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incitement to many a small village to make itself the county…seat of its
county。 The growth of the new country advanced by leaps and bounds。 In
1891； the 868；414 acres of the surplus lands of the Iowa； Sac； Fox and the
Pottawatomie…Shawnee reservations formed the new counties of Lincoln
and Pottawatomie and increased the extent of some of the old ones。 The
next year； 3；500；562 acres belonging to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians
were taken to increase several of the older counties； and to from the new
ones of honest old American namesBlame； Custer； Washita； Dewey；
Roger Mills； Beckham and Ellis。 In the year following； the Cherokee strip
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was opened for a settlement together with the surplus lands of the Pawnee
and Tonhawa5；698；140 acres； besides increasing other counties； this land
furnished forth the new counties of Alfalfa； Garfield； Grant； Harper； Major；
Woods； Woodward； Pawnee； Kay and Noble。 At the time of Wilfred's visit
to Brick Willock； the winter of 1894…5； the opening of the Kickapoo
reservation was already a near certainty； while the vast extent of Greer
County itself； so long in dispute between Texas and the United States；
would in all likelihood be added to the swelling territory of Oklahoma。
The territory； so young but so dauntless； was already agitating the
question of statehoodnot only so； but of single statehood； meaning
thereby the prospective engulfment and assimilation of Indian Territory；
that all the land from Texas to Kansas； Missouri and Arkansas might be
called by the one nameOklahoma； a name to stand forever as a symbol
of the marvelously swift and permanent growth of a white people； in spite
of its Choctaw significance〃Red People。〃
Although Wilfred had stayed close to his farm； near Oklahoma City； he
had kept alive to the rush and swing of the western life； and now that he
had leisure to ride with Mizzoo among the bustling camps； and view the
giant strides made from day to day by the smallest towns； he was more
than ever filled with the exultation of one who takes part in world…
movements。 He began to view the hurrying crowds that overran the
sidewalks； with a sense of close kinshipthese people came from all
points of the Union； but they were his people。 A year ago； six months ago；
they might have been New Yorkers； Californians； Oregonians； but now all
were westerners like himself； and though they believed themselves Texans
the name made as little difference as that between 〃Red River〃 and
〃Prairie Dog Fork〃in spirit； they were Oklahomans。
If Wilfred had not been a simple visitor； he would have had no time for
thought； but now he could look on the life of which he had for a few years
been a part； and study it as related to the future。 It was as if his boyhood
and youth had not been passed in Chicagothe West had blotted out the
past as it ever does with relentless hand； and every thought…channel led
toward the light of the future。 Lahoma's letter had revived the picture of
other days； of another existence； without rousing one wish to return。
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The only desire it had stirred in his breast was that of seeing Lahoma
again； of taking her by the hand to lead her； not back to the old civilization；
but to the new。 As he lay awake at night in the log cabin that had been
Lahoma's； his brain for a long time every night was busy with thoughts of
that new civilization； and he was stirred with ambition to take part； so that
when single statehood or double statehood was achieved； he would be a
recognized factor in its transformation from a loosely…bound territory。
He began to think； too； of moving his residence to Oklahoma City；
where he would be closer to men of affairsgreat men of great enterprises。
His farm； of course； would be managed under his superintendenceunless
Oklahoma City should be generous enough to spread out and surround it；
and lap it up； town…lot after town…lot； till not a red clod was left。。。。 And if a
girl like Lahomafor surely she had not changed！if she； little Lahoma。。。。
And the longing grew on him to see Annabel Sellimer and Lahoma
together； that he might study the girl he had once loved with the girl he
might love tomorrow。 He almost made up his mind to take a brief trip to
Chicago； on quitting the cove； perhaps there would be something in
Lahoma's next letter to force a decision。
Two weeks passed； but Wilfred did not consider the time lost； there
were letters almost daily； by coach； from Lahoma； telling of her
adventures in the great worldthe house…party had been delayed on
account of Mrs。 Sellimer's illness； but was to take place immediatelyso
said the last letter before the arrival of the news that changed the course of
events at the cove。 As yet； Lahoma had not met Mr。 Gledware； but the
fame of his riches and his luxurious home had both increased her curiosity
to see him； and her conviction that Mr。 Edgerton Compton stood no
chance with Annabel。 She had discovered； too； that Edgerton Compton
was a brother of the Wilfred Compton who had visited them one day in the
coveWilfred read the letter with great attention； but there was no further
reference to himself。
Brick Willock rode over to Mangum nearly every afternoon to hear
from Lahoma； but it happened that on the day of the great news； neither he
nor Bill had returned from a certain hunting expedition in time for the
stage； so Wilfred went for the mail。 There was only one letter； addressed to
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〃Mr。 B。 Willock；〃 and it seemed strangely thin。 The young man wondered
during all his ten…mile return…trip if Lahoma had fallen ill； and after
reaching the log cabin； he kept looking at the slim missive； and turning it
over； with vague uneasiness。
Brick and Bill had ridden far； and it was dusk before they reached
home with a deer slung over one of the horses。
〃They're getting scarcer every year；〃 complained Bill； as he climbed
stiffly to the ground； 〃I guess they'll finally go the way of the buffalo。〃
〃Get a letter？〃 asked Brick； hurrying forward。 〃Huh！ THAT it？ She is
sure getting fashionable！ I reckon when she's plumb civilized； she won't
write nothing！〃
He took the long white envelope and squinted at it inquisitively。
〃Well； why don't you open 'er？〃 snapped Bill。 〃Afraid you'll spring a
trap and get caught？〃
〃Ain't much here；〃 replied Brick slowly； 〃and I'm making it last。〃
〃Huh！ Nothing is a…lasting when it hasn't been begun；〃 retorted Bill
crossly。 〃See what the little girl says。〃
〃I'm afraid she's sick；〃 observed Wilfred； eying the envelope with
something like Bill's irritable impatience。
Brick tore it open； and found within another envelope； the inner one of
yellow。 〃It's a telegraph；〃 he said uneasily。 〃Lahoma had telegraphed to the
end of the wire； and at Chickasha they puts it in the white wrapper and
sends it on。 Do you see？〃
〃I don't see anything yet；〃 snapped Bill。 〃Rip 'er open！〃
Brick looked at Bill Atkins。 〃Better set down； Bill；〃 he remarked。 〃If
they's any kind of shock in this； YOU ain't got no nerve to stand it。〃 He
broke open the yellow envelope and stared at the message。 As he did so；
the hand clutching the telegram hardened to a giant fist； while his brow
wrinkled； and his eyes grew dark and menacing。 Wilfred was reminded of
the sinister expression displayed at the first mention by Lahoma of
Gledware's name； and he experienced once more that surprised feeling of
not being nearly so well acquainted with him as he had supposed。
After a dead silence； Willock handed the telegram to Bill； who
wrinkled his brow over it a minute or two before handing it to Wilfred。
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