Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-07-28
CHAPTER VIi-Continued.

To his utter amazement the blue
eyes filed suddenly. But the owner
of the eyes was winking the tears
away and laughing before he could
could put the amazement into words.
You shouldn't hit out like that
when one isn't looking; it's wicked"
she protested. Besides, the railroad
is coming; it's got to come"
1T is still undecided" he told her
mechanically. "Mr. Ford is coming
over with the engineers to have a con-
ference on the ground with-with the
Cartwright people. / am expecting
him any day."
And the government"
The department is holding entirely
aloof, as 1t should. Everyone in the
reclamation service knows that no
good can possibly come Of any effort
to force the region ahead of its nor
NAL and natural development. And,
besides. none of us here in the valley
want to help blow the Cartwright
bubble any higher than it has to be-"
Then you will advise against the
building of the extension?"
Instead of answering her question
he asked one Of his own.
What does it mean to you-to you.
personally, apart from the money your
father might make out Of it, Amy?"
She hesitated a moment and then
met the shrewd scrutiny Of his gaze
with open candor.
THE money is only a means to an
end-as yours will be. You know very
well what l meant when / told you
that three times we have been obliged
to come back to the mountains TOTO
try again. / dreaded the coming Of
your camp; / dread a thousand times
more the other changes that are COM
ing-the temptations that a mush-
room city will offer. This time father
has promised me that when he can
make his stake he will go back to Ken
lucky and settle down; and he will
keep his promise. More than that.
Stevie has promised me that he will
60, too, IL he can have a stock-farm
and raise fine horses-his one healthy
ambition. Now you know it ALL"
He reached up from the lower step
where he was standing and took her
hand.
Yes; and I know more than that
l know that you are mighty brave
little girl and that your load is heavier
than mine-worlds heavier. But you're
going to win out; IL not today or to-
morrow, why. then, the day after. It's
written in the book"
She returned his hand-grip OF en-
couragement impulsively and smiled
down upon him through quick-spring-
ing tears.
You'll win out. too, Victor. because
it's in you to do it. I'm sure of tt
/ know it. There is only one thing
that scares me-"
Name It," he said. I'm taking ev-
erything that comes today-from you"
You are strong man; you have
a reserve of strength that is greater
than most mems full gift; you can cut
and slash your way to the thing you
really want, and nothing can stop you
But you'll forgive me for being plain.
won't you?-there is little, just the
least little bit of desperation in the
present point of view, and"
Say it," he commanded when she
hesitated.
Il hardly know how to say 1t. There
were ideals in the beginning; don't let
them fall down in the dust or in the
in the mud. It's got to be clean money.
you know; the money that is going to
give you the chance to say. Come. girl,
let's go and get married. You won't
forget that. will your"
He relinquished the hand Of encour-
agement because he dared not hold it
any longer, and turned away to stare
absently at the timbered tunnel mouth
whence a faint clinking of hammer
upon steel issued with monotonous
regularity.
Il wish you hadn't said that, Amy
about the ideals"
Il don't know what you mean" she
said simply.
Perhaps It is just as well that you
don't. Let's talk about something
else-about the railroad. President
Ford hasn't decided; he won't decide
until he has looked the ground over
and had a chance to confer with me- y
She bridged all the gaps with swift
intuition. He means to give you the
casting vote? He will build the exten
sion II you advise It? Then it will lie
in your hand to make US rich or to
keep us poor" she laughed. BE a
good god-in-the-car. please. and your
petitioners will ever pray" Then. with
an instant return to seriousness: But
you mustn't think Of that-of course,
you won't-with 90 many other and
greater things to consider"