The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-07-31

the man that sets out TO fool With my
girl. I tell you thatr'
While yet lee Virginia was wonder
ing how to begin the days work some
one knocked on her door, and In an
swer to her invitation a woman stepped
ina thin blond bag with weak
smile and watery blue eyes. us this
little Lee virginny?" she asked.
The girl rose. YES"
"well, howdyY" She extended her
hand and Lee took t. "My names
Jackson-Mrs. Orlando Jackson.
knew yore pa and you before the
war Are We back fer to stay?''
mo. I don't think so. VIII you sit
down."
Mrs. Jackson took a seat. Come
back to see how yore ma was. reck-
on? Found her pretty porely, didn't
YEP She lowered her voice. II think
she's got cancer OF the stummick-
now that's my guess
Virginia started. what makes you
think soi"
well. knew a woman who went
just that way. Had that same fiabby,
funny look-and that same distress
after catin' told her this mornin'
she'd better go up to Sulphur aud see
that new doctor"
"What did you mean by the WARP"
asked Virginia.
'Why. you remember the rustler
WARP We date everything out here
from that year. You was here. for
saw ye.''
oh" exclaimed Virginia. II under
stand now. Yes, | was here. I saw my
father at the head Of the cowboys"
They weren't cowboys. They were
hired killers from Texas. That's what
let yore pa out o. the state. lie were
on the wrong side. and II It hadn't "a
been for the regular soldiers he'd "a
been wiped out right hyer. As II was
he had TO skip the range and hain't
never been back. | don't s'pose folks
will lay Il up agin you-bein' girl
but they couldn't no son Of Ed Weth-
erford come back here and settle, not
to blum the whole county a'most-not
that lay anything up agin her. | tell
folks she was that bewitched with Ed
she couldn't see things any way but
his way. He fought TO save his ranch
and stawk. but she couldn't do nothin'
and then TO have him 20 back on her
the way he did-slip out 'twixt two days
and never write: that Just about shot
her TO pieces. l never could under
stand that In Ed; he 'peared so mortal
ly fond Of you and OF her too. He sure
was fond OF you She shook her head.
mo, can't anybody make me believe
Ed Wetherford Is alive"
Lee Virginia started. "who says
he's allveT'
snow. don't get excited. girl He
Amt alive. but yet folks say we don't
know he's dead. lie Jest dropped out
so far as yore ma Is concerned and so
far as the county II concerned. but
some thought you was with him In the
east"
The girl was now aware that her
visitor was hoping 10 gain some fur
Their information and so CURLY an
swered: I've never seen my father
since that night the soldiers came and
took him away to the fort And my
mother told me he died down In Tex.
as
Mrs. Jackson rose We'll. I'm glad
to we had a word with We; but, you
hear me. yore ma has got to have
doctors help or she's a-goin' TO fall
down some day soon"
Every word the woman uttered, ev-
cry tone Of her drawing voice, put
Lee Virginia back into the past. She
heard again the swift gallop Of hoofs,
saw once more the long line Of armed
ranchers and felt the hush OF fear that
lay over the little town on that fate
full day. The situation became clearer
In her mind. She recalled wildly the
words OF establishment and hate with
which the women had greeted her
mother on the morD.1g when the news
came that Edward Wetherford was
among the invading cattle barons-
was indeed one Of the leaders
In Philadelphia the Rocky mountain
states were synonyms Of picturesque
lawlessness. the theater Of reckless