The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-04-17

oldest brother Jack came over the field
from their plows with just the same
mellowed intonation 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 cornield, had come
over to put in n 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
cornfeld 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 it's dark set
ting of hair was strong and open and
usually serenely ~untroubled, with the
serenity of perfect physical health and
strength. But there We're times still
when a somber look crossed it and
when about his mouth and in his eyes
there dwelt an expression which show
ed that he had felt more keenly the
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 flu
rious hands, and the choking leap Of
| anger within himself he never forgot.
1t wa the first time that lie had ever
really come face to face with the devil
Of passion and strength which lay
within him. 1t was a subduinS knowl-
edge and one that kept him out OF
many chance fights.
From twelve years old to sixteen he
lived a dedicated life. with one great
..A l.ac-.o l;-, r. -,.- ,
on the farm with the strength and de-
termination of 4 boy much older, and
when little snatches of leisure gave
him opportunity he went to school.
But always. in all his occupations. one
great purpose was before him, and
that purpose was the carrying out of
the promise given his father. Sixteen,
he set himself as the age at which he
would be old enough to face Kip Ry-
erson, and his childish thoughts of his
future always stopped short at that
age as at Il blank wall: beyond that
This feeling. as though his life came to
an end then. might have had. and per
haps would have had on many boys. a
paralyzing effect. Fortunately for Da.
vid the pressing need of the farm work
for very daily existence was constant,
ly present to spur him to activity. and
when there CHANGED n respite from
that his eager mind drove him to
school. To some boys. too. there might
have come a feeling Of resentment
against his father that he should have
laid his own selfish revenge upon his
young shoulders, but this thought never
crossed David's mind. He had loved his
! father p~assionately. and his devotion