The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-01-07

seemed Dut days instead OF months
since we left it together. winifred
and l. We had driven up from the
fort, she to take her summer school
again. so Letitia had assured me, and
] to try if the dry upland air might
give me yet another reprieve and a
little longer lease of life.
1t was high noon when We emerged
from th cIn-shadowed portal of the
Six-Mile and looked once more upon
the scene which had grown dear TO
both of us. Winfield drew a long
breath and her eyes were shining.
had thought her beautiful before.
but the winter in Denver, with the
crushing burden iifted forever. had
ma6r hes more than beautiful.
"rhe dear old yalleyl" she said.
1T IS like coming home TO get back
to IT, Is that Mr. Macpherseo'g uew
bouse?"
Yhe old ranch house was no more.
In its place on the knoll to the north
ward stood a modern low-roofed
country house many gabled, and
built OF the bright lava stone Of the
hog-back As we looked q man
mounted at the door-stone and rode
at gallop toward us. thrust the
butt of the whip among the parcels
On the blackboard and succeeded in
dlslodging one of them. II was Wini-
fred's smaller handbag, and il was
well to the rear in the dust Of the
road when Angus met us.
| "Good boyl" ! exclaimed. you
project your welcome into space,
don't you? win you lend me your
horse and take my place? I've lost
one OF the valises and II you'll drive
Miss Sanborn I'll ride back for IT,"
| ] know not IL my transparent sub
terfuge were suspected. And / doubt
II either Of them questioned or cared,
so long as they could be together.
We made the exchange quickly. and
Angus pointed the team toward tho
house on the knoll.
"We'll wait dinner for YOU" he
said. ~ have Aunt Richmond here
TO do the honors. and you can own
the ranch as long as you'll stay"
! looked into Winifred's eyes ana
found there my warrant for retort
in kind.
1--WE shall see. about that, later
I'd like to have my invitation from
the chatelaine Of house where I'm
supposed to quarter myself indefn'
itely."
1t was a liberal half-hour later
when l rode up to the veranda of the
country house with the lost valse al
/
In sight save Connolly. the ex-troop
er. who nodded aiTably and grinned
} and took the horse.
you'll fpind Thin on the piazzy
beyant," he said, with a wink and q
.. leer, aud the unfettered freedom o.
the great west large within him
ITS forgetting yez entirely by thil
tonne, theyll be-"
But they had not forgotten me
end when ! mounted the steps It wal
, Winifrcd who came 10 meet me, put
ting her hands IN mine and blushin,
with sweet shyness, with A9gus onl,
! lame second.
: "Nou said you wanted an invita-
, ton, Mr. Halcott," she said. archly
,, ''You are very welcome TO Torovista
, TO come and go and stay as our near
: est and truest friend"
: looked from one to tho other o
, them and gasped, and my heart sanl
, a little in spite OF me. Even whel
> one has been working and prayin,
/ for some certain end the seal o
= fruition and irrevocability may com
! with a trying shock But my par
/ was still to play, and | played il.
"Is-isn't this rather sudden
True, / tried 10 give you as mucl
= time as / ccald-if I'd known yo
/ were coming TO meet us, Angus.
4 should have Knocked the valise Of
Y miles farther back"
Z Angus roared. II wish ! had hal
I the nerve you give me credit fcr,
a he laughed we stole march o
D you and did it by mail, long age
There is 10 be a wedding in thi
0 shack tonight, and you're to give th
a bride away Why don't you sa
o something?"
r There be times when the grav,
|. diggers are busy. and the heart
too full for speech; and II at the mC
/ ment / said no more than the no
2 low nothings that such occasions d,
y mand, il must be forgiven me- Non
}. the less, when the time came. gay
o her 20 Angus. freely and without II
T. serve.
/ That was five years ago; and sine
d II can look back upon IL now wit
r steAdfast eyes, realizing that what
I. is always best-her happiness an
= his, and the love Of little Joan, m
e name-child, have been my recon
i pense for my undivided share in II
e trouble on the Torolito.
s CTHE END)
z Kind-Hearted Girl.
|, So she refused you?