Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-03-06

me. Then with Il sudden little scream
she exclaimed: "Oh, daddy, why can't /
you sell your practice and buy
rahchF Wouldn't that be wonderfully ,
Your mother might not see II that |
way he replied and her eyes fell.
les, that was the obstacle. She |
would have TO go back to the city and |
TAX by rule, and dress by rule, and |
DehaVe by rule, and be correct.
ITS been a good time" the doctor /
continued, when they had commenced /
supper, but I've already overstayed /.
my holiday. l feel l can travel now, .
and my leg will be pretty strong by F.
the time I am back east. If Dave will /
ohlige US by going TO town tomorrow /
and bringing back some one who can
drive car. we will he able to start
the following morning | will just take
the car to town, and either sell 1t there
or ship it,"
The following morning found Dave
early on the trail, leading Saddled
horse by his side. The hours were
leadcn 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 1t all-all
this wild freedom, this bOundleSS
health, this great outdoors, this life,
iife-hOw could she drop it all and 20
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 lmperceptibly 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, hut sincerity, too-an essential
! for a machine-made counterfeit with
the stamp of Society? Deeply did she
ponder these questions, and as the day
wore on she found herself possessed
Of a steadily growing determination
| that she would not follow the beaten
trail, let the by-paths lead where they
| might.
Darkness, save for n white moon,
/ had settled over the foothills when the
boy returned with another young man.
The stranger ate ravenous supper.
but was not too occupied to essay con-
versation with Irene. He chose to call
| her cook
Swell pancakes, cook" was his
| orly
other for yours truly?"
She reflled his plate without an
swer.
used to know a girl mighty like
YOU" he went on. waitress in the
Royal Edward. Geel but she was
1 swefft pippin! Class? Say, she
had 'em all guessing. Had me guessing
myself for while. But just for q
while" He voiced these remarks with
an air of intense self-approval more
offensive than the words.
Irene felt the color rise about her
neck and cheeks and run like an over
flowing stream into her ears and about
her hair. 1t was evident that, for
second time Dave had chosen to say
nothing to strangers about her pres
ence at the ranch. Her father and Mr..
Eden were in Dawes room; Dave had
stopped eating. and she saw the veins
rising in his clenched fists. But the
challenge was to her, and she would
accept it; she felt no need of his pro-
lection.
"FilI your stomach" she said, pass
ing more pancakes; your head Is
hopeless"
He attempted laugh, but the meal
was finished in silence. The stranger
LIT a cigarette and Irene went to the
door with Dave.
"Come for a walk" he whispered.
"The horses are tired, so let's walk.
It's our last chance"
She ran for her sweater and re1oined
him I'm a moment. They walked In
silence down path through the fra
grant trees, but Dave turned from time
TO time to catch a glimpse of her race
, white and fine as ivory In the sort
light. He had much to say, but he was
oncue-tied under the spell of her
1eauty.
You squelched him, all right" he
,roke out, at length.
lust in time, too, | think" she re-
lied. 81 was watching your hands"
He smiled a quiet but very confident
mile. "Reenie," he said, that fellow
makes me sick. All the way out ne
talked about girls. He's a city chap
an wears a white collar, but he ain
fit to speak your name. Another min
ME an I'd "a had i'm by the neck.
He seized a spruce limb that stuck
across their path. 1t was the size OF a
stout stick, but he snapped 1t with a
turn of his wrist. 1t was very tough
II oozed sticky stuff where he broke 1t.
"His neck" he said, between his teeth
Gus like that"
They reached an open space. Some
, thing black-Or was it red?-lay on
the ground. Dave bent over it mo-
ment then looked up to her white
, clear face. white and clearer than ever
, since Witnessing the strength of his
, hate.
sIt's a calf" he said. as calmly as he
could. "Half ct up. Wolves, guess
"The poor, poor thing" she breath
ed. 1.-THE poor innocent thing Wh!