Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-06-05

we're still alive. even II we are asleep
"weve got You beat there. then. All
the women vote here. What's the mat
ter with you staying and running for
governorT-
.Couid I--reallyf" she beamed.
"Really and truly. Trouble with us
h that were 80 civilized we bend over
backward with It. You're going 10 ind
us mighty tame. The melodramatic
romance OF The West In mostly In story
books. What there was Of II has gone
out with the cowpuncher."
"what's cowpuncherr
-He rides the range after cattle"
''Oh--a cowboy. But aren't there
any cowboysY'
They're getting seldom. The barb
wire fence has put them out OF busi-
ness. Mostly they're working for the
moving picture companies now" he
smiled.
Mr.. verinder prefaced with for
nal little cough second attempt 70
drive away this very assured native.
AS I was saying. Miss Dwight.
wouldn't mind going into parliament.
you know. II II weren't for the baliy
labor members. I'm rather strong on
speaking--that sort Of thing. you
know. Used 10 be dab at H. But
couldn't stand the Founders that get
In nowadays. Really. ! couldn't"
.And I had 30 counted on the cow
boys. I'm going to be disappointed. ]
think" Miss Dwight said.
verinder had sense enough to know
that he was being punished. He had
tried to put the westerner out OF the
picture and found himself eliminated
instead. An angry flush rose to his
cheeks.
"Thats the mistake you all make"
Kilmeny told her. @'rhe true romance
OF the West isn't In It's clothes and Its
trappings."
"where II itf' she asked.
.In its spirit---in the hope and the
courage born Of the wide plains and
the clean hills--in Its big democracy
| and It's freedom from convention. The
West Is a condition of mind"
Miss Dwight was surprised. She
had not expected philosophy Of this
nature from her chance barbarian. He
had the hands Of a working man,
brown and sinewy but untorn; YET
there was the mark Of distinction In
the lean head set so royalty on splen.
| aid shoulders. His body, spare of
| flesh and narrow of flank. had the
1.-THE grace Of a panther. She had
seen before that look OF competence,
/ Of easy self-relIance. Some Of the
men OF her class had it-Ned XII
| meny, for instance But Ned was mn
officer in fighting regiment which
had seen much service. Where had
| this tanned fisherman won the man.
ner that inheres only In leader OF
| men7
"And how long does II take to be-
long 10 your westf" asked the young
woman, with the infection Of derision.
But her mockery was fraud. In
both voice and face was a vivid eager
| ness not 10 be missed.
"Time hasn't thing to do with II.
Men live all their lives here and are
never westerners. Others are Of US in
day. I think you would qualify
early"
She knew that she ought to snub his
| excursion into the personal. but she
was by nature unconventional.
How do you known" she demanded
| quickly,
that's just q guess of NINE" he
smiled.
A musical voice called from within
the house. sHave you seen my
Graphic. MoyaT
A young woman stood In the door
way, q goiden-white beauty with soft
smiling eyes that showed a little sur.
prise at sight OF the fisherman. A
faint murmur Of apology for the inter
ruption escaped her lips.
Kilmeny could not keep his eyes
from her. What superb young crea-
ture she was. what perfection In the
animal grace Of the long lines Of the
soft rounded bodyl Her movements
had light buoyancy that was charm.
ing. And where under heaven could q
man hope to see anything iovelier
than this pale face with its crown Of
FURNISHED hair SO lustrous and album.
dantf
Miss Dwight turned to her friend.
81 haven't seen the Graphic. Joyce,
dear"
Isn't It In the billiard room
Thought ] saw II there. I'll look.
verinder volunteered.
Good Of you Miss Joyce nodded.
her eyes on the stranger. who had
| turned TO leave.
Kilmeny was going because he knew
that he might easily outwear his well
come He had punished verinder. and
that was enough. The miner had met
too many ike him not to know that
the man belonged to the family Of
common or garden snob. No doubt
he rolled In wealth made by his IA
Their. The fellow had studied carefully
the shibboleths Of the society with
which he wished to be Intimate and
was probably ietter-perfect None the
less. he was a bounder, q rank out
slider tolerated only for his money. He
might do for the husband Of some pen