It's a strange thing,remarked Brick,as he descended the hard dirt steps,how Lahoma has acted on me.I mean,living with her these past twelve years,and all the rest of the world shut out,except Bill.Could I of been told before I saved little Lahoma from the highwaymen that I'd ever worry over an old coon like Bill Atkins,as to whether he broke his neck or not,I'd 'a'laughed,for I'd 'a'had to.But it sure does gall me to have him exposing himself as he does.I never wanted Bill to come here,but he just come,like a stray cat.First thing I knowed,he was a-purring at the fireside--well,not exactly a-purring,nuther,but sort of mewing,and looking ready to scratch.He just took up with us and now it's like always being scared to close a door for fear of catching his tail in the jamb--I'm talking in a figger.Come in,pard--this used to be Lahoma's boudoir before we built that cabin for her.See the carpet?Don't tell ME you're a-walking on it,and not noticing!See that little stove?I brung it clear across the mountains from a deserted wagon,when I was young.Two legs is gone and it's squat-bellied,and smokes if the wind gives it a chance;but I wouldn't trade it for a new one.Set on this bench.I recollect as well as if it 'us yesterday,Lahoma a-setting there with her legs untouching of the floor,learning 'A'and 'B'and asking thousands of questions and getting herself civilized.I couldn't do a finished job,but Bill took her by the hand later,then a Mrs.Featherby,what moved over in the west mountain,added stores from New England and travels in Europe.When the settlers come,she gleaned all they knowed,always a-rising and a-looking out for new country.That's a wonderful girl!he added with conviction.
When Bill came,they sat about the stove,the light from the famous window bringing out with clear distinctness Brick's huge form and bristling beard,Bill's thin figure surmounted by its shock of white hair,and Wilfred's handsome grave face and splendidly developed physique.It was so warm below the ground that the fire in the stove was maintained at the lowest state possible;but when the western light quickly vanished from the window,the glowing coals gave homely cheer to the crude room.
In answer to their questioner,Wilfred told of his experiences on his quarter-section:how he had broken the prairie land,put in his crops,watched them wither away in the terrible dry months,roughed it through the winters,tried again,fought through another drought,staked all on the next spring's planting,raised a half-crop,paid off his chattel mortgage,tried again,--succeeded.
I've stayed right with it,he said gravely,looking from one to the other as they smoked in silence,their eyes on his animated face.Of course,they required me to stay on the land only during certain months,every year.But I stayed with it all the time;and I studied it;and when I failed,as I did year after year,I failed each time in a different way,because I learned my lesson.And when I'd walled off the cause of each failure,one by one,seemed like there opened before me a broad clear way that led right into the goal I'd been seeking from the first day.Then I closed out all my deals,and looked and saw that everything was trim and ready for winter--and got my horse and started for Greer County.
And glad we are!cried Bill Atkins.I hope you can stay a long time.
That depends ...Lahoma is well,I suppose?
The picture of health--when she left,Brick declared admiringly,and the prettiest little gal this side of the angels.When the early sunlight peeps over the mountain and laughs at the cove that's sulking from thinking it's about to be left out in the day's doings--that's like Lahoma's smile.And when you get down sick as I done once from causes incidental to being made of flesh and blood,and she come and laid her hand on my burning forehead,her touch always made me think of an angel's wing,somehow,although I ain't never set up to be religious,and I think of such things as little as may be--except when Bill draws me to the subject from seeing him so puny,at times.
Lahoma's not here?Wilfred asked anxiously.Not now,nor for some time,answered Brick.
I wish,interposed Bill glumly,that when you're going to talk about me,Brick,you'd begin with Bill and not be dragging me in at the tail-end of what concerns other people.I reckon,Wilfred,you just traveled here to take a look at the country where you used to herd cattle?
That wasn't my reason.Principally,I wanted to see Lahoma;and incidentally,my brother.
Your brother?HE ain't in these parts,is he?
No,ruefully,but I expected him to be.When I left home to turn cow-puncher,I didn't tell anybody where I'd gone;but just before I left for Oklahoma to turn farmer,I wrote to my brother.And about a month ago,seeing things clearing up before me,I asked him to meet me here at Tent City--he's interested in new towns;he's employed by a rich man to plant hardware-stores,and I thought he might find an opening here.He came on,and was here several weeks with a party of sightseers from Chicago;but he left with them about a week ago.
Willock sat suddenly erect.Couldn't have been that Sellimer crowd,I reckon,from Chicago?
Yes--Mrs.Sellimer and her daughter,and some of their friends.
Willock whistled loudly.And that up-and-down looking chap in the gold nose-glasses was your brother?
Never thought of that,Bill exclaimed,although he had your name--he looked so different!But now that you've laid aside your cowboy rigging,I guess you could sit in his class,down at the bottom of it.
Willock was uneasy.I was told,he observed,and I took the trouble to get datty on the subject,that them Sellimers--the mother and daughter,and the herd they drift with--is of the highest pedigree Chicago can produce.It sort of jolts me to find out that anybody we know is kin to the bunch!
