The Taney County republican., 1903-02-26
ionship but there va. still m nchs

| husband, and everything ON the
ranch, straight to hcr heart. And
I every live creature about the place
felt the spell Of her presence, the
dear little pig. the canning lit'lc
chickens, the sweet little calves, all
brought gurglrs of delight Ia her
! lips. The mcttlcsumc horses MnHscn
himself hnd difficulty in mounting
were ca jolcd by sugar and kisses into
carrying her safely. The great 81
Bcrnards were unclaimed aud al.
lowed 10 romp with her through the
halls. The oui.Of.tunc piano was
banged and thumpcd from morning
till night, and buoyant. buhbling
spring'imc reigncd supreme all win.
ter long.
The trap, as smart and new as ever,
was again heard gathering over the
roads, for Jack somehow seemed al.
ways able to find time to show Lis
beth the great rolling valley. now
growing fresh and young again un.
der the touch OF the winter rains. II
Jack had 10 20 down 10 the village.
Lisbcth had To go too because she
was the only one who could hold
Prancing Billy steady. II hc had to
ride horseback over the field. still
'Lisbcth must go along. because
Blackbird went 50 much better II
some one rode Dick And 1t was sur.
prising, To Mrs. Mason at least. how
many excursions OF the sort seemed
suddenly necessary.
As Julie Mason watched them day
after day starting of together, Jacks
shoulders growing straightcr. his
step bri.kcr, his manner gcntlrr th.
ache in her heart took different
form and grew deeper. And when
she met them on their return. Liz.
beth sparkling and dimpling nLl
Jacl; gallant and gentle, she sighed
for her old desolation dcuX.
That Julie seemed To grow frnilcr
and thinner since Elisabeth arrival,
instead OF better as they had hoped,
Jack did not seem 10 notice. In fact.
nobody seemed 10 notice Julie much
any more. 'Lisbcth was sweet and
thoughtful enough when they were
alone together. but Iisbcth was not
shrcwd enough TO keep her aunt from
seeing her ear was attuncd for ccr-
= tain step on the walk. n certain whistle
down the road. certain voice in the
hallway. She felt her superiluity with
a poignancc pressed down and running
over.
, "Yon don't look well this morning
E old GIRL Mason surprised her by say.
. ing one morning. when Elisabeth was
kept in her room by n cold and they
. were eating their meal in checrles.
:. silence.
I Dredging her memory for some rea
z son to which 10 nGcribc this suddcr
7 solicitudc IN his part, she forgot ia
answer him. After moment he re
] pcated his obscryation-casual enough
: in itself.
!. "You are not looking well. thi'
: morning. Julie"
p Mrs. Mason looked mp quickly
y Was this the first time during the win
= ter ht had noticed her ill-louks. sh,
l wondered.
Z II am as well rs usual" she nm
= swercd, quietly, still wondering at hi
+ sudden interest.
i The meal was finished in silence
u They had 10 long ceased 10 pretend {,
= have n common interest that IL wa
Il no, necessary to sham. The child, n
= she insisted upon calling Iisbeth
a tudc toward each other. or had Hc
1 ccptcd :, MS u matter of course he
q tween people who had been marric'
!. ten years, aud did not know-or di
a she know?-it was her presence tha
y was widening the breach. This wa
}. the question Julie asked herself ever
Il day MS she watched her niece and he
n husband. and the lines around he
# mouth grew harder us she slowl
l. formed an opinion.
o A few hours later Mason rode bac
y TO the house.
"You looked So bad at breakfast. ol
y girl" and again she tried to thin
l. his tones rang true, 81 brought yo
s. some fine mushrooms 10 tempt you
$. appetite. These are the first of til
n. season; | found them around the Il
/. rigating ditch" Throwing his find o
II the table and springing back into h
/, saddle, he was of.
n Julie watched him ont Of sight. Va
q a.. T., ha haI thnnuht In,
to her. or was II new Jack she hn
,r scarcely allowed herself 10 suspect {
lc being? As she looked of over II
,c acres OF isolation that spread on n
n. sides about her, her eyes took on thu
in hard inscru,abe look tina, had cor
c. into them these recent years.
u II was late when Jack came hon
n; that evening. lie did not whistle
e, be came down the road. Julie WI