, 1891-01-20

artistically plain. 1t fitted her rounded
young figure with glovelike smooth
ness. 81 have come" said Rob, with
an embarrassment foreign to him. from
Henry Dreier."
The face before him very deli
cate, sensitive face it was, with dark
dashed hazel eyes and a beautiful
mouth-famed scarlet from soft hair
to white throat.
He did not receive my letter thenl
Your are Mr.. BonnellF'
Bob assented.
Il wrote him, hurried on Linnet
Josylan, that | would not go to Belle
vile as he desired"
Rob felt himself placed in an I'M
pleasant position. Assuredly the girl
was neither narrow minded nor spirit
less as he had supposed when he agreed
TO fulfill the request of Dreier. For,
though her words were brief and sim
pie, there was a vast deal of resent
ment in both o n and expression. But
how in the name of heaven had such a
woman promised to marry Henry
Dreierl Suddenly and curiously he was
answered.
That's right, LinnetH" piped up one
Of the group who stood gaping at the
stranger, don't ye go. 1 heard ma
tell pa yistiday that If you went to git
married she'd have to hire help, an
that the lessn she'd have to pay I'D be
50 a week. Don't ye 60"
Linnet looked up from the freckled
and persuasive countenance of Master
Give Leonard Leroy Blatchford. All
the color went out Of her face with a
rush. Something set and ~resolute came
into it.
II shall go with you" she said to
Bonnell. She turned and walked to-
ward the house.
Poor little grill" said Rob. He
knew now why she was going t. marry
Henry. She would be her own mistress.
She would be Independent. She would
be free from repellant labor and petty
despotism. If the absorbed and pas
slonate devotion all young hearts crave
1t was not in the nature of Dreier to
give her she would at least receive
kindness and affection. And, morbid
sentimentalists to the contrary. half a
loaf is preferable TO no bread.
Bonnell went back to the road. He
stood by the buggy, waiting. He could
hear within the house the sounds of
angry and nggrievcd protestation.
When, carrying n sachel, Miss Josylan
came out, down the path and to the
buggy, her lips were set in a m~utinous
red line and her hazel eyes were black
with rebellion. Silently he helped her
in. Silently they drove off. Warmer
the day had grown. The fresh, half
pungent scent of broke" ground drift
ed to them. And family heard they
the whir and hum that
preludes the summer.
1t is about n three hours drive from
Concordia to Belleville. They had
travelled more than half the distance,
and almost in utter silence, when all at
once Linnet broke down in a fit Of
childish weeping.
''TurnI" she painted. 60 back. 1
can't marry Henry Dreier. He is good.
Yes, l know that. But to be with him
-alwaysi oh, no-no was foolish.
l only wanted to get away from Batch
ford's. II didn't think of the sin of
lbA my AOA FAA1A "a AlNb Ihht llt
back, pleased"
A force mightier than his will, might
Ter than himself, mastered Rob Bon
nell. Traitorous-dlshonorablel Per
haps. But he could at that moment
no more have held back the words that
sprang from his heart To his lips and
overtiowed them than he could have
restrained the fierce fury Of a mountain
flood.
"Linnet, he cried hoarsely. 'Ilove
youl Marry mel"
ooh" she whispered, and shrank
back trembling. He had stopped the
team. He turned in his seat and
faced her. Their eyes met. There
was that in his imperious, steady, fer
rent gaze that compelled surrender.
Linnet's lashes dropped. Rob bent and
kissed her. That broke the mad spell
that was upon them both.
DON'T she said. go on. Icould
caro- for you-yes. But the disloyalty
would be more wicked than-than
keeping my word"
Bonnell snatched out the whip. He
gave the horses n lash. He drove
straight on toward Belleville. There
he left Linnet at the hotel. He then
went straight to the office. He found
Dreier alone and in high spirits.
well, " he cried, that elevator BUSH
ness was fixed today. We've come out
several thousands ahead. What is the
mntter1 You look like n ghostl"
"Do IT. with a smile. 81 ought
to look like n scoundrel. I've fallen in
love with your sweetheart, Henry. l
asked her to marry me. 1 kissed her"
Dreier said not a word for several
moments. When he spoke it was in
his ordinary bland and drawing voice.
IF Linnet likes you better than me,
it's all right. Mistakes shouldn't be
made in matrimony any more than in
business. Mistakes are poor policy.
They don't pay. Anyhow, Bob Saw
yer's widow would suit me nearly as
well. She isn't pretty like Linnet, but
she owns a half section over in Logan
county hat joins mine"
Such an unexpected reply! Such a
delightfully."- unromantic reply! Rob
burst into a boyish and ~ecstatic shout
of laughter. He felt he could afford to
laugh.
He married Linnet. Rumer says tine
Sawyer and Dreier half section in Lo-
gan county will soo be consolidated in