Cavanagh Forest Ranger Author:Hamlin Garland Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: in LEE VIRGINIA WAGES WAR In truth, Lize had risen that morning intending "to whirl in and clean up the house," being suddenly conscious to some degree of ... more »the dirt and disorder around her, but she found herself physically unequal to the task. Her brain seemed misted, and her food had been a source of keen pain to her. Hence, after a few half-hearted orders, she had settled into her broad chair behind the counter and there remained, brooding over her maternal responsibilities. She gave sharp answers to all the men who came up to ask after her daughter, and to one who remarked on the girl's good looks, and demanded an introduction, she said: "Get along! I'd as soon introduce her to a goat. Now you fellers want to understand I'll kill the man that sets out to fool with my girl, I tell you that!" While yet Lee Virginia was wondering how to begin the day's work, some one knocked on her door, and in answer to her invitation a woman stepped in—a thin blond hag with a weak smile and watery blue eyes. "Is this little Lee Virginny ?" she asked. The girl rose. "Yes." "Well, howdy!" She extended her hand, and Lee took it. "My name's Jackson—Mrs. Orlando Jacksoa I knew yore pa and you before 'the war.'" Lee Virginia dimly recalled such a family, and asked: "Where do you live?" "We hole up down here on a ranch about twenty miles—stayed with yore ma last night—thought I'd jest nacherly look in and say howdy. Are ye back fer to stay?" "No, I don't think so. Will you sit down ?" Mrs. Jackson took a seat. "Come back to see how yore ma was, I reckon ? Found her pretty porely, didn't ye?" She lowered her voice. "I think she's got cancer of the stummick—now that's my guess." Virginia started. "What makes you think so?" " Well, I knew a woman who went j ust that way. Had t...« less