The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-03-04

| released from the necessity of excusing
her mothers fauts-faults she could
now ignore-now that she could look
upon her as loyal friend, she was
moved to pity and to love, and. rising.
she went to her and put her arms
about her neck and said: This won't
make any difference. am going to
stay with you and help you just the
same"
The tears came to the old woman's
| eyes, and her voice broke as she re-
| piled: II knew you would say that,
Lee Virginia. but all the same don't
intend to have you do any such thing.
| You've got to cut loose from me alto.
gether, because some fine chap Is go.
| ing to come along one of these days.
and he won't want me even as a step
mother-in-law. No; have decided that
you and me had better live apart. I'll
| get you place to live up In Sulphur,
where l can visit you now and again,
but l guess | am elected to stay right
here in the Fork. They don't like me,
and don't like them, but have kind
of got used to their ways of looking at
me sidewise. They don't matter as
much as 1t would up there In the city"
Lee turned back wistfully toward
the story of her mother. where did
my mother meet my father? DO you
know thatr'
mo, / don't. 1t was a runaway
match. Ed said. l never did know
who her folks were. only / know they
| hz arv,,ip th,
man."
The girl sighed as her mind took In
the significance of her mothers com
ing to this wild country. leaving all
that she knew and loved behind.
"Poor little mother! 1t must have
been very hard for her"
IT am afraid she did have hard
time, for Ed admitted to me that he
hadn't so much as saddle when he
landed in the state. He hadn't much
when l met him first. but everybody
liked him. He was one of the hand.
soonest men that ever jumped u sad
die. But he was close mouthed. You
never could get anything out Of him
that he didn't want to tell, and | was
never able to discover what he had
been doing In the southern part OF the
state"
As she pondered on her changed re
lationship to Lie, Lees heart light
ened. 1t would make difference to
Ross. 1t would make n difference to
the Redfelds. Traitorous as 1t seem
ed. 1t was great relief. joy, to
know that her own mother-her real
mother-had been nice" "She must
have been nice or Lie would not have
said So" she reasoned, recalling that
ing of jealousy.
At last Lie rose. "Well, now, dearie
I reckon we had better turn in. II
is getting chilly and late"
As they were about to part at the
door of the tent Virginia took Lies
face between her hands. Good night
mother" she said and kissed her tc
show her that what she had said
would not make any difference.
But Lie was not deceived. This
unwonted caress made perfectly plain
to her the relief which filed the girls
heart
Lee Virginia was awakened some
hours later by a roaring, cracking
sound and by the flare of IA yellow
light upon her tent. Peering out. she
saw flames shooting up through the
roof of the rangers cabin, while be
side 1t, wrapped in blanket, calmly
contemplating it, stood Cavanagh will
: folded arms. A little nearer to tn,
bridge Redfield was sitting upon al
upturned box.
With a cry of alarm she aroused he
mother, and Lie, heavy eyed, laggarS
2 with sleep, rose slowly and peered gu
at the scene with eyes of dull amaze
ment. why don't they try to put /
y import Of the passive figures.
d Dressing with tremulous haste, Lee
:. stepped from the tent just in time t
~ see Swenson come from behind tn
. burning building and join the other
: In silent contemplation Of the scene
. There was something uncanny In tn
II calm inaction Of the three strong men
Il Slowly, wonderingly, the girl drew
a near and called to Cavanagh, VIII
(. turned quickly, crying out: Don
a come too close and don't be frighten
ed. ] set the place on fire myself
The poor old herder died last nigh
and is decently buried In the earth
and now we are burning the cabin an,
q every thread it contains to prevent til
u spread of the plague. Hugh and Sven
J. son have divided their garments wit
no, AMI this blanket which l wear 1
y, by u.tiy coat. All that | have Is 4
= that calla now going up In smoke
my guns, pictures, everything"
How could you do it," she erie
9 out. understanding what his sacritic
l. had been.
L. Il couldn't" he replied. 'rhe 81
\. peryisor did it, They had to go. Tn
- cabin was saturated with poison.
had become to me plague spot, an
u there was no other way to stamp