Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-07-27

woman cry, because women had not
entered much into his scheme Of things.
For a while he sat and shifted on his
chair and watched, very unhappy indeed.
Then he got up and went 10 her and put
his hand on her shoulder tentatively. 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,
considering the elaring fat and looking
back at Maggie, over mis- shoulder, now
and then.
She cried for a good half-hour, ana the
whole experience frightened Leslie SO
much that 1t 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 a
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. Il
amt sure he's dead" che answered
Il am," said Leslie. But I'll go fetch
the fellows that told me about it, and
you can find out for yourself" He went
out and saddled his bronco. and departed
by the way he had come. IN be back, "
he said. Z, '
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 polished, his sentiments We're iden-
teal with those of Calonne--if il Were
but impossible. it should be done. Il
took him four months 10 do ii. But ar
the end of that time he rode up to the
adobe again. There were two men with
him, and they went into details that
caused Maggie 10 be convinced.
An right she said to Leslie that
night, TN marry YOU" 1t was not Ell
thusiastic, but Leslie made allowances.
and took what he could get
So, the next morning, the ranch was
left IN charge Of the two vaqueroS. the
Mexican woman, the fourteen 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 train for
California, to see Dennison's grave.
The headhOard TO il had the surname
III black letters on n plain board ground
Maggie did not like that. SO Leslie paid
for new one-whte, painted with the
Christian name as well. When it was
duly put up. they went ON their way.
The way was toward the Mojave. les
lie had mining interests mp there. and,
being in the general ncighhorhood. he
took the opportunity Of looking them up.
At Mojave they left the train. hired
a wagon and proceeded toward the in
terror. All day they drove along road
that wound between soft-rollng hills,
pale brown, shrubhecked. The sun
| sCorched. Near the railway there were
small cultivated bits. where green things
grew. But they stopped after a while
by afternoon ii was desolation.
Where II We put up tonight Maggie
aSked-the first time there had been
word IN two hours or more
There was a house ahead. he told her.
Tie had inquired rs 10 that 1t was thir-
ty-hve miles from the railway-~1uUre or
less-and il belonged to one Dennis, it
seemed.
They came to it in due time, but Den
MS himself was not around just then.
His wife explained thar he had gone to
drive in a heifer and her calf She took
charge of them herself, in the mean
while, She was a pretty little thing,
tIaglcally young, considering the hard
SHIPS and the loneliness of her life. Her
eyes were innocent and big, and her
countenauce was Of sweetly-inSipid
east. with a skin still Of peaches and
cream. She was glad To see Maggie.
Probably She would have been glad To
see anyone, for the sake Of human
speech. However that was, she gave
Maggi" attentions of a kind She had new
or thought Of
And Maggie was feminine AZ heart.
though she had had little enough chance
70 realize it. The gentle coddiing of the
little thing melted her. Within half an
hour she had learned to like hcr-per-
hapS even more than that--to have some
affection Tor her. They Were hand in
hand. on the edge Of a bunk talking.
when Dennis came in Dennis was
merely nennisou with a last syllable the
less and Il beard the more
Maggie knew him nj once And he
knew her. His jaw fell.
This is my husband. said the girl
The tone If alteration and possession
made Maggie Sitk-hut only for a short
instant. She stood up and put ont her
hand. Dennis hestated: then ne came
forward and took it. His terror was
making him quake
Pleased to meet you-Mr. Dennis
said Maggie. with stress on the name.
and looking him straight in the ewes.
His own fell Sure he agreed. la
mentally. He tried to smile Il got TO
~ To the corral he said
Leslie was there. Maggie thought ~
that, ami Of what might possibly fol
Few My husbands out therein. Les