The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-27
convricht, 1918, by the 5obbs- Merrill
 Company.

Its a. great SCOry, BF1ck dec1ared, vANa enthusiasm. 'I reckon it's the rreatest story that America Ncan put out in the pioneering line There they had everything in twenty-four hours that used to wear out our ancestors Injuns, uabroken land no sign of life for hundreds of miles-and just a turn of the hand and cities is a-coming up out of the ground, and saloons and churches is rubbing shoulders, and there's talk of getting out newspapers What do you think of it, honey?'
 Lahoma was sitting in grave silence. her hands clasped in her lap. She turn ed slowly and looked at Winock. ''Brick, I'm disappointed
 .'Wh4chg' asked Willock, somewhat taken Aback. "Where2"
 s'In himTin Wf1fred,"
 '-As how sor'
 "Going into that wilderness life, fn- stead of taking his place in the world!'
 Well, honey, if he hadn't come to this wilderness, you'd never of saw him.
 .sYes, but he wasn't settled, and now he's settled in it.''
 "Afn't we in the same box?'
 sYes, and that's why I mean to get out of 1t some day. But it's different with him. He's chosen. Bis box and gone in and shut the lid on himself. I'm disappointed in him."
 'sWe'u let it go at tf1at,'' muetered Bill, who was anxious to turn Laao- ma's mind from thoughts of Wilfred. "We'n just go ahead and look for new prospects, 2
 Mot till I make a remark said Will lock, laying aside his pipe. Honey, do you know what mean hy vii sion? It calls for a big vision to take in a big person, and you ain't got it. Maybe 1t wasn't meant for women or at least a girl of fifteen to see further than her own foot tracks, so no blame laid and nobody judged, according. If you don't see nothing in that army of settlers going into a raw land and faIl- ing to work to make 1t bloom like the rose, a-setting out to live in solitude for years that in due time the world may be richer by | great territory, why, you ain't got a big vision"
 LAhoEna did not reply, and Bill fear ed that under the conviction of her friends eloquence she had begun to idealize the efforts of Wilfred Comp ton. He need not have been afraid. To her imagination "big people, were : not living in dugouts or tents far from civilization. Big people were going to the operaa every night and riding z in splendid Carriages along imposing boulevards every day.
 T reckon it afn't right, 2 said Brick Willock to Bill Atkins as they went one morning to examine their traps before Lahona was Rstir, ito keep our little gal to ourselves as we're doing. You're getting olA Bill, awful old''-
 Well. 1t. growled Bill, q guess don't have to be told She's only seventeen years old
 'Yes, she was only. seventeen years old two years ago, but she's nineteen , now.F
 Bill Atkins sank upon g rock at the foot of bristIing cedar. @Nineteen! Who, Lahoma? Then wf1ere've been all the time ?''
 .sYou,ve been a-traveling along at pretty fast clip toward your last days, that's where you've been. Just look qt yourselfl Amt you always careful 1n mixing your steps as if scared of | breaking something? And now you're out of breath!
 used to think she might be foolish about Wilfrad Compton, but Lanoma she ain't foolish about nothing. New ertheless, Bill, it ain't right. Settlers is settlers, and what she Eearns for is the big world
 "Just so. But see how Greer county is, getting settled up. That's what's going to save us, Brick. Civfliza ton is coming to Lahoma. She won't haves to go out gunning after it.
 "Of course I've thought of that l ain't got your grammar, but my mind don't have to wait to let in an idea after it's put it's clothes on Of course ns-r 7Sx mountain, and I reckon by the time Lahoma is my age it'll be playing an organ in church. But she's at the age that calls for quick work She's got the rest of her life to settle down in Most all of a persons life is spent in s settling, and it's beftting to lay in the foundation aforetime.'' Do you want Lahona to have a loy- | CT, Brick?'
 "Bill, if he is it I say she ought to nave a chance ?,
 And where are you going to find the nang'
 "I'm going to help Lahoma find him. I'm like you, Bill I hates that lover like snake this minute, though ain't no idea who, where or what he Is or may be I hates him, but [ ain't going ] to standlin Lahoma's way. No, sir AoE tto Aaco1 SIsliAdtAon. HALFWAY There it is-lookr'
 Willock stood erect and pointed to- ward the plain, where perhaps twenty tents had been pitched within the last two weeks Bill gave an unwilling glance, shrugged his shoulders disdain- fully and resumed progress.
 Wil1oek continued: 1.-Two weeks ago bhere. wasn't nothing there but naked sand Now there's three saloons. a hardware store, a grocery, a bank-all of 'en1 under canvas-and the makings of regular town. Right out there in the broiling sun. Carloads of lumber and machinery is on it's way, and the