Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-10-16

{ the old rancher. mot wishin' him an
harm, or you. neither. We was jus
talkin' it over. an your father think
he's spry enough for the road again
Amt ever goin' to be like it used to b,
after he's gone, an you"
wen be sorry to 60 said the doc
tor. That's what I've been saying al
day, and thinking. too. If misfortune:
can be lucky, ours was one of thai
kind. l don't know when I've enjoyed
a holiday so much. What do you say
girl?" he asked, as he rested an arm
on her round, firm shoulder and looked
with fatherly fOndness into the fine
brown of her face.
Q "Tve never known anything like it, y
she answered. "It's wonderful. It's
life" Then with a sudden little scream
she exclaimed: "Oh, daddy, why can't
/ you sell your practice and buy a
ranch? Wouldn't that be wonderful"
"YOur mother might not see it that
way" he replied and her eyes fell.
Yes, that was the obstacle. She
would have to go back to the city and
talk by rule, and dress by rule, and
behave by rule, and be correct.
ITS been a good time" the doctor
continued, when they had commenced
supper, "but I've already oyerstayed
my holiday. l feel / can travel now,
and my leg will be pretty strong by
the time am back east. If Dave will
oblige us by going to town tomorrow
and bringing back some one who can
drive car, we will be able to start
the following morning. will just take
the car to town, and either sell it there
or ship it,"
The following morning found Dave
early on the trail leading a saddled
horse by his side. The hours were
leaden for the girl all that day and,
looking into the future, she saw the
specter of her life Swallowed down the
years by an unutterable loneliness.
How could she ever drop it all-all
this wild freedom, this boundless
life-how could she drop it all and go
back into the little circle where con-
vention fenced out the tiniest alien
streamlet, although the circle itself
might lie deep in mire? And how
would she give up this boy who had |
grown so imperceptibly but so init
mately into the very soul of her being |
give him up with all his strength and |
virility and, yes, and coarseness, if you |
will, but sincerity, tOo-an essential I
man, as God made HMM exchange |
FOR a machipe-made counterfeit with |
the stamp Of Society? Deeply did she
ponder these questions. and as the day
wore on she found herself possessed
Of steadily growing determination
that she would not follow the beaten
trail, let the by-paths lead where they
might.
Darkness, save for white moon,
had settled over the foothills when the
BOY returned with another young man.
The stranger ate a ravenous supper,
)ut was not too occupied to essay con-
with Irene. He chose to call
Ter cook.
"Swell pancakes, cook" was his
opening remark. "Can you find an
,ther for yours truly?"
She refilled his plate without an
wer.
used to know a girl mighty like ,
ou," he went on. "Waitress in the
loyal Edward Gee! but she was
well! A pippin! Glass? Say, she /,
ad 'em all guessing. Had me guessing
lyself for a while. But just for
lille" He voiced these remarks with
n air of intense self-approval more
fensive than the words.
Irene felt the color rise about her
eek and cheeks and run like an over
owing stream into her ears and about
err hair. 1t was evident that, for q
,cond time, Dave had chosen to say
othing to strangers about her pres
ice at the ranch Her father and Mr..
lden were in Dawes room; Dave had
opped eating, and she saw the veins
sing in his clenched fists. But the
was to her, and she would
.cept it; she felt no need of his pro-
ction.
"Fill your stomach" she said. pass
g more pancakes; "yOur head is
,peless." =
He attempted laugh, but the meal Y
as finished in silence. The stranger
a cigarette and Irene went to the
or with Dave.
"Come for walk" he whispered.
NE horses are tired, so let's walk.
It's our last chance"
She ran for her sweater and rejoined
N in moment. They walked In
ence down a path through the fra ~
ant trees, but Dave turned from time nv
time to catch glimpse of her face. -,
lite and fine as ivory in the soft NV
ht.. He had much to say, but he was ="
lgue-tied under the spell of her T
luty.
You squelched him, all right" he ne
)ke out, at length. r.
Just in time, too, think" she re-
ed. 81 was watching your hands
lie smiled quiet but very confident
lie. "Reenle," he said, shat fellow
kes me sick. All the way out he L.