Adventure, December 3, 1920 — page 110: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

100 “T believe that,” I heartily agreed. “But could you take an ax and stand between a drove of children and what you believed to be a — of Indians about to break from cover their work of killing? I saw the Widow McCabe do that. I saw the little Moul- ton woman, armed with an ax, run to meet the attack.” “Tt’s hardly sensible to ask if I could have done this or that. Who knows what I could have done? I shall never have to deal with what is past. And there was a time, I suppose, when all these women were new to the frontier. At least I should be allowed time to learn cer- — things before you apply your measuring- sir!’ “That’s right,” I admitted. “TI was rather unjust, but the fact remains that just now you are out of place and not used to this life and its dangers.” “T feel very cross at you. You pass over my father’s great work for the settlement with scarcely a word. You complain because I am here and look different from Mrs. Davis. I can’t help my looks.” “You are adorable. Already see the havoc you’ve wrought among the unmarried men. Observe how many times each finds an errand that takes him by this cabin door. How slow they are to scout the woods and seek signs. No; you can’t help your looks, and it results there are few men who can resist loving you. There’s net a youngster in this settlement who’s not up to his neck in love with you already. And there’s not one of them who does not realize that you would be the poorest mate he could pick so long as he must live on the border.” “Vm glad to hear just what you believe about me,” she muttered. “But you're be- wildering. It seems I’m a rare prize for any man and a most uncomfortable burden.” “Oh, dash it all, Patsy! You understand that what I’ve said applies to Howard’s Creek. If we were standing two hundred miles due east I should say directly the opposite.” Be OF COURSE she understood my true jean meaning, and of course in her heart weed she agreed with it. She was town-bred and therefore was intended for the town. Yet so strangely stubborn and eccentric is a woman’s reasoning that she can feel resentment toward a man because he has brains enough to com- prehend the’same simple truth that she com- prehends. Had there been no danger from the Indians I could have scored a bull’s-eye with her by baldly declaring her to be the most valuable asset the frontier ever had received; and she would have dimpled and smiled and but faintly demurred, knowing I was a rock-ribbed lar for asserting it, and yet liking me the more for the ridiculous exaggeration. That is one reason Adventure why it is more sensible and much more satis factory to quarrel with a man than with « woman. With the tenacity which her sex displays when believing a male is trying to avoid some issue, she coldly reminded— “Talk, talk, but not a word yet as to what my father did two nights ago.” ' “Tt was one of the most splendid exhibitions of faith and moral courage I ever witnessed.” Her gaze grew kindly again and she halted and stared up into my eyes, flushed with pleasure, and waited to hear more encomiums. “T never before saw one man rush out and confront a war-party. Then his going out alone last night and prowling about through the dark forest! That was magnificent. Your father is one of the bravest men I ever saw.’ She rubbed a pink finger against her nose and tilted her head and weighed my words thoughtfully. Obviously I had omitted some- thing; for with a little frown worrying her fair forehead she began: “But—bu’ there’s something else you haven’t said. What about his influence over the In- dians? You thought him foolish to take me over the mountains. You now admit you were foolish to think that?” She was waiting for me to complete my con- fessional. If the element of danger had been absent how gladly I would have lied to her! How quickly I would have won her approval by pr myself the greatest dolt in Virginia and her father the wisest man in the world! But to accede to everything she said and believed would be an endorsement of her presence on the creek. I had had no idea of ousting myself from her good graces when I went to find her that morning. Now the test had come, and her welfare was involved; to be true to her as well as to myself I was forced to say: “T still think it was most dangerous for you to come here. I believe your father acted very unwisely, no matter how much he believes in. his influence over the Indians. And I would thank God if you were back in Williamsburg.” Her hands dropped to her side. The smiling eyes gréw hard. “Go on!” she curtly commanded. “T’ve damned myself in your opinion already. Isn’t that enough? Don’t make me pay double for being honest.” “Honest?” she jeered. “You've deliberately dodged my question. I asked you what you thought of my father’s power with the Indians. You rant about his wickedness in bringing me here. For the last time I ask you to answer my question and finish your list of my father’s faults.” As if to make more steep the precipice down which from her esteem I was about to plunge (E©) _.OOK (E@) sth, " ma pss