White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-11-28
THE EXILE OF THE LARIAT
BY HoNoRE WlLLsiE
Copyright 1928
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
York


ness, on BOOBIES Lnln lips.
Erred" Hugh turned suddenly to
the old miner, II don't believe We'll
begin the job this afternoon, seeing
that we have company and it's Christ
mas Eve Suppose you and Red Wolf
try your luck at antelope. We ought
to have a real dinner tomorrow"
Fred poured cupful Of melted
snow into the coffee pot and smiled.
BEST idea you've had in two
months, Hughie. VIII you dish this
here mess for Booker"
| Hugh nodded and Fred slammed out
of the wagon.
Thanks, Hughie," said Bookie. ut
isn't very often l get chance for
real talk with you"
Hugh served the old mans meal
with the dizziness of hand character
istic of him before he asked, was
there something particular on your
mind Uncle Booker"
81 suppose there is" replied Bookie,
Thought l didn't fully realize 1t till
got here. Pm getting old, Hughle,
and you are all I have, and l miss
you"
Hugh perched on the bunk edge
while his uncle ate, nodded under
standingly. "And you are all l have,
too, Uncle Bookie."
"You oughtn't to eliminate Jessie
that way, Hughie," said Bookie.
Hugh's clear gray eyes looked I'M
blinkingly into Booklets. "You and
have to make pretenses about jessie,
do we? If l must bluff the rest of the
world, l can be honest with you, can't
: II"
Jessie is all right. She just isn't
your kind, that's all. l told you be-
fore you married her that you'd out
grow her before you were twenty
fve," protested Bookie.
well" Hugh's low voice was stern,
l ''it's come as you said and I'm paying
9 the bill in loneliness, but haven't
I complained except when Jess and her
1 mother go after me too hard about my
work"
l Everybody over thirty is inely,'
said Bookie, "and some younger than
!, that. Jessie is lonely-or l miss my
l guess"
t sIs it Jessie that you wanted to talk
, to me about?" asked Hugh, skeptical
> ly.
S "Only incidentally, Bookie answer
:, ed after long pause, during which
y he finished his meal and Hugh filled
and half smoked pipe. "Only incl
3 dentally. Pm getting old, Hughie.
live in the past. It's sure sign"
J Hugh packed the dishes into the
J dishpan and slung the table agains
) the wah. Then he stretched himsel
on the bench thus exposed and nod
> ded toward the lower bunk.
Ease yourself over there, Uncl
: Rookie, and get it all off your chest.
Bookie smiled. II wish it was a
: simple as that, boy" He cheWe
e for several minutes. 1--WE had an IL
n teresting life, Hugh, a lot more inte1
esting than most folks, chuck full 10
p adventure, and yet, sitting there alon
in the old bookstore night ate
p night, do you know what l thin
le about? The woman 1 didn't marry
ID the son l didn't have-the good
IL didn't do"
IL He paused and Hugh eyed hir
e. wistfully. "You might be catalogin
W my own losses, Uncle Booklet"
" "As a matter of fact, Hughie, 20
o. are so wrapped up in your work thu
al you don't look on those things as los
al es but as assets. Come now, isn't thu
true? And you are looking at m
9h sadly out of pure love and sympath
q for me. Eh?"
y. Hugh laughed. Right, Uncle BOO
OF ie! Lord, wouldn't give up my wol
~ for anything on earth!"
Don't make wild boasts, boy. Life
q just begun for YOU Don't fix you
no self so that every gol darned holids
" that comes along, especially Chris
" mas, makes you feel like an emp
gourd: Especially Christmas"
~ by .jove, Uncle Bookie, don't te
- me an old gun-notcher like you is &c
- ting sentimental"
- "Exactly I'm getting sentiments
:, Every human being has to pay tt
~ - sometime in the shape of sentime
~ tality. Most folks are lucky enoue
- to get through it while they're youn
- But l stalled it off and now ! ha'
- to pay Take this matter of Chris
mas. Christmas isn't religious fe
tival. It's state Of mind. It's
yearly return to the basic principl
on which civilization has cover'
even the small amount of ground II
covered so far. Hughie, do you l
member the Christmases we used
have on the ranch before your moth
died?"
Hugh nodded.
do you remember the last o.
while your father still lived?"
, Hugh shook his head "NO I w