Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-07-16
, rndeIu annninted table


today"
The boys-they were in reality full
grown cubs of eighteen or twenty
did as they were bid with much noise,
chatting Berrie with blunt humor.
Meeker read Suffers letter, which
Norcross had handed him, and, after
deliberation, remarked: "All right, Wen
do the best we can for you, Mr.. Nor
cross. but we haven't any fancy accom-
modations."
HE don't expect any," replied Ber-
RE. What he needs is little rough
ing it,
There's plinty of that to be had"
said one of the herders, who sat below
the salt. "'Tis the soft life I'm nadin'."
One of the lads, Frank Meeker, a
dark, intense youth of about twenty,
was Berea's full cousin. The others
were merely bired hands, but they all
eyed the new conner with disfavor.
The fact that Berrie had brought him
and that she seemed interested in him
added to the effect of the smart riding
suit which he wore. I'D like to roll
him in the creek muttered one Of
them to his neighbor.
This dislike Berrie perceived in some
degree, and to Frank she privately
said: Now, you fellows have got to
treat Mr.. Norcross right. He's been
very sick"
Frank maliciously grinned. "Oh, we'll
treat him right. We won't do a thing
to him."
'Now, Frank" she varied, eff you
try any Of your tricks on him you'll
hear from me-"
"Why all this worry on your part?"
he asked keenly. How long since you
found him?"
The girl herself did not understand
the vital and almost painful interest
which this young man had reused in
her. He was both child and poet to her.
and as she watched him trying to make
friends with the men, her indignation
rose against their clOwniSh offishness.
Il don't feel right in leaving you
here" she said at last, but 1 must be
ridin." And while Meeker ordered
her horse brought out she walked to
the gate with Norcross at her side.
I'm tremendously obliged to you,"
he said, and his voice was vibrant.
"You have been most kind. How can
I repay your"
ooh, that's all right" she replied, in
true western fashion. 81 wanted to
see the folks up here, anyhow. This
is no jaunt at all for me-" And, look
ing at her powerful figure and feeling
the traplike grip of her cinch hand, he
knew she spoke the truth.
And so she rode away, leaving her
ward to adjust himself to his new and
strange surroundings as best he could,
and with her going the whole valley
darkened for the cOnvalescent.
1t was soon apparent to the eastern
observer that the entire male popula'
ton for thirty miles around not only
knew McFarlane's girl, but that every
unmarried man-and some who were
both husbands and fathers-kept d
deeply interested eye upon her daily
motion, and certain shameless ones
openly boosted among their fellows OF
their intention to win her favor, while
the shy ones reveled in secret exulta
ton over every chance meeting witt
her. She was the topic Of every lum
Der camp and the shining lure Of ev
cry dance to which the ranch hands
often rode over long and lonely trails.
Part of this intense interest was due
naturally, to the scarcity of desirable
women, but larger part was called
out by Berea's franz freedom of man
ner. Her ready camaraderie was taker
for carelessness, and the candid grir
Of her hand was often misunderstood
and yet most of the men respected her
and some feared her. After her avow
ed choice of Clifford Belden they all
kept aloof, for he was hot tempered
and formidably swift to avenge an in
suit.
At the end of week Norcross found
himself restless and disconnected with
the Meekers. He was tired of fishing
tired of the old mans endless argu
ments and tired Of the vulgar COW
hands. The men around the mill did
not interest him, and their Saturday
night spree at the saloon disguised
him. The one person who piqued his
curiosity was Landon, the ranger, wht
was stationed not far away and who
could be seen occasionally riding by
on a handsome black horse. There
was something in his bearing, in his
neat and serviceable drab uniform
which attracted the convalescent, and
on Sunday morning he decided to ven
ture a call, although Frank Meekel
had said the ranger was Crouch"
His cabin, neat log structure, stood
just above the road on a huge natura
terrace Of grassy powders, and the
flag which fiuttered from q tall stat
before it could be seen for severa
miles, the bright sign Of federal con
troll, the symbol of law and order, JUS
as the saloon and the mill were signs
Of lawless vice and destructive greed
Around the door flowers bloomed and
kittens played
The cabins interior pleased Waylant
almost as much as the garden. L
was built of pine logs neatly matched
and hewed on one side.
The ranger, spurred and belted, witt
his cuffs turned back, was pounding
the typewriter when Wayland appear
ed at the open door, but he rose will
nra un nnnrtnSu a.Cntna In y ha 60 Id