The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-07-13
HIS MOUNTAIN GIRL
BY RONALD ROSS.

for him. He wanted only to bury
himself In the heart OF the forest and
to forget.
One day, as Marvin rode through
the woods, he came upon slip OF a
mountain girl bending over brook.
Her bare feet were as brown as ber-
ries. her arms nut brown, her face
flushed with confusion as she raised
II to his.
They fell into an easy conversation.
Her father was small sheep rancher
living in the valley. She had no 9TH
er relative or friend ercept-Jim.
Jim was her lover, Marvin gathered.
He rode on, vaguely Disconnected. The
thought of the girl required to him
again and again.
He met her once more, twice--then
the day came when he rode down to
the valley to buy his supplies. And
he saw the girl at the door of the
ranch building.
Joe Cooper's gal" the storekeeper
told him. She's sort of queer. Old
Jim Bates Is crazy to marry her, but
he's in his fifties and the gal don't
care for an old man. Guess her father
will make her. though. He's eager to
get rid Of her-shiftless lot, them
Coopers''
Marvin, returning, saw group OF
three at the door of the house, The
two men were arguing angrily with
the girl Marvin thought he saw
tears on her cheeks. He pulled In his
horse; then slowly rode away. 1t
was no business OF his: he could no.
interfere.
But the days hung drearily on his
hands. and he felt vague longing to
see the forest girl again. About
week later his wish was gratified.
She was coming along the trail.
sobbing, and when she saw him she
stopped dead and hid her face in her
hands. Marvin was at her side In
minute.
You are In trouble he said. What
can do to help your Then in sud
den realization, "Yon were coming
to me?"
She nodded dumbly. 81 can't stand
for 1t in the valley she said. Il
won't marry Jim Bates. / won't |
hate him. All my life | have wanted
to live in the mountains. away from
folks
The stammered, foolish words were
almost inarticulate. Marvin under
stood the passion behind them, the
soul longing for freedom, cropping for
refuge from the petty tyranny OF life
He placed his arm around her. She
looked up at him, and their lips met
Il. too. love the mountains" he said.
Would you come and live with me-
| mean, II we we're to be married?"
She nodded They strolled together
slnng the trail, and at last both had
found happiness. Before she left 1t
was arranged that she was to meet
him and they would ride to the near
est town and find minister.
That night he dreamed that he was
pursuing Laura through vast. smoky
land, wilderness with no other liv-
ing being in sight; yet she was run
ming from him toward some unknown
danger, and he pursued, eager to save
her.
He gasped and sat up. Through |
the window of his cabin he saw a |
lurid light that seemed to fill the sky. |
The room was filled with smoke.
He hurried into his clothes aud ran
to the stable. The horse was whinny-
ing. fearful of the fire that seemed to |
be creeping nearer Marvin saddled |
him and rode at gallop into the
woods At the edge of the crest he /
saw that the whole valley was ablaze.
He tethered his horse securely and
ran down the valley. He saw smol- |
dering homesteads. fallen trees, |
blackened rooftops of deserted houses.
Then he was at the Cooper ranch.
The house was still blazing.
He ran through the little irrigated
patch and hammered furiously at the
door. II fell crashing beneath his
blows. The interior was empty.
Thank God for that
The girl must have Joined the fugi-
tives in the mountains at the other |
end of the valley. There was no more
to be done. Marvin turned slowly
away-and then he was aware of the
girl crouching beside the little trickle
of water. as she had crouched by the
brook that day. She was crouching,
weeping, and in a moment he had her
in his arms.
You are not hurt?" he cried
Where is your father? Your
'I don't know" she sobbed. ewhen
awoke the house was beginning to
burn. | dressed and hurried out here.
thsak-I think they have gone with
the settlers toward the mountains"
They left you to burnt" exclaimed /
Marvin, in horror.
She laid her hand on his arm. Il
heard them calling for me-" she said.
But hid here Tomorrow I was to
have married Jim"
And now" asked Marvin, bending
over her
Now, just cant. can't Leave
me to die"
He caught her in his arms and car
rior har nm fha vnffav nvor fha c,,,<.s