The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-10-21
11e: [A10MA
= ~ BY %
e ElHN BRECKENRIDGE ELLIS
80 Copyright 1918, by In.
Company
copyrioht, 1918, by the 6obbs- Merrill
Company.

had obtained I'm the middle states yet
prevailed In 1882 in the tract Of land
claimed by Texas under the name Of
Greer county, but the dangers Of pho
neer life were greatly leSsened. AS
Lahoma made the acquaintance Of tn.
mountain range and explored the plain
extending beyond the natural horse
shoe. wilcox believed she ran little
danger from Indians. He himself had
ceased to preserve his unrelaxing
watchfulness. After all. II had been
the highwaymen rather than the red
men whom he had most feared. and
after two years IL did not seem likely
that such volatile men would preserve
the feeling Of vengeance.
With the wisdom derived from his
experience with wild natures. he care
fully abstained from any attempt to
force Lahoma's friendship; hence II
was not long before he obtained II
without reserve. In the meantime he
talked necessarily. and TO his admira-
ton he presently found her manner Of
speech wonderfully like his own-both
fluent and ungrammatical
He knew nothing Of grammar to be
sure. but there were times when his
mistakes. echoed from her lips. struck
upon his ear. and, though he might not
always know how to correct them. he
was prompt to suggest changes. test.
Ing each. as n natural musician judges
music by ear. Dissatisfied with his
own standards. he was all the more
impatient to depart on the expedition
after mental tools. despite the dangers
that might beset the journey
His first task. prompted by the com
ing Of Lahoma. had been to partition
of the half of the dugout containing
the stove for the child's private cham
Der. Cedar posts set in the ground
and plastered with mud higher than
his head left a space between the top
and the apex of the ceiling that the
temperature might be equalized In both
rooms. Thus far. however. they did
not stay In the dugout except long
enough to eat and sleep. for the au.
tumn had continued delightful. and the
which the dugout was sort Of cellar.
Concerning the stone retreat in the
crevice she knew nothing. Wilcox did
not know why he kept the secret since
he trusted Lahoma with all his treas
ures. but the unreasoning reticence of
the man Of great loneliness still rested
on him.
"Lahoma." he said one day. there's
a settler over yonder I'm the mountains
across the south plain. How'd you like
to pay him visit?"
~ don't want anybody but you" said
Lahoma promptly.
Wilcox stood on one leg. rubbing
the other meditatively with his delight
ed foot Not the culver of muscle.
however. revealed the fact that her
words had flooded his heart with sun
shine well. honey. that's In reason.
But I've got to take you with me after
books and winter supplies, and ! don't
like the idea of travelling alone. II
come to me that l might get Mr.. Set
tier to go too Time was not so long
ago when Injun bands was coming and
going. and. although old Greer is be-
ginning to be sprinkled up with set.
tiers here and there. l can't get over
the feel Of the old times. They amt
no sensation as sticks by a man when
he's come to be wedged In between
forty-five and fifty as the feel Of the
old times"
We'll" said Lahoma earnestly, II
wish you'd leave me here when you
be with no strangers. want to just
squat right here and bear myself COM
pany"
That's In reason. But. honey. while
you might be safe enough while bear
ing the same would be plumb crazy
worrying about you. | might not have
good cause for worrying. but worry
ing-it amt no bird that spreads Its
wings and goes north when cold
weather comes: worrying-it's indie
pendent Of causes and seasons"
IF you have got to be stayed with
to keep you from worrying they amt
nothing more TO be said"
Just SO. That there old settler,
have crossed a few words with him.
and ! believe he would do noble TO
travel with He's AS gruff and growly
as a grizzly bear II you say word TO
him. and II he'll just turn all that
temper he's vented on me on TO any
strangers We may run up against on
the trail he'll do Invaluable.
I'm 20 catch up the pony, said La
homa briefly. FOR see the thing II
TO he did. This will he the first visit
ever made In my life when ! wasn't
drug by the lnjuns
You mustn't say drug honey. un-
less specifying medicines ana herbs,
You must say dragged The lnJuns
dragged you from one villagc~to an
other" He paused meditatively. NUT
tering the word 20 himself, while la
homa ran away to catch the pony
When she came back he said: i've
been a-weishin- that word, Lahoma