Galt High School - Highlights Yearbook (Galt, CA)

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ller father perceived the conflict which was going on in her mind and called her to him. Barbara, don't blame U'Connell for doing his duty. I-Ie must do it no matter how hard it is for him. If I was placed in the same position I would have to do the same thing he must and will do. I know he loves you, dear, and don't let anything overcome your love, child, for he is a man, a real man, Hall told her. For he had always longed for a son like Knight and now fate seemed to be playing him another cruel joke in giving him the son, who must be the man to give him to the law. The day came for their departure and sorrowfully Barbara packed her few belongings and was ready to leave for the great outside world. Hall, weak yet. but fast recovering. disappeared into his beloved mountains for a few moments, but returned carrying a sack heavily laden. nlinight, l. must ask you as my only friend to look out for Barbara until she becomes accustomed to the world. Therefore I will entrust you with this gold, which if necessary will be enough to provide for her always, he ex- plained sadly. lt's not necessary to ask Knight to do that, daddy, for he will take care of me always without any gold, Barbara responded and then they told him of their plans to be married shortly. Then, children, it will be my wedding present to you. I suppose I will never need it, and if I should happen to need some I know where I can get all I should ever want. Here in the hills I love, I found it, but how I hate to leave them, he said, surveying the lofty mountains. The sun was just coming up over the mountains as they started slowly up the treacherous trail. As they reached the top they could see a man coming up the ascending trail. By slovel lt's Gleason l exclaimed O'Connel. I suppose they thought I was dead by this time. Gleason was my pal, and we undertook many a hard trail togetherf' he explained to Barbara. Gleason advanced and proved to be about O'Connell's age, twenty-Eve at the oldest. Hall, he cried, so you did capture him, but it was wasted energy. Knight, for Hall is innocent. Tim Bailey, you remember him, con- fessed doing it on his deathbedf' Innocent was a beautiful word to john Hall for it meant renewed life, happiness and prosperity. I-le turned to look at his valley far below which new realized he would never leave for long. But Barbara, with a wild ery of joy was in her father's arms. Gleason told them all he knew concerning Bailey's timely confession. After he had finished Hall turned to his daughter and Knight and asked, XVell, do we go on or back ? iycitlllllllll with a glance at his blushing sweetheart, answered, You and Gleason can do as you wish, but Barbara and I are going on. Wfe will be married to-night, if possible, and then I want to take her home to 1ny people, and you too if you will come, he added. turning to Hall. Happy beyond words, Hall replied, We will all go on together for I want to see my daughter married. Then I intend to hunt up my sister, for although she treated me badly, I love her. XfVe never agreed even as children and as we grew older drifted completely apart, now I hope for a reunion and to be able to really understand and love my kid sister. 2 Barbara and Knight were married that night by a quaint, old-fashioned minister. The next morning they left for Sacramento where Knight's people lived, and Hall for San Francisco, where his sister was living when he had last heard of her. He joined them shortly afterwards and then returned to his little mountain home. Knight bought a home in the foot-hills near San Francisco, for Barbara could never learn to like the turbulent city life, but every summer they re- turned to her old home. O'Connel resigned his position as assistant sheriiii, Page Twenty-nine

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he said in an embarrassed way, a dull Hush spreading over his face. How could he tell this girl he was here to represent the law in punishing a criminal of renown, evidently her father? Mr. O'C'onnell, I know not what you mean but l will do my best. My father is very sick and I know nothing of the use of medicine, perhaps you can help me doctor him. I--le was taken sick two days ago and he has grown steadily worse. Oh, please help me save my father, who is all I have in the world! the distracted girl cried. O'Connell turned to the man and by examining him and questioning the girl he knew her father must have the Hu. For Hall had gone over to l3ray's shortly before and as they were all sick, he had undoubtly gotten it there. I-Ie did all he could for the unconscious man and then turned again to the girl. Miss-, Hall is my name, the girl said simply. O'Connell, surprised that she should admit her name to him said, Then your father's name is John Hall? Yes, sir, that is his name, but how did you know ? Oh! for the hrst time she noticed the star and realized the lurking danger, You sir, have come for my father on the business Qpointing to the starj, NVhat has my father done that you should hound him to earth? He is as good a man as ever trod this earthf, Here she broke down and O'Connell, realizing it would be best, told her of the crimes her father was accused of. 'lMiss Hall, if your father is innocent as I really think he is now that I have seen you, l will see he gets as square a deal as ever a man got, he said softly. liarbar felt her wrath melting for how could she keep angry at this ir- resitible young man? For she with a ivoman's instinct knew he would do all he could for her father's cause. He told her the whole story and then remembering his horse asked if he might put it in the barn out of the cold. Barbara readily assented and promised to see what she could do in the way of preparing some dinner for him. lVhen fJ'Connell returned, her father was conscious and as he saw the star, cried, 'The Law. The Hand of the Law! But you have come too late, man-chaser, for I am dying, sir, and I am glad of it for il swear before God I am innocent I But the afternoon wore slowly on and the man's condition instead of growing worse seemed to improve. All night Barbara and Knight watched by the bedside, fearful for the outcome, but by morning Hall was decidedly better. Barbara, wild with delight, went about her work singing, her face radiant with joy. OlConnell, faithful always to his duty, realized he must stay here until this man was better and then deliver him over for trail. Barbara un- derstood, although at times her heart would harden against this carefree fellow of the wilds. Handsome he was, with the grace of the man of the open lithe and strong. He was six feet tall. As the days dragged slowly by, Hall recovered. At Hrst he was bitterly ijemorseful at the thoughts of the future but he knew the kid was only doing his duty as every man must. They never spoke of the future except once, when I-Iall told them how he had been accused on circumstantial evidence of stealing ten thousand dollars from a bank. Also the cashier had been 'found shot by the bandit, and this was the crime laid at his feet by Fate. O'Connell, after a month, realizing his duty was becoming harder to per- form each day, for as he fell more and more in love with Barbara, his job of handing her father over for a death sentence or jail, became worse. lflarbara knew she loved him but her whole strong little mind rebelled against it, loving a man who was here to destroy perhaps her father's life. Page 'I' we-nty-eight

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for he shuddered as he thought how nearly he had assisted in taking an inno- cent life by handing Hall over to the courts. Only an accident had Saved Hall for all evidences were against him and he would have been convicted without a doubt. Hall opened up his mine, which was located across the mountains from his valley. The vein of gold ran through the valley where his home was, but never would he allow anyone to prospect there. Across the mountain where he could not see the havoc that was being wrought in the pursuit of gold he cared not. I-le entered the Ranger Service although he had no need of money for the mine made him fabulously rich. But always to him his valley was home and paradise. -Anna Belle Crump, '24, :iz :fr :ie FAIRIES In the forest is a pool, Near a shady nook, so cool There one sees the elfin dance, I-lears the fairies' merry chants. XVhen the moon is shining bright On some lovely star-lit night. All the fairy queens appear And their joyful songs you hear. Then lest the elves do chance to roam, And linger far away from home, The queen all call their fairy band, And scamper back to fairyland. -Annabel Mullins, '24. D51 Pk zl: TO AN OWL Stealthy vaprant of the night, Scaring people into a fright, Big gray bird with piercing eyes, You who sail the moon-lit skies. Bird that gives such awful screams, VVaking people from their dreams, Echoing up and down the dales, Oh! those awful creeping wails. NN-Then the dawn begins to creep, The big gray bird just goes to sleep. -Williziiii Fawcett, '25. Page Thirty