New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-01-25
CHAPTER

JHhn Hannnn's liFniamenl,
Paradise. What warts shalt one
choose 10 tell al I and those who
made iir-ef lis heamtN iis strength
and it's Arrogance
IN a iand where distance hazed the
southern skyline, where iawnY hnttes
and mesas stood maiestiPally against
the blue, where bunch grass levels
swept toward the illimilalle west AMI
TIE iilind Trail Hillsrosr stark aud
forhlidiRg uRan the tasi, IL lay Ike
the heart OF peace itself, smiling In
the sun, green with It's wide alfalfa
Fields beneath iis living waters.
Worn, eldrfashi0ned chairs a-l
benches stood Hospitality on the elean,
swept earth where the poplars made
then shaking shade, and hammar Is,
Fst with fringe, swung in the iiine
hreezes,
And, half eircling this enchanting
spot upon the LETT, there stood the
raneh-hogse itself
The house WIS irregular FUN Of
great rooms and passas'- ways and
sudden inrnings, OF mysterious and
unexpected hooks and corners In
the center OF the ha'f.risc, which il
formed around thp fnring and the
cotionwoods, two great doors opened
inward, taking the stranger abruptly
into room 10 huge-so high. so
wide, so deep--that he Invariably
caught his breath,
Its hard earth floor was covered 10
every corner with Indian rugs in
r'arir. blaek-and-whitc, oycry one Of
whichin its beautiful design. its size.
tn thickness, was worth pocket full
al gold. I'm its walls yet other rugs
and blankets were stretched between
the long. deep riffs that answered for
windows. but these were bright with
co,or-laming reds and gods and the
sharp clear contrast of the blacks that
cniy tho Indian weavers know so wei 4
how TO use. Here and there among
tIese ST liking panels there hung
picture or two-and again the ,
stranger stared. for one was the Mona !
lisa with her ever enhancing smile. I
and one was Psyche at Spring in the .
exquisite lights and tints OF April. /
while yet one other was that undying
joy to those who love horsclesh. Rosa
Bonhcur's Horse Fair. full four feet
long.
There were couches against the
walls, and in one corner where the
light fell softly from tie west through
the fine-leared vine outside the win
dow, a piano. so Old that its once
milk white keys were yellow az an ODD
dogs tooth, lifted it's harp-sha ped top
maiestically against the piece Of
ancient tapestry that dtapcd the wall
behind. \ narrow bench. entirely
covered with minnie CARVINGS black ,
with age, stood mce'iy before it. as if ,
glad to serve in it's iowiy way the once
grand instrument.
Here in the dusk woman came .
feeling with outstretched
hands for the things she could not
see. and sliding softly on the ancient
bench, played tinnling tunes OF a long
past day. "A sweet, fair woman she =
was, frai and delIcate OF outline and !
demeanor, with patient lines in her
clear face and with the light of a !
splendid soul SHINING in her darkness. }
For twenty years si1e had been like L
q prisoner in this fortress, but guard
ed by so many loving hearts, watched :
by so many keen eyes, ser> ed by so !
many cage. hands that she was in n
reality queen. And here, often h
when she played her nanialess tunes
nan came to find her, to sit and listen h
Ind to watch her face with such a u
1eartache on his features that
Tragedy staked through the shadow :
ID room
This was John Harmon, the boss of
he rancho, the greatest one-nlan
power in the country Of the mesas
rated by his far neighbors for his
ences and his fields and his methods
cared by his enemies. and a shining
mark for that sharp gentry OF the
,order whose raids and crimes were
load on the hearts of all the
anchors within striking distance of
he line. And the slim blind woman
vas his wife, Belle, the only woman
reature he had ever loved in his life
ave one, and whose affection had
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