The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-11-04

ed slowly and looked Mt WILCOX.
Brick. I'm disappointed"
"Whichy' asked Wilcox. somewhat
taken aback. "Where?"
''In HMM Wilfred."
las how so?"
"Going into that wilderness life. IN
stead of taking his place in the world"
We'll. honey. II he hadn't come to
this wilderness. you'd never Of saw
him."
Yes. but he wasn't settled. and now
he's settled in it,
"Ain't we in the same boxT
Yes, and that's why l mean to get
out of it some day. But it's different
with him. He's chosen his box and
gone in and shut the lid On himself.
I'm disappointed in him."
We'll let it so at that, muttered
Bill, who was anxious to turn Laho-
mas mind from thoughts Of Wiifred.
Wen just 60 ahead and look for new
prospects"
Not till 1 make q remark" said Will
lock, laying aside his pipe. Honey.
do you know what I mean by a VI
sion? 1t calls for big vision to take
in big person. and you amt got It
Maybe it wasn't meant for women or
at least girl of fifteen to see further
than her own foot tracks, SO no blame
laid and nobody judged. according. II
you don't see nothing in that army Of
settlers going into raw land and fall
Ing to work to make 1t bloom like the
rose. a-setting out to live In solitude
for years that in due time the world
| may be richer by a great territory.
why. you amt got o. big vision"
Lahoma did not reply. and Bill fear
ed that under the conviction Of her
| friends eloquence she had begun to
1dealize the efforts of Wilfred Comp
ton. He need not have been afraid.
To her imagination "big people" were
not living in dugouts or tents far from
civilization. big people" were going
TO the opera every night and riding
In splendid carriages along imposing
boulevards every day.
Il reckon it amt right" said Brick
Wilcox to Bill Atkins as they went
! one morning to examine their traps
before Laahoma was astir. Ito keep our
little gal to ourselves as we're doing.
You're getting old. Bill. awful old
"Well. - it." growled Bill. II guess
don't have to be told. She's only
seventeen years old"
"Yes. she was only seventeen years
old two years ago. but she's nineteen
now"
Bill Atkins sank upon rock at the
foot of bristling cedar. Nineteen
Who. Lahoma? Then where've beer
all the time?"
you've been a-traveling along ut a
pretty fast clip toward your last days
that's where you've been. Just look
at yourself! Amt you always careful
In making your steps as II scared Of
breaking something7 And now you're
out OF breath!
about W'ilfred Compton. but Lahoma
she amt foolish about nothing. New
ertheless. Bill. 1t amt right Settler.
IS settlers. and what she yearns for 4
the big world"
Just so. But see how Greer county
is getting settled up. That's what's
going to save US. Brick. Civilization
is coming to Lahoma. She won't have
to go out cunning after It"
;'Of course I've thought Of that
ain't got your grammar, but my MIND
don't have to wait to let in an idel
after it's put its clothes on. OF cours,
civilization is a-creeping up to tn,
mountain. and l reckon by the tim,
Lahoma Is my age it'll be playing al
organ in church. But she's at the ag'
that calls for quick work. She's go
the rest Of her life to settle down in
Most all Of a persons life Is spent IL
settling, and it's beftting to lay In tn,
foundation aforetime."
do you want Lahoma to have Low
er. Brick?''
"Bill, if he is fit 1 say she ought t
have chance"
And where are You going to find th,
man?"
I'm going to help Lahoma find him
I'm like you. Bill. | hates that love
like a snake this minute, though ain
no idea who. where or what he is o
: may be. hates him, but ain't goin,
to stand in Lahoma's way. No. sir.
low to meet civilization halfway
There 1t is-iookp'
Wilcox stood erect and pointed to
ward the plain. where perhaps twent.
tents had been pitched within the las
two weeks. Bill gave an unwilling
glance. shrugged his shoulders disdain
fully and resumed progress.
Wilcox continued: Two weeks ag
there wasn't nothing there but make
sand. Now there's three saloons.
hardware store. a grocery. bank-a
Of 'em under canvas-and the making
Of regular town. Right out there i
the broiling sun! Carloads of lumbe
and machinery is on its way. and th
stagecoach will be putting of ma
there before long. That's how civilizs
ton Is a-seeking out our little GA
Bnt | means to meet 1t halfway. Ye!
sir. means to meet civilization hall
way. I've already been prospectin,
There's party over there in Tent Cit
that's come ON from Chicago just frol
the lust of seeing pioneer life at frs
hand. people that haven't no idee Z
buying or settling It's a picnic
them. They're camping out. watchin
life develop-and what's life and deaf
earnestness to others Is just anus,
ment to them. That there's test (
people high up. Real folks In the bl