The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-05-01

oldest brother Jack came owe the field
from their plows with just the same
mellowed information as did David's,
Mary would have found it hard to
believe.
David had only come off the log
drive, which the spring rains had
brought down the river the day be-
fore, and, finding Robert Reddin short
Of a hand in his cornfeld, had come
over to put in a days work for him.
He had got home late the previous
night after the whole winter spent in
camp, and starting in early on the
corn6eld he and Mary had found time
to exchange hardly more than the
usual greetings, though both knew
! there was much waiting to be said.
From the boy of twelve, David was
| shot up into a giant Of a fellow of
twenty-five. His face in its dark set
| ting of hair vas strong and open and
usually serenely untroubled, with the
serenity Of perfect physical health and
strength. But there were times still
when a somber look crossed it and
when about his mouth and in his eyes
there dwclt an expression which show
| edge Of life than have most young
men of his age.
Physically he was perfect, and among
the men Of the neighborhood he was
accounted the strongest man all up and
down the Draft. as his father had been
before him. Even in the log camps,
where the strong men from several
counties are drawn together and where
many trials of strength take place, he
had not found any that We're quite
his match. There was something al
most terrifying about his great
strength. He felt it himself, and
many Of his movements showed a Ger
tain reserve as though he half feared
to put forth his whole force. Once, in
camp, angered by something David
had said in jest, a man had suddenly
drawn a pistol upon him. For weeks
afterward David felt the curious gritty
Snap of the mans arm under his fu.
rious hands, and the choking leap of
anger within himself he never forgot.
1t was the first time that he had ever
really come face to face with the devil
of passion and strength which lay
within him. 1t was a subduing knOwl.
) edge and II that kept him out OF
many chance fights.
From twelve years old to sixteen he
lived a dedicated life, with one great
object before him. He worked hard
: on the farm with the strength and de
termination of a boy much older, anC
when little snatcheS of leisure gave
e him opportunity he went to school
: But always, in all his occupations, one
great purpose was before him, an(
that purpose was the carrying out o.
e the promise given his father. Sixteen
:, ] he set himself as the age at which h,
would be old enough to face Kip Ry
erson. and his childish thoughts Of hi
j. future always stopped short ut tina
. age as at a blank wall: beyond tina
g time he ncve thought or planned
n This feeling. as though his life came t
s an end then. might have had. and per
haps would have had on MAN. boys.
n p~aralyzing effect. Fortunately for Da
t. vid the pressing need of the farm wor
A. for very daily existence was constant
ly present to spur him to activity. an
a when there CHANGED n respite frOr
* that his eager mind drove him t
school. To some boys, too, there migt
~ have come a feeling Of resentmer
IT against his father that he should hav
". laid his wi selfish revenge upon b.
young shoulders, but this thought nevt
'e, crossed David's mind. He had loved h
in father ~passionately, and his devotio