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blood。
Scarcely had the Oklahoma country been taken possession of before
the settlers began agitating the question of an organized territory； and too
impatient to wait for Congress to act； held their own convention at Guthrie
and divided the land into counties。 Congress made them wait five months…
…an age in the new countrybefore approving the Organic Act。 The district；
which a short time before had been the Unassigned Lands； became the
counties of Logan； Oklahoma； Cleveland； Canadian； Kingfisher and Payne。
To these was added Beaver County which in Brick Willock's day had been
called 〃No…Man's Land；〃 and which the law…abiding citizens； uniting
against bandits and highwaymen； had sought to organize as Cimmaron
Territory。
Then came the rivalry between Guthrie and Oklahoma City for the
capital； adding picturesqueness to territorial history； and offering
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。