The Cook County herald., 1902-11-22

l
her before she reached the house ami
stop her with unaccustomed decision
4 i want to talk to: you, Miss Eng
llsh-Lois," he said. 81 think 20,
have avoided me Of late. Why?"i :.
p Il have not been well,"' she an.
swered, failing in he suddenness 81
his attack to do better than conjurt
up woman's stereotyped excuse. #
Even if that were $so-and yor
never looked better. in your life, 1 an
sure-am I not still your. brother?"
A look of pain in his frank boyish
face touched her and she held out hei
hand. Forgive me-" she said, but
indeed am out of sorts and not tie
best of company" - s.
You are in trouble, fear.'' So Il
NO, I am merely at outs with my
self: It will pass" !:
Can I not help you?' n
1T is nothing so serious as to need
help. Women must have their humors,
you. know, Mr.. Allyn z&
Damn Dam it! IL ! do, know, he. respond
ed bitterly. You are having one now.
You have had one for a week. Some
thing has gone wrong with you;5 !
know it; I feel it. am your brother;
you told me so yourself; and you will
not let me help
He was SO honest. so kindly, so openly
and unselfshly devoted to her, so anx-
1ous to be regarded as her next kin.
SO unfeignedly hurt by her avoidance
of him, the thought came to her that
here was one upon whom she might
rely for help She felt years older
than he; indeed, he had stood to her
always as daring, healthful, gener-
Gus boy. She was impulsive and she
turned to him with both hands out
stretched:
Il am in trouble, Mr.. Allyn. Help
me-"
She had gone too far now to retreat.
Tears trembled on her 1ashes and
cheeks. He stared at her in amaze
and confusion. Like many Others of
his sex, at sight of the tears he felt
inclined to take to his heels. She
was half sick with shame, yet she
longed passionately for a word of her
lover and felt that she must go on:
"You say that have been in strange
mood for a week. What happened a
week ago?"
"A week ago-what happened week
ago?' he. stammered. why, nothing
! except that the smuggler fellow stole
:; my somblero AMI ran aI~'av:"
''Yes!" she said softly and smiled
at him through her tears Slow-creep-
ing, a blush mounted and surged over
chin, cheeks and brow, bathing her
face in pink. Her hands clasped LOOSE
! ly in front of her, she stood before
him., timid, shrinking and downcast,
! mute appealing confession ain4 every
curve Of her lovely figure. Allyn grew
red, then pale, then red again.
why, damn. me!"' he burst out.
'Why, Lois! Why-why-you don't
mean-but it's prepost-but, yes, damn
/ me, I believe it's so.''ss:s.
/ e.''It is so,'' she. said, facing him
bravely now.
But he's smuggler chap, cat
t. "stop!" her hand was raised her
eyes We're flashing; ;>s she was doing bat
tie for her own. s.sI1e' il not thief:
he is not a murderer; he was SNUG
7gler for only three months, He will
mot be so again.: He loves me- l. love
him. Don't you dare>to speak evil, Of
him"': she broke down in a. passion Of
sobs and clung to him for support. J, :
."All right! All right!''s he =, said
soothingly, much touched and, thor
oughly: frightened. You know best
I'm sure. You wouldn't do. anytime
except for the best. ;. I can understand
how it happened. He's handsome
ras-young fellow, and has got good
pluck, too. Just brace up, Lois, please,
and tell me what you want - .
She recovered with surprising rapid
ity and still cling to his, coat sleeve
! She smiled at him and said: -
IT want message from him and
he is across the river not far from
here. Get it for me-" r.
Gam I to- ride over there; and ask
every one meet whether he has seen
a pale, beautiful rustler with a lame
/ wing, and keep on asking until Isfin,d
him, and then have him write to YOU
or shoot him If he refuses %
eyes"
| + I well" saidsAllyn, ''it's a. nice bust.
ness, but I'll do it. I'm your brother
I YES" ~ w. '@.+H n g. - Y w.
'And you love, me. only as a sister?'
H. Eyes" .@51}ss;;4s ~ ~ gsSIusS ~<
r.: "only as a sister?" - !
II sQnly as sister, Dont the goose
.E,s Three days afterward Allyn, dust,
and worn, returned at the noon hour
from a supposed chase 5of cougars 81
4 the Mexican hills. n He dismounted Il
front of the rancho h ouse, stalked into
4 theSf school-roqm, handed a. crumpled
j note to Lois, chucked .'Palpmita'',, un.
der the chin and walked out again
+ The note rams: ,s II. II IS. *,,s
+ E. Your friend has come to me. Goo
bless him tor. It and you for sending
! j him! I'M ! start so,lthward tomorrow, ii
hope and love, to return in the early
q sunmA, 49, 4. Il e,