The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-07-06
THE LOWRIE PASS FEUD
BY ELLEN MARIE CLIFFORD.

Pass the better class of the ranch
| comEnunlty had centered. Two miles
down the river the settlement called
Paynters had been slow to meet the
advance guard of civilization. When
young Wharton Lind had come to an
cry words with Budd, the Wharton
FAMILY, discerning trouble, had moved
over to Lowrie.
1t was the sister of Wharton Lind
who received the warning challenge.
she opened it and read it, and her
proud handsome face flashed and her
eyes took a somber determined look
to their depths
Wharton had been away at college
up to a year previous. He was brave
as lion, but he had not acquired the
sturdy strength that comes with out
door ranch life On the contrary,
Helena had gained the bronze, the
hardened muscles, the health-glowing
face of true northwestern prairie
girl. She was the admiration of her
own sex and the cherished model of
her numerous gentleman friends
There went back to Budd a terse
single line: Wharton Lind is ready
for you
Budd staggered around his friends
down at Paynters all the morning of
the day set fer the combat. He went
over to Lowrie about dusk, took
drink or two and rode up to the Lind
home on his melted broncho boldly
and full of confidence.
1t was a moonless night and the
house was wrapped In darkness, ex-
cept where a broad stream of radi-
ance rejected across the grass from
a lamp in the untenanted sitting room.
He made out figure leaning against
one of the posts clad in buckskin garb
and wearing the shadowing sombrero
of the district.
I'm Budd Paynter," announced the
visitor brusquely. Ready for bust
ness?"
In reply his waiting adversary nod
ded and led the way to a clear level
spot fifty feet away. Then began the
battle
Budd sailed ill.," over-confident In
his opinion of his superiority over a
tenderfoot. Then he set on guard.
There had come half dozen quick
blows that dazed him AS his op-
ponent grappied, he felt himself lift
ed featherlike and flung ten feet
away, landing with a shock.
You've won," he acknowledged,
and then with true frontier chivaIry
advanced with outstretched hand.
Budd changed the anticipated grip
to clasp. His recent opponent had
suddenly staggered and had he not
reached out would have fallen to the
ground. Budd half lifted, half dragged
his inanimate burden towards the
house
Hey. there!" he hailed as he came
within the radius of the light. young
Lind has overdone himself, Enough he
whipped me, mind you, and fair and
square. Thunder."
For the first moment Budd Paynter
saw the face of his opponent The
hat had fallen off, the light streamed
directly across Helena.
Across one cheek was an abrasion.
Her lower lip was slightly cut and
bleeding.
II hit youi" gasped Budd-"a
woman! / did that Say, could cry
over it! Lady, shall never forgive
myself"
Aye. he could indeed have wept
over his rough handiwork, he could
have kissed those trembling lips. AS
Helena reused up in her usual strong
womanly way she directed one brief
stinging rebuke
1t was to upbraid him for his idle,
useless ways Because her brother
was ill, because he would have met
the challenge even at that disadvan-
tage, she had assumed his part. she
told Budd, and he hung his head in
shame. Then he went from her pres
ence, for the first time In his life
with lowered head and awakened
conscience.
Then strange things began to hap
pen. At Paynters the old chums of
Budd began to marvel at a sudden
somber change that had come over
him.
month later, two days before the
announced wedding of Wharton Lind,
there appeared at the Lind home the
subject of considerable thought and
interest to Helena-the new Budd
Paynter.
1--WE come from the boys down
home, Miss Lind" announced Budd |
shyly, but very polite, though embars
raised. They've authorized me to do
the usual thing when a friend like
Miss Willis steps off," and he pro-
duced neat case containing hand
some bracelet
Why, this is truly charming" de-
clared Helena, and she invited the
caller in. Then when he went away
she accompanied him to the road.
There Budd halted, fumbling his
hat seriously. He stole a glance at
her proud handsome face
Miss Lind" he blurted out, "Pm a
better man than I was when / first |
met you