The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1892-02-19

taken off, and book, to which she had
clung unconsciously through all the con-
fusion. None of her belongings were
touched or looked Mt.
''Thc Pine Valley coach will be along
before morning. We can only say we
are sorry Tor the blundcr." and with a
courteous gesture of farewell to Helen,
the party rode away.
Both leaders lay dead in their tracks.
Clearly there was nothing to do hut tc
wait for the Pine Valley coach. Helen
was 1sausic comfortable with shawls and
wraps ON bed of pine boughs, and
fell asleep quietly under the stars. She
did not wake even when the couch came
up.
Now, Helen" {; voice said, and She
opened her eyes to lind Harry standing
beside her, and with him tall figure
dark in the starlight.
sAnotl.cr road agent?" she said, half
asleep.
Harry laughed. '!Wc don't know what
he may develop into. AT present he is
Frank Bronson"
Helen rose to her feet, broad awake
at once.
you've had stirring ;.ntro'luct;on to
your new lifc," a pleasant voice said,
land popular report makes you out I.
heroine
Helen flushed little rcsentfnlly. lie
might have Been talking to q girl of six
teen in that voice of easy patronage.
; She was silent. Harry, used To that pc
cuii,rity. did not notice,
Frank bronson began again: "I'm
afraid you'll lie eincorvenicntly crowded,
Miss Tlyon.'
II beg your pardon" in her slow,
cold way. II am Mrs. Morse"
They came cut just then into the
glare of the lamps. Bronson looked at
her curiously.
Harry did not tell me-" he said. with
sudden air of constrained bashf ilncss.
AT the JOURNEYS; end the passenger
whose poclsct-bonl: she had saved took
great solitaire diamond Off his little
finger "a mclncnto, madam, simply a
memento. The ring was in the wallet.
You saved me fifteen thousand dollars
last night by your presence of mind"
She would not take it, but few
weeks later there came to her through
the post-otficc the stone reset in another
ring heavy enough for an ar,nlct. She
smiled, slipping it over her slender
| finger. Then she met Bronson's eyes
watching her
My good deeds pursue me. am the
heroine of Pine Gulch.' Would you
have suspected it? And there is no ad-
dress" She dropped the ring into his
hand and walked away.
They were settled now in their new
home. y very slSctcl,y sort of home it
was, but enough for the needs of eli.
mate where :, house is not needed much
more or much oftener than aA umbrella.
They had camped with the lnxuries OF
wall tents, while the young men did
their own building. A sitting-room, two
slccping-rooms and IL lsitcllcn-tllat was
all; and the canvas of the tents made
an awning under which 3 hamnocl,
might be swung. The new pine boards
were aromatic in the hot sunshine; the
conventional requirements of living
were reduced to their very simplest
form.
1t was solitary enough life for a
woman. One of I1arry's experimental
gang of Chinese workers had been de-
tailed to kitchen duties. and the peace
of the house was profound. But Helen
liked it. Dreamy and silent she was
still, but somehow little by little She
seemed to come back toward human
sympathies and interests. Half un.
consciously her black garments were
laid aside as oppressive in the heat Of
the long, bright days. The young men
coming home at night found u white
ilrapcd presence awaiting them. Harry
thought wiissssSDst,tt wsisSDst,tt spoken comment that
something sl hrf ,,sislhood ms he reme,n-
bcred her ;,,s,,s s..iaseing back into her
! face and inteHhe rounding outlines ,af
VA