The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-09-18
SYNOPSIS.
BY HAMLIN GARLAND
Copyright. 1910. by Hamiin Garland


Lee Virginia wetherford. who has been
10 an eastern school for years returns
10 Roaring Fork. Her mother. a coarse
masculine woman, Is running a shabby
boarding house, where whisky Is sold
without license.
Lee meets Ross Cavanagh, forest ran.
ser. and Forest Supervisor Redheld. Cav.
anagh and Lee become interested In each
other.
Lie wetherford, Lees mother. becomes
III Lee starts In TO improve the charac-
ter of the boarding house. Cavanagh and
Redheld compliment her.
Gregg. a ranchman, threatens Cavanagh-
Lee is Disguised with her surroundings.
Lie ceases her elicit whisky selling Mrs.
Redfeld invites Lee to visit Elk Lodge
Redfeld tells Lee about Cavanagh's in
teresting career and explains the work
and troubles OF the faEsst serYlcA
Lee Is delighted with The culture shown
st Elk Lodge. Cavanagh rides sixty miles
TO spend the evening with her.
Cavanagh's love for Lee grows. Mrs
Redfeld likes Lee. but dislikes her moth
er and thinks Cavanaghs love affair is
foolish.
The doctor orders Lie TO cease work
and diet herself She rebels. Cavanagh
arrests Gregg's son and a stranger named
Edwards as poachers.
Roaring Fork rowdies attempt to rescue
the prisoners. but Lie and Lee arm
themselves and help Cavanagh.
They Drive away the roughs. and Cav
anagn delivers his prisoners to Judge
Higley for trial.
Edwards. whose fine has been paid.
Joins Cavanagh at his cabin. He tells
Cavanagh he is Ed Wetherford, Lees
father. Lee thinks he is dead
wetherfofd and Cavanagh find a sheep
herder with smallpox. Wetherford be-
comes nurse. Cavanagh finds two sheep
herders murdered,
Ross composed himself and told his
etory briefly. I'm at Kettle Ranch
postofiice. Now listen. The limit of
the cattleman's ferocity has been
reached. AS rode down here to get
into communication with a doctor for
q sick herder | came upon the scene
Of another murder and burning. The
fire is still smoldering At least two
bodies are in the embers."
At last, bit by bit. from hurried
speech. the supervisor derived the
fact, the location. the hour. and d.
rected the herder TO ride back and
guard the remains till the. sheriff ar
rived.
Keep II all quiet" warned Ross.
"and get the sheriff and a doctor to
come up here as quick as you can.
What is this country coming tor he
cried in despair "Will this deed 60
UNPUBLISHED like the restT'
Redfeld's voice had lost its optimis-
dc ring. II don't know; | am stun
ned by it all. Don't do anything rash.
Ross. Wait till | come. Perhaps this
is the turning point out here. I'll be
up at the earliest moment"
The imbittered and disheartened
ranger then called up Lee Virginia,
and the sound of her sweet voice turn
ed his thoughts 10 other and In a
sense more important matters, for
when she heard his name she cried
out with such eager longing and APP
peal that his heart leaped "Oh. wish
you were here! Mother has been worse
today. She is asking for you. Can't
you come down and see US? She wants
TO tell you something"
II can't-I can'tw he stammered. II
- III lOHS way On, anu L nave
important work TO do. Tell her will
come tomorrow Dear girl, there is
a sick man far up on the mountain
side with no one TO care for him but a
poor old herder who is in danger of
falling sick himself | must go back
to them; but, believe me, will come
Just as soon as my duties will let me.
You understand me, don't your
Her voice was fainter as she said,
Yes, but lit seems hard TO wait"
II know. Your voice has helped me.
! was in black mood when | came
here. I'm going back now to do my
work, and then | will come to you.
Goodby."
Strangely beautiful and very subtle
was the vibrant stir Of that wire as II
conveyed back TO his ear the little sigh
with which she made answer to his
plea. He took his way upward In a
mood which was meditative, but no
longer bitter.