spurred for his
long, hard ride. Mrs. Redfield follow
ed him into the hall and out on the
doorstone to say: Ross, you must be
careful. This girl is very alluring in
herself, but her mother, you know, is
impossible"
You're needlessly alarmed, as
usual" he smilingly replied. "She in
terests me. that's patent. But beyond
that. why, nonsense! Good night"
Nevertheless, despite his protesta-
tions. he went away up the trail with
his mind so filed with Lee Virginia's
appealing face and form that he would
certainly have ridden over a precipice
had 1t not been for his experienced
pony, which had fortunately but one
aim, and that was to cross the range
safely and to reach the home pasture
at the earliest moment.
Left alone. Lee Virginia thought
over her past. She was not entirely
without experience as regards respect
ful courtshlp. Her life In the east had
brought her to know a number of at
tractive lads and few men, but none
of these had become more than a
good companion or friend, and, though
she wrote to one or two of these
youths letters of the utmost friendli-
ness, there was no passion in them,
and she felt as yet the sting of nothing
more intense in her liking for Cava-
nagh. But he meant more to her now
that she was lonely and beleaguered.
That he had ridden all that long,
rough way merely to see her she was