The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-10-19
By Katharine NewIin Burt
Copyright by Katharine N. Burt
CHAPTER n
~

OF persecution, Skliiluily CoHuucltu ny
Jasper and Betty, against the ferocity
of Jane. 1t was persecution impos.
sible to imagine In any other setting,
even the social simplicity of Lazy-Y
found Itself trife amused. For JAS
per, the stately Jewish figure, would
carry pals of water for Jane from the
well to the kitchen, would help her In
the vegetable garden, and to straighten
out her recalcitrant stove-pipe; Betty
would put on an apron a mile too
large, to wash dishes and shell peas.
She would sit on the kitchen table
swinging her long, childlike legs and
chatter amiably. Jasper talked. too,
to the vlrago, talked delightfully."-,
about horses and dogs-he had a
charming gift of humorous observa-
tion-talked about hunting and big
game shooting, about trapping, about
travel. and. at last, about plays. IN
doubtedly Jane listened. Sometimes
she laughed Once In while she
CALCULATED, unsteady, well" Occa-
sionally she swore.
One afternoon he met her riding
home from an errand to a neighboring
ranch, and turning his horse, rode
with her. In worn corduroy skirt. fan
mel shirt. and gray sombrero, she
looked like handsome. haggard boy,
and, that afternoon, there was GER
tain unusual usefulness In her eyes,
and her mouth had relaxed a little
from Its bitterness. Perhaps It was
the beauty of a clear, keen summer
day; without doubt, also, she was
touched by the courteous pleasure of
his greeting and by his giving up his
ride In order TO accompany her. She
even unbent from her silence and, for
the first time, really talked to him.
And she spoke, too, In new manner,
using her beautiful voice with beauti-
full carefulness. 1t was like a master
musician who, after a long Illness,
takes up his beloved instrument and
tentatively tests his shaken powers.
Jasper had much ado TO keep his sur
prise to himself, for the rough ranch
girl could speak pure enough English
If she would
"You and your wife are leaving |
soon?" she asked him, and, when he |
nodded, she gave a sigh. an be miss !
Ing yon," she said. throwing away her
brusquerie like rag with which she |
was done. you've been company for
me. You've made use of lots of /
patience and courage, but l have real
ly liked it. I've not got the ways of
being sociable and l don't know that
want ever TO get them. / am not
seeking for friends. There isn't an
other person on the ranch that would /
dare talk TO me as you and Mrs. Mo-
rena have talked. They don't know
anything about me here and don't
mean that they should know" She
paused then save way to an impulse
IF confidence. Zone of the boys asked
ne to marry him. He came and shout
ID 1t through the window and l
taught him with pan of water" She
sighed. Il don't know rightly If he
meant 1t for a joke or not, but the
augh wasn't ON me-"
Jasper controlled his laughter, then
Jaw the dry humor Of her eyes and
ips and let out his mirth.
"Why, SIR said Jane you'd be
at the foolishness of men.
ii seems that. just for pure
ontrariness. they want to marry her
hat least wants them about The day :
came tramping into this valley, /
topped for food at the ranch of an
Id bachelor down yonder at the ford
md he invited me to be his wife while
was drinking a glass of water from
is well. He told me how much money
e had and said he'd start my stove
Or me winter mornings. There's a
God husbandl And he was sure kind
D me even when told him no. Twas
nat same evening that the boy from .
azy-Y rode in and claimed me for a I
ook. Mr.. Yarnall is trusting man. /
lie took me and didn't ask any ques-
ons. told him was Jane and d
nat l wasn't planning TO let him |
now more. He hasn't asked me an h
Their question since. He's a gentle \
ian, figure II, and he's kind of quiet {
imself about what he was before he v
anne to this country. He's a man of n
fly and he has lots back of him, Z
My he's taken a fresh start" She S
ghed, Folks like you and Betty seem y
wfully open-hearted. It's living In s
ties, ! suppose, where every one o
nows every one else so WELL"
This astonishing picture of the can p
ID simplicity of New York's social l
fe absorbed Jasper's attention for n
'me time. II
wouldn't you like to live in a city,
mel"
She laughed her short, boyish al
Hoo" 1T isn't what l would like,
r. Morena." she said. "Why, I'd like p
see the world. | would like to be Of
at fellow who was condemned to
ander ali over the earth and never n
die. He was Jew. too, wasn't n
n" a
Jasper flushed. People were not In "
e habit of making direct reference fl
his nationality, and. being an a
raelite who had early cut himself p
I with dislike from his own people j
d cultivated the society of Gentiles, IL