The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-11-04

fought through another drought, stakei
all on the next springs planting. raised
Il half crop. paid off his chattel mort
sage. tried again-succeeded.
I've stayed right with it." he said
gravely. 'Of course, they required me
to stay OH the land only during certain
months every year. But stayed with
it all the time, and / studied it, and
when l failed. as did year after year.
| l, failed each time in a different way
because l learned my lesson. And
when I'd walled off 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 ou. 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 arer' cried Bill Atkins.
Il hope you can stay long time"
THAT depends-Lahoma is well. I
suppose?'
"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
as l 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"
/ "Lahona's not here?' Wilfred asked
anxiously.
"Not now, nor for some time" an
swered Brick.
II reckon, Wilfred. you just Travelled
here to take a look at the country
where you used to herd cattle?" ques-
toned Brick.
THAT wasn't my reason. Principal
N I wanted to see Lahoma and incl
dentally my brother"
"Your brother? He amt in these
parts. is hep
NO" ruefully, "but I expected him
to be. When 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 month ago, see
ing things clearing up before me,
asked him to meet me here at Tent
CITY. He's interested In new towns
he's employed by rich man to plan,
hardware stores. and l thought nc
, might find an opening here. He came
. on and was here several weeks with
party Of sightseers from Chicago. but
he left with them about week ago.
| Wilcox sat suddenly erect. Couldn't
, have been that Sellimer crowd. l reck
on, from Chicago?"
Yes; Mrs. Sellimer and her daugh
ter and some Of their friends"
Wilcox whistled loudly. And thai
up and down looking chap in the gold
nose glasses was your brother?''
Never thought Of that" Bill ex
claimed; although he had your name
he looked so different. But now thai
you've laid aside your cowboy rigging
l guess you could sit in his class dowl
at the bottom of i"
Wilcox was uneasy. Il was told.
he observed, "and took the trouble
to get datty on the subject. that then
Sellimers-the mother and daughtel
and the herd they drift with--is of th'
highest pedigree Chicago can produce
1t 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 Brothe
Edgerton disturb your ideal. Wer
so different that we parted withou
saying goodby. Miss Sellimer is th'
girl whose letters l was carrying abou
with me when / first saw you. Sh
refused me because was as poor a
herself So you see the whole buncl
is out Of my class"
Wilfred moved uneasily. HAS La
homa made their acquaintance, then!'
lit looks like it, don't it?'
What looks like it," Wilffed asked
with sudden sharpness.
.'Why. her going off with 'em t.
spend the winter in high life"
"But l thought-but l came here t.
see Lahoma" cried Wilfred. unable t.
conceal his disappointment. Il hav
| good farm now not very far from
Oklahoma City. and-well. being alon
there year after year. a fellow gets t
imagining great many things H
stopped abruptly.
That's so," Wilcox agreed sympa
thetically. Il amt a-saying that !
Lahoma d been like me and Bill sh
mightn't of liked farming with yol
first class. But she was born as a
: associate of high men and women. nc
cows and chickens It's the big worl
for her. and that's where she's gone
There was silence. broken present.
by Bill I'm glad you've come. sure!
Presently the door opened. and th
e Indian chief Red Feather glided int
n the apartment with a grunt Of salut;
,r ton He spread his blanket in co
n ner and sat down. turning stolid fac
1t to the fire.
20 Don't pay no attention to him. r.
marked Wilcox. as If speaking Of som
d wild animal He comes once yes
,e to see US, and he isn't troublesome
It you feeds and sleeps him and don't II
,e to lay your hand on him.
K Bill Atkins rose. But always ligl
1t up when he comes," he remarks
IS reaching stiffly for a lantern. al
IN you hungry. WilfredT' he asked.
b. Wilfred declared that be was not
r the least hungry.
er I'm afraid you're disappointed. son
lg observed Wilcox, filing his pipe ane'