The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-08
By TOM GILL
woo NC - DISTRIBUTED BY xnvo kE41URES SYNDICATE NC

their mean little homes are not peo-
pie with blood and feelings OF with
hopes and dreams. They are just
things that do his will"
"Jito certainly seems 4 little in.
clined that way"
"Oh, Tito Is q child, mentally. Ny
uncle is his god. Tito is cruel only
as . child ID cruel Sometimes when
l have him to myself I make him
sorry. But deep inside he is proud to
be the feared leader of my uncle's
herdsmen."
At the top of = little knoll she
stopped. and together they looked
out through the fresh morning air
and over the blue sagebrush to where
far-of purple mountains cast long
shadows across the world. A little
breeze stirred the desert stiffness
with the sound as of very distant
waters. and in q kind of enchanted
silence those two watched and list.
ened. held by ne beauty and peace
OF it. When Ct last the girl turned,
great tears stood in her eyes.
She whispered, as if half afraid to
break the spell: "How wonderful this
all is. this beautiful country of mine.
Life could be 90 perfect here. II
could be always land of song and
eternal sunshine. q land where every
one might have his little piece Of
land. his home and his work to do.
When was away at school. like an
alien out there in the world, I real.
ICED then how much loved all this
desert country of mine. Each night
! would pray the Mother of God to
show me how might come back and
change this land of slavery into the
paradise il should really Be. The
freedom and hopefulness that in your
country you have. And 80 easily we
could have II. Only to change my
uncle-that would be enough" She
laughed with little mirth. II came
back, tried to change it all, but.
ever between me and all wanted to
do was his iron will. Each year he
is more obsessed with the desire to
be absolute law in everything"
She touched the horse with her
spur. "But why cloud q perfect
morning? I had resolved to put all
this behind me today-and be gay.
II I did not sometimes forget, I
should 60 mad. So now you will tell
me about your own country"
But Ted shook his head. "You al.
ready know about my country. Let's
talk of you. You are serious-minded,
aren't you? And yet you told me
you've been In love"
"In lover Oh. many times" She
laughed.
II don't think I like the thought
Of your being in love many times"
"You wouldn't, Se6or Ted. The
big, conquering male never does. He
wants always to think that the one
woman he selects has been dutifully
waiting for him through the years.
But am woman with . past. Back
when ! was twelve years old I was
madly in love with Tito because he
could bring me gila monsters in his
hands and carry snakes in his blouse.
and couldn't. And I've been long
in love with an old priest. Even now
I'm in love with him. grown up % I
am. You shall see him some day.
And I'm in love with still another
man. even today"
"Who7"
"A man older than you. A man
OF the world"
"Who?'
don Bob. Isn't he = dear?"
There was . strange quality of re-
lief in Ted's laugh. II know one
reason why you love him. Bob's as
savage as you over the wrongs of
the peon. I'd advise . combination
between you and Don Bob and FL
Coyote. There's no telling what the
three Of you couldn't do"
THE three of us? You should say
the four Of US. Because we'd enlist
your talents too. We would have
you rub Jito's nose in the dust each
morning before breakfast. And now
watch that horse Of yours. for we're
going down into the stream bed. and
it's . crazy. crumblins path from
here on.