Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-08-22


lively. She pushed it off-and he
felt that he had been unwise again.
So he walked to the door and stood
there, his feet wide apart, consid-
ering the glazing fiat and looking
back at Maggie, over his shoulder,
now and then.
She cried for good half hour, and
the whole experience frightened Les
lie so much that it was not until
nearly sunset that he dared get up to
the subject again. He meant to go
at it tactfully this time, but it came
at the end of long, strained pause.
"Say-what about our getting joined
in wedlock and all that-anyway?"
He held his breath for fear she would
cry again.
But she took it quietly this time
~ amt sure he's dead" she answered.
81 am" said Leslie. "But I'll go
fetch the fellows that told me about
it, and you can find out for your
self" He went out and saddled his
broncho, and departed by the way
he had come. "I'll be back" he said
He had no idea where the fellows
were to be found. They had been
prospectors, and might be anywhere
in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado or
California by now. But though his
phrasing might have been less pol
ished, his sentiments were indentical
with those of Calonne-if it were but
impossible, it should be done. 1t
took him four months to do it. But
at the end of that time he rode mp to
the adobe again. There were two
men with him, and they went into
details that caused Maggie to be con-
WINGED.
"All right" she said to Leslie that
night, 'T'll marry you" 1t was not
enthusiastic, but Leslie made allow
ances, and took what he could get
So, the next morning, the ranch
was left in charge of the two
vaqueros, the Mexican woman, the
IA children and five mongrel dogs.
And Maggie and Leslie rode off, side
by side, with the two men bringing
up the rear. The same padre who
had made her Mrs. Dennison made
her Mrs. Leslie now, and gave her
his blessing. She took it stolidly.
Then she and her husband took the
the train for California, to see Den
nison's grave.
The head board to 1t had the sur
name in black letters on plain board
ground. Maggie did not like that,
80 Leslie paid for a new one-white,
painted with the Christian names as
well. When it was duly put up, they
went on their way. The way was to-
ward the Mojave. Leslie had mining
interests up there, and, being in the
general neighborhOod, he took the
opportunity of looking them up.
At Moiave they left the train, hired
wagon and proceeded toward the
interior All day they drove along
road that wound between soft
rolling hills, pale brown, shrub
hecked. The sun scorched. Near the
railway there were small cultivated
bits, where green things grew. But
they stopped after while. BY after
noon it was desolation.
"Wherell we put up to-night?"
Maggie asked-the first time there
had been word in two hours or
more.
There was a house ahead, he told
her. He had inquired as to that. 1t
was IS miles from the railway-more
or less-and it belonged go one Den
mis- it seemed.
They came 10 it in due time, but
Dennis himself was not around just
then. His wife explained that he
had gone to drive in heifer and her
ralf. She took charge of them her
self, in the meanwhile. She was a
pretty little thing, tragically young.
considering the hardships and the
loneliness of her life. Her eyes were
innocent and big, and her counte-
nance was of a sweetly-inspired cast,
with a skin still of peaches and cream.
She was glad to see Maggie. Prob
ably she would have been glad to see
anyone, for the sake of human speech.
However that was, she gave Maggie
attentions of kind she had never
thought Of.
And Maggie was feminine at heart,
though she had had little enough
chance to realize it. The gentle cod
ding of the little thing melted her.
Within half an hour she had learned
to like her-perhaps even more than
| that-to have some affection for her.
They were hand in hand, on the edge
of a bunk, talking, when Dennis came
I'M. Dennis was merely DennisOn with
a last syllable the less and a beard
the more.
Maggie knew him at once. And ne
knew her. His jaw fell.
"This is my husband" said the girl.
The tone of alteration and posses
sion made Maggie sick-but only for
q short instant. She stood up and put
out her hand. Dennis hesitated; the1
he came forward and took it. Hi
terror was making him quake.
PLEASED to meet you-Mr. Dennis,
said Maggie, with stress on the name
and looking him straight in the eyes
His own fell. "Surel" he agreed
lamentably. He tried to smile. 1"
got to go to the corral" he said
Leslie was there. Maggie though
of that, and of what might possibl.
follow. my husbands out there
.~-S--S-a-s