The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-06-04
MY OWN PEOPLE
BY ELIZABETH M'NAUGHT.

eyed Rebeeea WAS forced 10 put up
with IN her squalid little home
many things that We're not al all con
ducise TO the happiness of "a twenty
year-old visionary such as she hap-
pened TO be.
There was Grandma Schwartz, COM
fortably situated. with no real worry
of an impoverished old age. yet for
ever lamenting her growing feebleness
and its attendant loss of usefulness
and Grandpa Schwartz. continually
railing against the present generation;
aud lust, Rebecca father. moody and
silent, constantly worrying that like
wise unjust world, just then whisper
ing prohibition, might bring 1t to an
issue. And he in the liquor business
To gentle. retiring little Rebecca
the very smell of the stuff was an
abomlnation. Dutifully, she worked
unseen In the little compartment be-
hind the bar, labelling. bottling, seal-
ins but worked mechanically. for al
ways her mind was far AHEAD In the
| future, far removed from that damp,
heavy atmosphere. Before her minds
eye many futures yisloned themselves
mistily, many modes of life, many
friends. And. impulsively. without "a
moments notice she reached her great
decision.
Amid the tears and pleas and dire,
bewildering predictions of her near
ones she passed into the gray stone
walls of the county hospital TO emerge
four years later positive little soft
voiced Rebeeca. spotless In white
linen, bearing so much dignity. YET in
tiuencing SO sweetly. Not even her
father dared TO challenge her when
she sprinkled her queer smelling dis
infeetants about the house nor yet
when she calmly disagreed with many
of their lifelong traditions. Slowly.
yet patiently she worked for the
change. And slowly 1T came.
No longer did grandma pray aloud
that her last sickness might be "a
short bed; grandpa. II he still re-
tanned his own opinions. kept them
| pretty well to himself, especially In
| the presence of this capable young
| ehangeling, and father. the former
master of his own and others desti-
MES. had cause to be jubilant, for. be-
cause OF the earnest solicitation of
Rebecca, he had stepped very grace
fully and financially safe from the
business a year previous and compll-
menting himself on his shrewdness,
sat back and dared a real prohibition
to do its worst Thus they sat salts
fled, atop Of their little world of hap
piness Suddenly, their world cayed
In! Father saw him first.
"Why. was simply on q case with
him" was her only explanation, given
with a tinality that was eloquent In
Its defiance, or such 1t seemed 10 the
meek old man. But the cases became
most frequent.
Like most old ladies, grandma had
the habit Of sitting down In her rock
ing chair with something TO read then
going 10 sleep, 10 awaken just AS the
small black roadster bearing away her
daughters child turned the corner.
One evening she awakened about three
seconds sooner than Usual or just In
time 10 catch glimpse Of the mystery
man. Her vantage point was the bed
room window and the moonlight, abet-
ted by fading vision. interfered
somewhat. Her heart stood STILL for
the silvery grayness of the hair and
the paleness of the skin proclaimed
him Gentle. The trembling knees
grew weak and shakingly she erept
| beneath the sheets, sore at heart, fear
fully apprehensiye, yet an ally.
Rebecca would marry whomever she
chose, this the old lady knew, yet she
also knew the hardness of the non
compromising father. and after weeks
OF dwelling in such misery, 1t was not
surprising that she took to her bed.
really sick this time. One evening. be
Invaded their home; strainIng hard,
the invalid heard Rebecca's happy
voice and CHEEKY laugh welcoming
him.
"0h, God Of Abraham" she prayed
humbly, take me to your BOSOM"
Great drops of perspratlon stood
out on her forehead and IL was quite
a few minutes before she became con-
scious of cool hand soothing her
brow. Slowly, she peered up. seek
ing for a little comfort In the kind
eyes above her bed. but they we're
elsewhere.
II shouldn't have left her." Rebecca
was saying, "the heat Is so depressing
today"
Grandma's eyes encircled the room.
seeking the intruder, and one look into
pair Of somber black eyes and her
blueish. graylsh, swaylng old world I'D
and rlghted itself. WHAT matter
blonde-like hair or Gentle features7
For, instinctlyely, Grandma Schwartz
knew she was being supported by the
strong arm OF son OF the chosen
people. A little gasping, half-uttered
explanation in Rebecca's ear, few
nervous tears and 1t was all over as
the girl said chIdiugly: