Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-12-24

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some day become a reality. These
were the reformers-the long-hairs-
fanatics.
Oklahoma was very proud OF Sabra
Cravat. editor. congresswoman, pio-
neer. Usage said she embodied the
finest spirit Of the state and OF the
Southwest. When ten OF Osage's most
unctuous millionaires contributed fifty
thousand dollars each for fve-hun-
dred-thousand-dollar statue that should
embody the Oklahoma pioneer no one
was surprised to hear that the sculp-
tor, Masja Krbecek, wanted to inter-
view Sabra Cravat.
Usage was not familiar with the
sculpture OF Krbecek, but 1t was i'm
pressed with the price of 1t. Half
million dollars for statuel
Certainly" said the committee,
calmly. Hes the best there Is. Half
a million is nothing for his stuff. He
wouldn't kick a pebble for less than
a quarter of q milliofE
DO you suppose he'll do her as a
pioneer woman In sunbonnet? Hold
ing little Gin by the hand, huh? Or
maybe In covered wagon
Sahra received Krbecek In simple
(draped) dress. He turned out to be
quiet. rather snuffy little Pole In
eyeglasses, who looked more like Z
tailor-a "little" tailor-than sculp-
tor. His eye roamed about the living
room Of the house on Kihekik. The
old wooden house had been covered
with plaster In deep warm shade
much the color OF the native clay: the
gimcrack porch and the cupolas had
been torn away and 4 great square
veranda and a terrace built at the
side. away from the street and
screened by thick hedge and an iron
| grille 1t was now. In fact, much the
house that Yancey had planned when
| Sabra first built II years ago. The
old pieces OF mahogany and glass and
silver were back, triumphant again
over the plush and brocade with which
Sabra had furnished the house when
new. The old. despised since pioneer
days. was again the fashion In Usage
There was the Decrease silver; the
! cake dish with the carefree cupids. the
mantelpiece figures of china.
| you are very comfortable here In
/ Oklahoma" said Masja Krbecek. He
pronounced It syllable by syllable
/ painfully. Oklahoma
1T Is very simple home" Sabra
replied, compared to the other places
you have seen hereabouts."
1T is the home OF good woman.
said Krbecek. dryly.
Sabra was trine startled, but sht
said thank you. primly.
you are congress member. yor
are editor OF great newspaper. yot
are we'll known throughout the coun
try. You American women. you ar,
really amazing"
Again Sabra thanked him.
"Tell me, will you. my dear lady,
he went on, "some OF the many inter
esting things about your life and tina
OF your husband. this Yancey Crava
who 80 far preceded his time"
+ So Sabra told him. Somehow, a
she talked. the years rolled back, cur
tain after curtain. into the past TIL
Run. Then they were crossing TIL
prairie. there was the first glimpse o
the mud wallow that was Usage. TIL
church meeting In the tent. the Peg
Ter murder, the outlaws, the earl
years Of the paper. the Indians. oil
She talked very well In her clear, de
cisive voice. At his request sh
showed him the time-yellowed photo
graphs of Yancey, Of herself. Krbecel
listened. At the end. 1T Is touch
ing" he said. 1T makes me weep.
Then he kissed her hand and wen
away. taking one or two Of the oil
photographs with him.
The statue Of the Spirit OF tn
Oklahoma Pioneer was unveiled yea
later, with terrific ceremonies. IT wa
heroic figure of Yancey Crava
stepping forward with that iigh
Il graceful stride In the high-heele
Texas star boots, the skirts OF TIL
Prince Albert billowing behind wit
the vigor of his movements, the SON
brero atop the great menacing bufral
head. one beautiful hand resting light
ly on the weapon In his two-gu
holster. Behind him. one hand jus
touching his shoulder for supper
stumbled the weary. blanketed fgur
of an Indian.