On reaching Chickasha,Wilfred Compton telegraphed to Kansas City asking his brother if Lahoma was still at Mr.Gledware's house in the country.In the course of a few hours the reply came that she had already started home to Greer County,Texas.After reading the message,Wilfred haunted the station,not willing to let even the most unpromising freight train escape observation.
Everything that came down the track on this last reach of the railroad into Southwest Oklahoma,was crowded with people,cattle,household furniture,stores of hardware,groceries,dry-goods--all that man requires for his physical well-being.The town itself was swarming with eager jostling throngs bound for many diverse points,and friends of a day shouted hearty good-bys,or exchanged good-natured badinage,as they separated to meet no more.
Men on horseback leading heavily laden pack-horses,covered wagons from which peeped women and children half-reclining upon bedding,their eyes filled with grave wonder at a world so unlike their homes in the East or North--pyramids of undressed lumber fastened somehow upon four wheels and surmounted in precarious fashion by sprawling men whose faces and garments suggested Broadway,New York and Leadville,Colorado--Wilfred gazed upon the unending panorama.In those corded tents he saw the pioneer family already in possession of the new land;in the stacks of pine boards he beheld houses already sending up the smoke of peace and prosperity from their chimneys;and in the men and women who streamed by,their faces alight with hope,their bodies ready for the grapple with drought,flood,cyclone,famine,he saw the guaranty of a young and dominant state.
Strangers greeted one another with easy comrade-ship.Sometimes it was just,Hello,neighbor!--and if a warning were shouted across the street to one endangered by the current of swelling life,it might be--Look out there,brother!The sense of kinship tingled in the air,opening men's hearts and supplying aid to weaker brethren.Those who gathered along the track awaiting the arrival of the trains had already the air of old-timers,eager to extend the hospitality of a well-loved land.
In such a crowd Wilfred was standing when he first caught sight of Lahoma among those descending to the jostling platform.He had not known how she would look,and certainly she was much changed from the girl of fifteen,but he made his way to her side without the slightest hesitation.
Lahoma!
She turned sharply with a certain ease of movement suggesting fearless freedom.Her eyes looked straight into the young man's with penetrating keenness which instantly softened to pleasure.Why I how glad I am to see you!she cried,giving him her hand as they withdrew from the rush.But how did you know me?
How did YOU know?he returned,pleased and thrilled by her glowing brown hair,her eloquent eyes,her warm-tinted cheeks,her form,as erect as of yore,but not so thin--as pleased and thrilled as if all these belonged to him.How did you know ME?he repeated,looking and looking,as if he would never be able to believe that she had turned out so much better than he had ever dreamed she would.
Oh,said Lahoma,when I looked into your face,I saw myself as a girl sitting under the cedar trees in the cove,with Brick and Bill.
Just you three?demanded Wilfred wistfully--also smilingly.
Oho!exclaimed Lahoma,showing her perfect little teeth as if about to bite,in a way that filled him with fearful joy,and so they showed you that letter!
JUST you three?repeated Wilfred.Just room enough in the cove for you--and Brick--and Bill?
Listen to me,Wilfred,and I will do the talking.Well?
She lowered her voice to a whisper--Lean your head closer.
Wilfred put down his head.Is this close enough?he whispered,feeling exalted.Men,women and children circled about them;the air vibrated with the shock of trunks and mail bags hurled upon the platform.
No,said Lahoma,rising on tiptoe.
Wilfred took off his hat and got under hers.
She whispered in his ear,Red Kimball came on this train--there he is--he hasn't seen me,yet--was in another coach.
Well?Go on talking.Lahoma--I'd get closer if I could.
S-H-H!He knows me,for he was a porter in our hotel.When he sees us he'll know I've come home to warn Brick.S-H-H!Then he'll try to keep me from doing it.Look--some of his gang are speaking to him--they've been waiting here to meet him--they'll go with him,I expect.We'll all be in the stage-coach together!
What do you want me to do to 'em,Lahoma?
I want you to pretend that you don't know me--and they mustn't find out your name is Compton,or they'll think Mr.Edgerton got word to you to join me here.Be a stranger till we're safe in the cove.
All right.Good-by--but suppose I hadn't come?
Oh,I could have done without you,said Lahoma.Or I think I could.
You could never have done without me!Wilfred declared decidedly.I can right NOW--She drew away.I'll get into the stage;don't follow too soon.
There were three stage-coaches drawn up at a short distance from the platform,and Lahoma went swiftly to the one bound for her part of the country.She was the first to enter;she was seated quietly in a corner when the two long seats that faced each other began filling up.The last to come were four men:one,tall,slender,red-faced and red-haired,two others of dark and lowering faces,who looked upon the former as their leader,and the last,Wilfred Compton,who had unobtrusively joined himself to this remnant of Red Kimball's gang.
