The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-12-02

door quivered. He even
stopped In the path, but Wilcox went
on, unconscious. and he was obliged to
follow.
"It's a strange thing" remarked
Brick. "Come in, pard. This used to be
Lahoma's boudoir before We built that
cabin for her." said Wilcox. See the
carpetf Don't tell me you're a-walk-
ing on II and not noticing! See that
little stovef l brung It clear across
the mountains from deserted wagon
when was young. Set on this bench.
I recollect as well as II 1t us yester-
day, Lahoma asserting there with her
"A and b and asking thousands Of
questions and getting herself civilized.
I couldn't do a finished job, but Bill
took her by the hand later, then Mrs.
Featherby, what moved over in the
west mountain. added stories from New
England and travels I'm Europe. When
the settlers come she CLEANED all they
knowed, always arising and a-looking
out for new country. That's wonder
full girlr' he added with conviction.
When Bill came Wilfred told Of his
experiences on his quarter section.
How he had broken the prairie land.
put In his crops, watched them wither
away in the terrible dry months, rough
ed It through the winters, tried again.
Fought through another drought, staked
all on the next springs planting, raised
a half crop, paid off his chattel mort
gage, tried again-succeeded.
"Ive stayed right with it," he said
gravely. "Of course, they required me
to stay ON the land only during certain
months every year. But stayed with
II all the time. and | studied it, and
when failed, as l did year after year.
! failed each time In a different way
because learned my lesson. And
when I'd walled of the cause of each
failure one by one seemed like there
opened before me broad, clear way
that led right into the goal I'd been
seeking from the first day. Then l
closed out all my deals and looked and
saw that everything was trim and
ready for winter-and got my horse
and started for Greer country"
And glad we are" cried Bill Atkins.
81 hope you can stay long time"
THAT depends-Lahoma is well, l
supposeT
"The picture of health-when she
left" Brick declared admiringly, "and
the prettiest little gal this side OF the
angels. And when you get down sick
rs done once from causes incidental
to being made Of flesh and blood. and
she come and laid her hand on my
burning forehead, her touch always
made me think Of an angels wing"
"Lahoma's not herer Wilfred asked
anxiously.
mot now, nor for some time" an
swered Brick.
81 reckon, wilfred. you just Travelled
here to take a look at the country
where you used to herd cattler aues-
toned Brick.
THAT wasn't my reason. Principal
" wanted to see Lahoma and Incl
dentally my brother"
"Your brother? He amt In these
parts, is her
NO" ruefully, but l expected him
to be. When l left home to turn cow
puncher / didn't tell anybody where
I'd gone, but Just before l left for Ok
lahoma to turn farmer | wrote to my
brother. And about a month ago, see
ing things clearing up before me. l
asked him to meet me here at Tent
City. He's interested in new towns;
he's employed by rich man to plant
hardware stores, and l thought he
might find an opening here. He came
on and was here several weeks with
q party of sightseers from Chicago, but
be left with them about week ago.
wilcox sat suddenly erect. Couldn't
have been that Sellimer crowd. reck-
on, from Chicago"
Eyes; Mrs. Sellimer and her daugh-
ter and some of their friends"
Wilcox whistled loudly. And that
up and down looking chap In the gold
nose glasses was your brotherf'
"Never thought Of that" Bill ex-
claimed; although he had your name,
he looked so different. But now that
you've laid aside your cowboy rigging
/ guess you could sit In his class down
at the bottom OF It,"
wilcox was uneasy. II was told"
he observed, "and took the trouble
to get datty on the subject. that them
sellimers-the mother and daughter
and the herd they drift with-is Of the
highest pedigree Chicago can produce.
it sort Of Jolts me to find out that any
body we know is kin to the bunch"
wilfred laughed without bitterness.
Don't let my kinship to Brother
Edgerton disturb your ideal. We're
SO different that we parted without
saying goodby. Miss Sellimer Is the
girl whose letters l was carrying about
with me when first saw you. She
refused me because I was as poor as
herself. So you see the whole bunch
Is out Of my class"
wilfred moved uneasily. HAS La
homa made their Acquaintance. thenT