The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1903-11-14

bered out of the wagon, and after
thanking him for her ride, started
down the road toward home.
"Take 1t cross lots, Wilda." Mr.. Cline
called after her.
"All right, Mr.. Cline. Excuse me, I
forgot" she called back.
Then she turned In toward the high
rail fence. climbed over 1t, and when
she was well into the field beyond. I'm
sheer desperation she sat down on the
ground with her back against an old
stump and began to cry.
"Only to think" she burst out indig-
nantly. =" of my going to all this trouble
for him. The mean, deceitful wretch"
and the heavy heads OF grass bent
low and answered "Yes." snow
know why l could never tell whether
loved him or not. He don't deserve
It," and the waving grass bent its
heads still lower and whispered, "No,
he's deceiving you" "rll never, never
speak to him again." she cried.
81 wouldn't IL were you" croaSed
a blackbird as 1t lighted on the stump
above her head.
"I don't believe Theodore Graham
would be guilty Of treating girl like
that"
"Indeed he wouldn't" again croaked
the blackbird. flying away.
"And I've been as mean to him as I
could be, and snubbed him every
chance could get. Oh, wish wasn't
such fool!" And covering her face
with her hands she broke into an
angry fod of tears.
After she had cried to her hearts
content, she rose with difficulty to her
feet, and hobbled away through the
tall grass. Every step she took she al.
most cried out with pain. She knew
her feet were swollen to bursting, but
she dare not take Off her shoes for
fear she could not get them on again.
So she Travelled on as best she could,
crossing fields and climbing fences un-
til she came out ut the north fork Of
the road and was in sight of home.
How cool the tall pines looked, sill
houtted against the blue sky, and how
she longed to be in the shadow of their
thick branches: but between her and
them was q great field of waving rye.
To attempt to cross It she knew would
be like blazing way through an I'M
broken forest. but to accept the other
alternative and add another mile to her
journey by going around was simply
out Of the question.
The opposite side Of this field lay
parallel to her fathers orchard, where,
leaning on a gate-post, stood tall,
athletic appearing young man, intently
watching peculiar wave which
semeed to be slowly approaching him
through the rye.
Suddenly the tall spears Of grain
parted, and. catching sight of a scarlet
face beneath a white straw hat, he
exclaimed:
'Why. Vida - Miss Wright - what
in the world does this mean?"
At the tone of eager sympathy in his
voice, Wilda's lips quivered and she
began to cry.
Impulslvely Theodore grasped her by
the hand and led her through the open
gate into the orchard and sat her down
in the shade of an apple tree.
With feeling Of disgust Mt herself
for exposing her weakness, Vida
snatched off her hat and threw 1t on
the ground. Theodore quickly took It
up and began to fan her with it and
after she became more composed, he
asked:
"How far have you walked"
"Most Of the way" was her curt
reply.
"where did you miss your father?"
"Has he gomez" she asked, eagerly.
eyes. He started early this morn
ing. He didn't know your uncle had
not gone until it was too late to go last
night"
II rode part way with Mr.. Cline"
"That's how you came to miss him.
You took the south fork?"
eyes. of course" snapped Wilda.
of what she had seen under
the maple trees.
"But you should have either met him,
,r he overtaken you. before that" per-
sisted Theodore.
''Perhaps I should. and he didn't"
.etorted Vida, thinking of the time
'he loltered away in the park at
Haven.
Theodore ventured no reply. He
saw plainly that in her state of mind
'urther questioning was not only use
ess but cruel.
A big, ripe apple fell at wilda's feet.
She tool, It and began to eat ravenous-
Y. After she had finished and thrown
he core away, Theorode ventured to
lsk:
"Why were You So bent on getting
lome tonight, Wilda?"
ITO keep my appointment with Wal
err Mather," she responded unhesitat-
ngly.
do you think It will pay?"
"It has paid already" she replied
pitefully, at the same time wincing
t the sharp pain that darted through
err foot.