The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-07-31

Woman. Here it met with less oppo-
sition. Almost five years after Yam
cey's departure it looked very much
as though Dixie Lee and her fine
brick house and her plumed and para
soled girls would soon be routed by
the spiritual broomstieks and sunbon-
nets of the purity squad.
1t was characteristic that at this
moment in Osage's history, when the
town was torn, now by martial music.
now by the call of civic virtue, Yancey
Cravat should have chosen to come
riding home; and not that alone, but
to come riding home in full panoply
of war, more dashing, more romantic,
more mysterious than on the day he
had ridden away.
1t was eight o'clock in the morning.
The case of Dixie Lee Con the charge
Of disorderly conduct) was due to
come up at ten in the local court.
Sabra had been at her desk in the
Wigwam Office since seven.
Horses hoofs at a gallop, stopping
spectacularly in front of the Wigwam
office in whirl of dust. A quick,
light step. That step! But it couldn't
be. Sabra sprang to her feet, one
hand at her breast, one hand on the
desk to steady herself. He strobe into
the Office. For five years she had
pictured him returning to her in dra-
matte fashion; in his white sombrero,
his Prince Albert, his high-heeled
boots. For five years she had known
what she would say, how she would
look at him, in what manner she
would conduct herself toward him
toward this man who had deserted her
without a word, cruelty. In an in
slant, at sight Of him, all this left her
mind, her consciousness She was in
his arms with an inarticulate cry, she
was weeping, her arms were about
him, the buttons of his uniform
crushed her breasts. His uniform.
She realized then, without surprise,
that he was in the uniform Of the
Oklahoma Rough Riders.
It is no use saying to man who
has been gone for five years, "Where
have you beenY Besides, there was not
time. Next morning he was on his
way to the Philippines. 1t was not
until he had gone that she realized
her failure actually to put this ques-
ton that had been haunting her for
half a decade.
Gin and Donna took him for grant
ed, as children do. So did Jesse
Hickey, with his mind of child. For
that matter, Yancey took his own re-
turn for granted. His manner was
nonchalant. his spirits high, his ex-
uberance infectious. He set the pitch.
There was about him nothing of the
delinquent husband.
He now strobe magnificently into
the room where the children were at
breakfast, snatched them up, kissed
them. You would have thought he
had been gone week.
Donna was shy of him. "Your
daughters a Venable, Mrs. Cravat," he
said, and turned to the boy. Gin,
slender, graceful, taller than he
seemed because of that trick of low
ering his fine head and gazing at you
from beneath his too-long lashes,
reached almost to Yancey's broad
shoulders. But he had not Yancey's
heroic bulk, his vitality. The Cravat
skull structure was contradicted by
the narrow Venable face. The mouth
was over-sensitive, the hands and feet
too exquisite, the smile almost girlish
in its wistful sweetness. "'Gods How
the son degenerates from the sire!"
"Yancey" cried Sabra in shocked
protest. 1t was as though the five
years had never been.
do you want to see my dog?" CHM
asked.
"Have you got ponyT'
"Oh, no."
"I'll buy you one this afternoon. A
pinto. Here. Look"
He took from his pocket little soft
leathern pouch soiled and worn from
much handling. 1t was laced through
at the top with a bit of stout string.
He loosed this. poured the bags con-
tents onto the breakfast table; a
little heap of shining yellow. The three
stood locking at it. CHM touched 1t
with one finger.
"What is it?"
Yancey scooped up handful of it
and let it trickle through his fingers.
That's gold" He turned to Sabra.
"Its all I've got to show, honey, for
two years and more in Alaska"
ALASKA" she Ncould only repeat,
feebly. So that was 1t.
I'm famished. What's this? Bacon
and eggs?" He reached for slice of
bread from the plate on the table,
buttered it lavishly. clapped strip of
goldfish bacon on top of that, and de-
voured it in eager bits. Sabra saw
then, for the first time, that he was
thinner; there were hollow shadows in
the pock-marked cheeks; there was q
scarcely perceptible sag to the mas
sive shoulders. There was something
about his hand. The forefinger of the
right hand was gone. She felt sud-
denly faint, i'll. She reeled little and
stumbled AS always, he sprang