The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-22
THE LOVE OF A
 MAN OF THE PLAINS
BY ANNE SHANNON MOORE.

BY ANNE SHANNON MOORE. 1: [CopyTight, eo2 by Daily Story Pub Col $ $ x mi.Sed in more civilized cline. Could they have lifted the mask they would have found only 8 sore, quivering heart, that, shrinking from contact with the world Of men. sought solace in nature From his earliest memory he craved love and had gone loveless through the years. His mother had died during his infancy. As he grew into young man. hood the first girl who caught his at. tention received from him wealth of silent. alEabsorbing devotion which she was not capable of understanding. A sew years of welded bliss and she wreck ed his life by running away with an artist who could sing sentimental songs and make pretty speeches. Guthrie heard of her death but 1t could not add one throb to the already bleeding heart that would not break: . As the years passed over him he im- perceptibly grew into the calm induced by the wide Western plains. and not til Genie Lyman crossed his path did ne arouse himself to any interest beyond his ponies. Gradually she awakened all his old love of loving. She came 10 be necessary part or his existence. is ( on her. Should she. go out or itIshe should not go out of it! With clenched teeth he swore it. and had Genie seen the look on his face she would nave trembled.
 But he had won her. even as she had won him. To her it was Heaven to be by his side: to him it was hell. In the fear something would take her from him.
 When they reached home that evening. as he lifted her from the pony, he held her closely, almost fiercely. to him. "Tell me. Genie" he whispered. is once cared-who might ever come between us? Be honest. little girl"
 She drew away from him and looked down, tapping the toe of her boot with her riding whip. Could he have seen her eyes the mischief there lurking would have treasured him.
 'Yes, Guthrie, there was one thought I loved with my whole heart. I didn' t me or make me lose sight of my duty to him. But you have, Guthrie, you have almost made me forget him..
 He turned as white as the pale moon most cut him to the quick; if she had forgotten one man for him wouldn't she forget him for another? At that moment Bob opened the door:
 A tot of mait-letters from home-came down for you. Genie"
 At the magic word "maif' she hurried inside. leaving the two men talking To- gether.
 Soon Bob went on to the stables and Guthrie entered the house. She did not see him enter nor feel his presence as he stood behind her.
 She sat gazing at the photograph of handsome boyish young face The tears were streaming down her cheeks. and from time to time she bent forward and kissed the picture had a9nst far sae gotten ycd. dear"
 Guthrie bent over her. "Is this the one you loved-before you met me?' he whispered, hoarsely.
 much he was to me. l have been selfish. His dear face seems to reproach me. Guthrie. 1t is my"
 A quick backward movement, a sharp "click." and Guthrie Bialock sank Imply into the chair, letting his pistol fall to the floor. He had forgotten that the last charge had been spent on the rattlesnake; that only ssHed hm rsa ene sprng ing to his side. "Oh. tell me what is the trouble" At that moment Bob entered. Guthrie rose to leave, white and terrible to ssIt sse; down. man commanded Bob. sec ing that something had gone wrong and unwilling for him to leave in such a state. He thought Genie had refused him. To divert attention he picked up the photograph lying on the table.
 "Ah, a new picture of the kid; We can't call him little brother any longer, can we, GeneT'
 Slowly a light began to dawn in Guth- '"Is he your brother?' he demanded.
 Yes. dear; the only man who could share my love with you,
 Genie, Genie," he cried, drawing her into his arms, regardless of Bob's pres ence. "Oh, Genie!" The truth flooded her senses She at last realized the mag nitude of the love of a man of the plains.
 When Genie Lyman became Mrs. Guth- rie Blalock, she lost her fad for col lecting snake rattles; but she has one string of ten with which nothing could induce her to part. She alone knows the secret of how they saved her husbands life. GIRI n Inv Innis Meadock.