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

A-AA A-tN 80"
THE CASE OF LEE VIRGINIA AND ROSS
Y EE and Ross stood in silence on the
Redfield veranda. There was no
moon, and the mountains rose
- darkly. sheer wall at the end
Of the garden, their tops cutting into
the starry sky with Il duh edge. over
which a dim white cone peered.
THAT snow peak is WOlftoOth and
thirty miles from here and at the head
Of my beat" said the ranger after
a pause as they leaned against the
railing and looked away to the south.
Il go up that ridge which you see
family at the left Of the main can
yon and through that deep notch
which is above timber line"
The girls eyes widened with awe of
the big, silent, dark world be indicat-
ed. Aren't you afraid to start out
on such a trip alone-I mean, don't
you dread it,"
"I'll be sorry to start back, yes, but
not because Of the dark. I've enjoyed
my visit here so much it will be hard
to say good night"
at seems strange TO me that you
should prefer this wild country TO Eng
land"
'Do you like the east better than the
westT
"In some ways; but, then, you see, I
was born out here"
80 was IL mean to say | was re-
generated out here The truth is
was a good deal Of a scapegrace when
| left England. | was always for
hunting and horses, and naturally |
came directly to the wild west coun-
try, and here I've been ever since.
I've had my turn at each phase of it
cowpuncher, soldier, rough rider and
finally forest ranger. | reckon I've
found my job at last"
''Do you like it so much?"
"At the present time | am perfectly
contented. I'm associated now with
country that will never yield to the
plow. Yes, l like my work. I love
the forests and the streams. l wish
siOh lHClll W Npu. lOu uull l
know how beautiful they are. The
most beautiful parks in the world are
commonplace to what | can show you
My only sorrow is to think Of them
given over to the sawmill Perhaps you
and your mother will come up some
time and let me show you my lakes
and streams. There a.2 waters 80
lovely they make the heart ache. Hugh
Is planning to come up soon perhaps
you and Mrs, Redfeld 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
Wetherford mother. He wanted to
forget her origin for the moment. He
was not In love with her-far from it!
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. st seems
dreadfully dark and mysterious up
there" She indicated his path.
1T isn't as bad as it looks. There Is
a good trail, and my pony knows it
as well as l do. l enjoy riding by
night"
But there are bears and other wild
things, are there not?"
mot as much as l wish there were"
"Why do you say that?"
II 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 a home it would be in a canyon
like this, with a great peak at my
front door,"
at is beautiful" the girl said in the
tone of sadness with which we con-
front the perfect night. the perfect
flower, the fawless landscape. "lt 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 a vacuous or silly phrase since
their first meeting. "She is capable
of great development" he thought.
Aloud he said: You are strange
mingling 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 you
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,
and she said. my mother is not as
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-
81 didn't at first, but / do now.