The Delta independent., 1911-06-09
CONCLUSION.

In her career as the wife of west
ern rancher Eleanor Redtield had been
called upon to entertain many strange
guests. and she made no very deter
mined objection when her husband tel
ephoned that he was bringing Lie as
well as Lee Virginia to stay mt Elk
Lodge for a few days. The revelation
of the true relation between the two
women had (as Lie put it, made
whole lot of difference" to Mrs. Red
field. 1t naturally cleared the daughter
of some part of her handicap. and it
had also made the mothers attitude
less Objectionable.
She had seen Lie but once. and that
was in the distorting atmosphere of
the restaurant. and she remembered
her only as a lumpy. scowling, loud
voiced creature with blowsy hair and
a watchful eye. She was profoundly
surprised, therefore. when Lee Vir-
ginia introduced a quiet spoken. rather
sad faced elderly woman as her
mother.
I'm glad to see you, Mrs. Wether-
ford.' Eleanor said. with the courtesy
w
I'm mighty obliged for the chance
to come" replied Lie. II told Reddy
Il mean the supervisor-that you
didn't want no old timer like me, but
he said. Come along and Lee she
fixed me out. and here l am" She ut
tered this with a touch of her well
known self depreciation, but she was
by no Interpretation sordid or common.
Ross had not yet arrived at the cab
in. but Redfield had warned Lee not to
expect him till after dark. He prob
ably slept late. and. besides. there are
always delays on the trail. But don't
worry. Swenson will ride to the top
of the divide with him and If 1t seems
necessary will come all the way"
This feeling of anxiety helped to
steady Lie. and she got through the
meal very well. She was unwontedly
silent and a little sad as well as con
strained. She could see that Lee fitted
in with these surroundings. that she
was at home with shining silver and
dainty dishes. and she said to herself:
Il could have been something like her
IL I'd had any sort of raising. but It's
too late now. But, Lord. wouldn't Ed
like to see her nowr'
| 1t was not yet dark when they came
out on the veranda to meet the doctor.
| who had come to meet Ross. and Lee
anxiety led her to say. Cant we go
up to the cabin and walt for him
thereT
81 was about to propose that" re-
piled Redfield. "Shall we walk?"
Lee was instant in her desire to be
off. but Lie said: 81 never was much
on foot, and now I'm hoof bound You
20 along. and I'll sit on the porch here
and watch"
So Lee, the doctor and Redfied went
off together across the meadow to-
ward the little cabin which had been
built for the workmen while putting
I'm the dam. 1t was hardly mile
away, and yet 1t stood at the mouth of
a mighty gorge. out of which the wa
ter sprang white with speed.
But Lee had no mind for the seen
cry, though her eyes were lifted to the
meadows wall, down which the ranger
was expected to ride. 1t looked fright
fully steep. and whenever she thought
| OF MIN ueSceHuluS tudt tiui' "oih anu
perhaps I'll. her heart ached with anx-
iety. But Redfield rambled on com
fortably. explaining the situation to
the doctor. who. being most un'
Imaginative person, appeared to take
1t all as a matter of course.
At the cabin itself Lee transferred
her interest to the supper which had
been prepared for the ranger, and she
went about the room trying to make
1t a little more comfortable for him
1t was bare little place. hardly more
than camp tas was proper. and she
devoutly prayed that he was not to
be sick therein. for 1t stood In cold
and gloomy place. close under the
shadow of n great wall of rock.
AS 1t grew dark she lighted lamp
and placed 1t outside the window in
order that its light might catch thu