The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-08-14

- l. friend and neighbor, Mr.. En-.
derby"
/ Enderby turned out to be the owner
Of the voice with the English accent
which Lee Virginia had heard In the
hail. but he was very nice. and a mo-
ment later Mrs. Redheld entered with
Mrs. Enderby. large mdy with a
smiling face Then a voice she knew
spoke from behind her: II don't need
a presentation. Miss wetherford and
I have already met"
She turned to meet Ross Cavanagh.
the young ranger.
How did you get here?" she asked
In wonder.
II rode across the hills. It's not
far"
He. too. was In evening dress. and as
she stared at him In surprise he laugh
ingly protested. Please don't scruti-
nixe this coat too closely. It's the only
one I've owned for ten years, and this
Is the only house In which I'd dare to
wear It,"
One OF the guests was State Senator
Bridges, farmerlike elderly man
wearing a badly fitting serge suit. He
was markedly western. SO was his
wife. who looked rather uneasy and
hot.
Virginia and Ross, being the only
young folk at the table. were seated
together. and Enderby remarked pri-
vately. Ross, you're In luck"
81 know ! am" he replied heartily.
He was. as Redfield had said. high
y susceptible. made 80 by his solitary
life In the mountains, and to be seated
stirred his blood TO the danger point.
II was only by an effort OF the will
that he kept In touch with the CONVEX
sation.
Il hadn't the least thought Of seeing
you here" said Virginia. How did
you happen TO Gomez
"Red6eld telephoned me at the mill.
and l came at once. l haven't been
here since May. and just thought I'd
take a half day OF. Luckily my IN
the job"
He did not tell her that she was the
principal reason for this sudden de-
scent upon Elk Lodge. and no one but
Reifield knew the killing ride he had
taken In order to be In at the begin
hing OF the dinner. The girls face
and voice. especially her voice. had
been with him night and day as he
went about his solitary duties. Her
hfe problem had come to Ill his mind
10 a disturbing degree. and be was
Dager to know more Of her and Of her
struggle against the vice and vul-
garity Of the Forks.
How Is your motherY' he asked a
few minutes later.
mot at all well. Mr.. Rcdheld In to
take the doctor back with us tomor-
row." The ecstasy died out Of cher
face, and the flexible lips dropped with
troubled musing. II am afraid she
suffers more than she viii admit"
"She needs a rest and change. She
should get away from her seat at that
cash register and return to the open
air. A touch OF camp life would help
her. She sticks too close 10 her work"
81 know she does. but she won't let
me relieve her. even for an hour. II
bn't because she doesn't trust me;
she says it's because she doesn't want
me sitting there-so-publicly. She
eoesn't oppose my housekeeping any
more
"You certainly have made the cid
hotel into a place Of miraculous neat
ness"
She flushed with pleasure. II have
done something. but not as I'd like to
DO. really think II mother wishes
10 sell she could do so now TO much
better advantage"
'I've no doubt of Il. Really. I'm
not being funny. Miss Wetherford.
when I say you've done something
heroic. It's no easy thing TO 60 into
. place like that and make II hab-
table. II shows immense courage and
self reliance on your part. It's pre-
eisely the kind OF work this whole
country needs"
His praise, sincere and generous. re-
paid her for all she had gone through.
II was a great pleasure to hear her
small self praised for courage and self
reliance by one whose daily work was
heroic. All things consplred 20 make
Q conquest OF her heart. for the ranger
bore himself with grace and dealt with
his silver deity, His face. seen from
the side. was older and sterner than
she had thought 1t. but II was very at
tractiye In line. ..