The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-11-29
-EE E.-E----Es. HE
Duncan Dolcares E5uscI


 A June morning envrapped the Dlain-a zoiden zpIeador simmer ing beneath the boundless. tranquil sky 4 white radiance marked the course Of the ricer. and the dOmes of the trees rose above it like silent temples. the cattle passing in and out thel.. shadows GeEout worshipers-
 Through The Iznge-deep grass of the bottom. driving flock of sheep to pasture. Ruth walked with the grace of prairie nymph, her feet strtls.uE sprays of diamonds and pearls into the sunlight
 Every flower held jewel in its mouth. and El.staniuE gossamer webs hoated from the tops of restless weeds. Yellow breasted larlIs hutter- ed from lne tops of many feet, sailed on in uneven impulse and dipped from -sEfL m the tall her.aGe. their esstaris notes rising like a chant. F'aintiy. from tua direction of -he river, there rose the cries of 2 boy and che yeipln- of a dog in joyous abandon
 Ruth paused. conscious of the Sc Cuctlye charm of the young day The g. vague uDea-tue-S stirred in he bosom. Her eye had picked out th' silhouette Of a lorsemau emerging above the river bluffs.
 More than a. month had passed since
  from Eenyauue. And as the incl dents that had followed chat brief wis now flashed upon her. she repe1red her rrieudIiuess-a LriendHuess that had run couter to her WOman's lntui- rious. From the first she had mis- trusted him. Now. as she saw him lDnloala her the uueasiness that had narred the brightness of the morn fn= aared into an active fear. She
 D. nat E- Hz away. She turned and glanced back toward the cabin. She could see grandpa beneath the tree, black bIotch against the sky. But, then, ErarEna was helpless. She drew breath uncousciCusly. a resolve was taking from within her that made her eyes slow like coals of fire.
 Duncan Eauoped up
 ..EIeIIow. my little sweetheart" he greeted her. What a beauty ye air this mornfn'. You git pretuer every day. I'd rather pluck you than all -ae flowers on the prairle-I' d--''
 Don't call me sweetheart said Ruth dedautIy. -'Ee know I rOT you l didn't like you. An since ye-z harsh to grandpa an struck Tom L-hare yOu-"
 Listen. Ruth. That's what ] come over fer roday--o ast you to ferEive 
 L.z drunk 'cauze Tz mad at you fer not -ov.u' me. First time I'd touched a drop fer year. If youI forgive me. Ruth, I swear I'll never touch 'r5-he- drop eEain- Liclze- ai1't good fer -1e--- goes 10 my he-G-I do things | wouldn't do o-Lerw.se--ha- I'm sorry fer atterwards-whel it's too late Last time I1 drunk mean fore come Wesc-I-I-weu, I did sorerh5u' CuE,Ltn'-somethl7 IT always reEret--
 ..CH-'- ve see. Ruth. I wasn't my seIt-vleo cussed grandpa all licked Tom. Grandpa ordered me Cu-en the house an never to enter ]. a=.r--la- r.-ed me. An when tha. LI---e Hyena held me up in the dark w--l a cottonwood stick an made me ho- up my haDds-aa' cut my hor-- loose so l had to walk home-I.z cray rlal-Eu-. Ruth. il 'uz the lick er- Eu-l-I-u never touch another drup--L swear to God
 "T love ye. Ruth I love Eou-"
 "Bur lTr. Duncan. IT don't love you" said Ruth with firm be1--z-ess- . sot-euel by the others show Of pen.- -euCe. T don't know what love 5s- I don't want to marry nob0dy-.'
 '.Buc. Ruth. in time ye'd love me- Duncan insisted. ''Atn't nachraI Ee shouldn't an me Iovin' ye so-an'- !