The Lamar register., 1902-11-12
His Friend,
The Enemy
~ WILLIAM WALLACE coon
AuaAor d "Rossrs d Butte" The Spur q
Nsesssssy. "''Mr. FIJI. Astrosoess." &c.
toosyrlshs Nh. b tAs .. .. Mcclure Cal
CHAPTER nix continued

"A stout heart, a fair fight. and the
rigor of the game! The end of our
plots and our counterplots il now
At hand. Either success or defeat
will prove equally glorious and you
can learn the worst. OF the best, at
willowview just as well as you can
In Concord. Please don't keep me
waiting. Mr.. Herbert"
Evidently she thought the son Of
kr. Montfort Herbert had compe-
tence in his own right! No one had
informed her of the real condition
of Guys fortunes and he was not
the one to lay bare the truth.
Guy reflected. He might do more
hsrm than good in Concord II he
went there during the crisis. He had
no vote, anyway, as two weeks In
tie territory would not give him the
right of franchise. Besides. had he
not, In a quiet way, gained strateg-
ic advantage which would keep the
county seat at Concord?
"very well. Miss vlandingham." he
said. "It is kind of you to come for
me. and If you really care for my
company at Willowview I shall be
most happy to return with you"
He went into the house for his
satchel and then started for Har-
mony with a snap of the whip and
q jingle of chains. Very shortly they
passed Mr.. Whitaker, at work by
the road, and there was brief halt
while Guy explained matters. Mr..
Whitaker said little but smiled in
. knowing why, and they could see
him lean on the handle Of his shovel
and watch until they were out Of
sight.
Only the pen of . poet could ~
tingly describe that wondrous ride
A sentimental journey it was. every
step of the way from Whittaker's TO
the squire's; delicious faring across
the sunny plain, through drowsy
odor of wild flowers and under such
skies as smile over the Fortunate
Islss. Touched by the spell, neither
Of the two young people wasted
long lapses of silence into which
they fell were rhythmic intervals
wherein their hearts echoed back the
melody of song as old as the days
of man. Arrived at their destina-
tion Guy heavsd sigh of regret.
The calends of his love had lifted
q white stone to mark a passing
hour, and he was more securely q
captive If that could be.
Guys sojourn at Willowvisw was
very brief. Both Miss Hetty and her
father exerted themselves to the ut
most to make his stay enjoyable. but
he was i'll at ease. His negotiations
with Mr.. Landy had certainly won
the county seat for Concord, and it
seemed to him as though he were
acting a double part. When the re-
turns came in, and when the genial
squire and the adorable Miss Betty
discovered how willy and tactful he
had been, he feared that there would
be an upheaval and that they would
deny him their hospitality, and send
him forth in scorn.
It was all very well for Miss Betty
TO talk of "the rigor of the game"
The prime incentive in every game
Is success, and when the ballots were
counted and 1t was found that Am.
ityville had cast deciding vote for
Concord, he would see then whether
Miss Betty would take defeat as
'gloriously" as she would have taken
. better fortune. It would be a bit
ter triumph for him if it cost him
her favor. Yet If she had not spoken
those words in spirit of raillery-
In abort, if she really meant them
how Incompatible she would be-
come in his eyes! As Pettibone had
said, he could go to her and offer
her "dower" interest in his town.
And then, If she would accept! His