The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-06-21

Loht mebd, Out CucCAcu Aoch'
"Well," she said Instead. II must get
going. Long ride home You take
good care of Little Moon. I'll come
back In three days.
SO she logged away down Chez wash.
her hat down over her eyes, smiling =
little just In the Joy of living and the
beauty Of the desert.
There was no one sick about. now
that Little Moon was getting well, and
she would do some Of the things she
had wanted to do for herself for 4
long time. For one. she would go over
and spend couple OF days with her
friend Myra Little, on the Black Sheep
ranch. She hadn't seen her for three
months. and she was very fond OF her.
Lila agreed heartily with Sonyas
plan to visit Myra Little, and two days
later the girl departed on Darkness.
She started early to avoid AZ much
of the days heat as possible, and made
the long hard ride in good time, trot-
ting into Myra's door yard just as she
was putting dinner on the table.
Myra, q tall gaunt woman. desert
bitten OF face and form but dawn fair
inside her soul. was at her st1rrup be-
fore she could dismount-
"My soul aiivel" she cried catching
the girls hand, now Just isn't this 4
treatl All, Sonya, how glad I am to
see your
She put her arm around tho girls
waist and the two women entered the
wide low ranch house where the savory
smell OF baked mutton and potatoes
scented the warm air
Sonya smiled around at the cool,
deep room, SO plain, 80 comfortable,
where this courageous and Intrepid
Myra lived her hard working life, laid
her saddlebags on tho couch, ran her
comb through her short hair, and waA
| ready. She went out through the big
room and washed at the bench on the
back porch. drying on the clean roller
| towel Myra was hastily hanging up.
| The meal steAming on the table was
| plain but good: hot bread, the NUT
| ton and potatoes, onions sliced In vine
| gar. and a can Of fruit opened In her
/ honor. There were Indians here, I
/ woman with shy child OF four. !
half-grown girl, two men. These ate
/ at long table on the pleasant porch,
while the two white women sat 1t
Myra's own small table In one end OF
the living room. Myra owned and ran
the Black Sheep ranch.
"Oh, Sonya," said Myra happily, II
Just can't tell you how good 1t is to
see youl It's been long time since
we had talk, an I'm Just goin' to
lay of the whole afternoon for the mat
ter. Come on, Sonya, let's 90 an res"
Sonya followed her into the dark
ened room beyond. which served as the
best room OF the house. On Its walls
were astonishing paintings Of the des-
ert land In oils: rich, true, glowing
canvases that would have drawn their
crowds In any gallery Of tho world.
These were Myra Little's romance, her
satisfying draught OF beauty, her out
let for that inner flneness which found
80 little chance In the stark service OF
the sheep.
Always they struck Sonya anew with
their austere magnitude, and always
as now she stood before them marvel
Ing.
TITS 4 shame, Myra," she said now,
shaking her head, that these pictures
can't be hung In New York. Maybe
some day when I'm there I'll sec about
the matter"
you goin' there, Sonyaf Takin' Z
trIp7n asked Myra quickly.
NO." said Sonya. @and yes. No trip
Going to stay. guess
"What7r
The word came quick and sharp.
Sonya moved uneasily, nodded.
II think So" she said, turning to looh
at Myra gravely. "When woman Il
engaged to marry man, she goei
where he lives, doesn't shef"
"Why, ! didn't know"
mo. 1t isn't public property, but
am. Rodney Blake an old college
friend Of Serge's. Fine man."
Myra stood silent, searching Sonya'i
face with her clear gray eyes.
why, Sonya.' she said presently
"hon will we all ever do without You
An yet that's only sel6shness. It vii
be fine for you. You've lived 80 fas
and deeply In this desert that It's onl.
right You 60 back where you belong
get the rest an life that's comm +
you. You deserve It."
"Well--maybe. But now let's 81
down and visit. We haven't had
J real talk-fest for months and months.
Sonya heard that the Brights stll
farther over east had pair OF twins
and that Sam Savina, notorious Boz
der thief. had been found Just acros
the Rio Grande cruclfed, grim Mel
: lean warning to his kind.
Also that the Servant OF the Lor
was coming In to the Black Shee
that very night on one OF his constan
Journeys. The two bits of news SCENE
to suggest each other; the crucinxio
and the gentle, half-mad old man VIII
rode the desert country year In, Yea
out, In the effort to save Souls sony
had unor him time or two befOra