The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-11-04
CHAPTER VI.
A Young Mans Fancy.


old and no count you'd need
somebody to take care Of you. and
you'd 20 full equipped and ready to
stand up to any civilized person that
tried to run a bluff on you"
But oh. I want to go-I want to go
out there-where there amt no plains
and alkali and buffalo grass-where
they's pavements and policemen and
people In beautiful clothes! l don't
mean now. I mean when I've got civ
ilixed." She drew herself up proudly.
81 wouldn't go till I was eivilized-till
I was like them" She turned impul-
sively to Brick: But you've got to go
with me when | go! I'm going to
stay with you till I'm at to go, and
then you're going to stay with me the
rest Of my life"
"Am fit to go with herT Brick ap-
pealed to Bill Atkins.
you amt" Bill replied.
81 amt fit," Brick declared firmly.
The tears were in Lahoma's eyes. She
looked from one to the other, her lit
tie face deeply troubled suddenly she
grabbed up her books and started to-
ward the stove. Then this here CIV
liking is going to Stop she declared.
"Lahoma!' Brick cried in dismay.
"Yes, 1t is-unless you promise to
stay with me when | go to live in the
big world"
Honey. I'll promise you this: When
you are ready to live out there I'll sure
20 with you and stay with you'll
you want me. when the time comes"
Lahoma seized his hand and jumped
up and down In delight
Its a safe promise" remarked Bfil
Atkins dryly.
One evening in May tall 1.-the fig
ure crept along the southern base OF
the mountain range. following Its
curves with cautious feet as II fearful
Of discovery. He was a young man OF
twenty-one or two. bronzed. free OF
movement, agile Of step. His face was
firm, handsome and open. A few yards
from Brick Willock's dugout now stood
a neat log cabin, and not far from the
door Of this cabin was a girl Of about
fifteen seated on the grass.
She had been reading. but her book
had slipped to her feet With hands
clasped about her knee and head tilted
back she was watching the lazy white
clouds that stretched like wisps OF
scattered cotton across the blue field
Of the sky. The young man stretched
himself where a block Of granite and.
below 1t, cedar tree effectually pro
tected him from discovery. Thus hid
den he stared at the girl unblinkingly.
For two years he had led the life
Of a cowboy, exiled from his kind. go
ing with the boys from lower Texas to
Kansas along the Chisholm trail. over
seeing great herds Of cattle. caring for
them day and night, scarcely ever IN
der a roof, even that of dugout
Through rain and storm the ground
had been his bed. During these two
years of hard life, reckless companions
and exacting duties he had easily
slipped into the grooves Of speech and
thought common to his fellows. Only
his face, his unconscious movements
and accents distinguished him from the
other boys of odd Man Walker" the
boss Of the Char outfit On no other
condition but that of apparent assimi-
lation could he have retained his place
with Walkers ranchmen.
For two years he had seen no one
like the girl Of the cove.
That was wonderful hair. It's brown
tresses cleaning, though untouched by
the sun. as II In II were enmeshed In
Vulnerable particles Of light. The face
was more wonderful There was the
seal Of innocence on the lips. the proof
of fearlessness In the eyes, the touch
Of thought ON the brow. the sign OF
purpose about the resolute little chin.
The slender brown hands spoke Of life
In the open air. and the glow Of the
cheeks told OF burning suns. Her form.
her attitude, spoke not only Of instinc-
tive grace. but Of certain witness In
admira BILE harmony with the surround
lag scene.
II seemed TO him that In this young
klIi, VIM hdu the ioOk uhu pOisc VI
woman. he had found what hitherto
he had vainly sought In the wilderness
the beauty and the charm Of II, 70
nned and separated from its sordidness
and uncouthness-in a word. from all
that was base and ugly.
At last he tore himself away, ~
traced his steps as cautiously a. be
had come and dung himself upon the
pony left waiting at a sheltered nook
TAR from the cove. As he sped over
the plains toward the distant herd II
came TO him suddenly In q way not be-
fore experienced that II was May. that
the air was balmy and fragrant and
that the land. softly lighted In the
clear twilight. was singularly beauti-
full He seemed breathing the roses
back home. which recalled another
face. but not for long. The last time
he had seen that eastern face the dew
had lain on the early morning roses.
How could Q face - different make
him think Of thsmf