Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-10-09
CHAPTER II.

Doctor Hardy recovered from his IN
juries as rapidly as could be expected
and. while he chafed somewhat over
spending his holidays under such cir
cumstances, the time passed not un-
happily.
A considerable mountaineering nao
sprung up between him and the senior
Elden. The rancher had come from the
East forty years before, but in turning
over their memories the two men
found many links of association: tnird
persons known to them both; places.
even streets and houses, common 70
their feet in early manhood; events OF
local history which each could recall.
although from different angles. AND
Elden's grizzled head and STOPPING
frame carried more experiences than
would fill a dozen well-rOunded CITY
lives, and he had the story-tellers ART
which scorns to spoil dramatic erect
by too strict adherence to fact. But
no ray of conversation would he admit
into the more personal affairs of his
heart or of the woman who mad been
his wife, and even when the IalK
turned on the boy he quickly Withdrew
il to another topic, as though the SUD-
iect were dangerous or distasteful. But
once, after long silence following such
a. diversion, had he betrayed himselI
into a whispered remark, an outburst
of feeling rather than a communion
ton.
'Tve been alone so much" he SAID
eft seems have never been anything
but alone. And-sooner or iater-it
gets you-it gets you.'
''You have the boy" ventured the
| doctor.
"No" he answered almost Hereby.
.That would be different. L coulu
stand IT then. But l haven't got him.
| and | can't get him. He despises me
because-because l take too much at
times" He paused as though wonder
ing whether to proceed with this I'M
wonted confidence, but the ache IN MS
heart insisted on its right to human
sympathy. mo, it amt that ne con-
timed. "He despises me because ne
thinks / wasn't fair to his mother ne
can't understand. wanted to be goou
TO her. to be close to her. Then TOOK
TO booze, as natural as a steer unuer
the brandin'-lron roars to drown ms
hurt. But the boy don't understand
He despises me-" Then, after a long
| silence: mo matter. l despise my
self"
The doctor placed hand on MS
shoulder. But Eden was hlnsell
again. The curtains of his life, which
he had drawn apart for moment ne
wbinped together again rudely, almost
viciously. and covered his confusion by
nlunping into a tale of how he had lei
n breed suspected of embarrassing on
little canter of ten miles with rope
about his neck and the other end tieu
! +o the saddle. "He ran well" said the
old man. chuckling still at the relnims-
cence "And it was lucky he dld' IL
was strong rope"
The morning after Dave had prousn,
in the borrowed saddle Irene appeared
In sort of bloomer suit, somewhat
wonderfully contrived from q spare
skirt. and announced Willingness u
risk life and limb on any horse tha'
Dave might select for that purpose, H'
provided her with a dependable noun,
and their first journey, taken somewhat
glnrerly along the principal trail, was
accomplished without incident. 1t was
Tho forerunner of many others, plung
ing deeper and deeper into the fast
nesses of the foothills and even int'
the passes of the very mountains them
selves. His patience was Infinite anu