Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-10
CHAPTER XIV.

SHADOWS on rur MIST.


must drag their slow course before I
can hope to be Of service to her" And
the thought drew q groan Of anxiety
from him. At such moments Of mental
stress the trail Is torture and the
mountain side an memorable barrier.
Halfway to the hills he was inter-
copied by an old man who was at
work on an irrigating ditch beside the
road. He seemed very nervous and
very inquisitive, and as he questioned
the ranger his eyes were like those of
a dog that fears his masters hand.
Ross wondered about this afterward.
but at the moment his mind was busy
with the Significance Of this patient
toiler with a spade. He was q prophet
lc figure in the most picturesque and
sterile land Of the stockman. Here.
within twenty miles Of this peaceful
fruit grower" he said. lis the crown
Ing infamy Of the freebooting cowboy"
He wondered ~ he rode ON whether
the papers Of the state would make
TEST Of this deed. "will this be made
the theme for caustic comment in the
eastern press for day and then be
torgottenr'
AZ his hot blood cooled he lost faith
In even this sacrifice. Could anything
change the leopard west into the tame
hess and serenity Of the OK? "No." he
decided; nothing but death will do
that. This generation, these fierce and
bloody hearts, must die. Only in that
way can tho tradition Of violence be
overcome and new state reared"
At the foot Of the toilsome, upward
winding trail he dismounted and led
his weary horse. Over his head and
about halfway to the drst hilltop lay
q roof Of neecy vapor. faint purple
In color and seamless in texture.
Through this he must pass, and It SYM
bolized to him the line Of demarcation
between the plain and the mountain.
between order AID violence.
Slowly he led his horse along the
mountain side. grasping with eager de-
sire at every changing aspect Of the
marvellous mountain scene. It was In
fnitely more gorgeous, more compel
night before.
As he led his horse out upon pro-
3ecting point Of rocky ledge to rest his
love for the range came back upon
him with such power that tears misted
his eyes and his throat ached. where
else viii I ind such scenes at this?'
he asked himself. where in all the
lowlands could such splendors shine?
How can I leave this high world in
which these wonders come and 60? I
will not! Here will bring my bride
and build my home. This is my
world"
But the mist grew gray. the aureole
Of fire faded. the sun went down be-
hind the hills. and the chill Of evening
deepened on the trail. and as he re-
approached the scene Of mans inhu-
'manity to man the thought Of camping
there beside those charred limbs call
ed for heroic resolution. He was hum
CRY, too. and as the air pinched no
shivered.
'At the best the sheriff cannot reach
here before midnight" he said, and
settled down to his unsought, revolving
vigil.
His one relief lay in the mental COM
position Of long letter to Lee vir-
ginia, whose life at that moment was
q comfort to him. ''If such purity,
such sweetness, can come from VIC
lence and vulgarity then surely new
and splendid state can rise even out
Of the ashes Of these murdered men.
Perhaps this il the end Of the old"
he unused, perhaps this II the begin
ming Of the new" and - he pondered
the last faint crimson died out Of the
west. $50 must the hate and violence
die out Of America" he said, "leaving
the clear, sweet air Of liberty behind"
He was near to the ppet at the mo-
ment, for he was also the lover. His
allegiance to the great republic stood
tho test. His faith in democracy was
shaken. but not destroyed. II viii
wait," he decided. This shall be the
sign. II this deed goes unavenged
then WIN put OF my badge and my
uniform and 30 back to the land where
for hundred years at least such
deeds ~ these have been impossible"
He built Z IRE ~ night fell to serve
both - beacon and - q defense
agai1st the cold He felt himself
Weird1y remote In this vigil From
his far height he looked abroad upon
the tumbled plain - Il upon an ocean
dimly percepdble. yet august AT this
moment" be said. curious and per.
laps guilty eyes are wondering what
my spark Of nrelight may mean"
His mind went again and again TO
that tail old man n the ditch. What
was The meaning Of his scared and
soerowful glance? Why should one
- peacefulH snplsysd at such tine
and h such . place wear Tie look Of
. hunted deee9 What 0sa1t tie ~
Noe. n hi. yoico3
vvas e possible that ono - 4snt1e
shoeA ave eneen Derts q IT. dssdl
8 - - IT -
s