La Junta tribune., 1905-12-20

TO be in spirit with the season. he
had apologized TO Miley. These be
placed In BessIe's hands and watched
the expression of delight that illuini-
mated the child's face. She bad hardly
done thanking him when the door
opened and Faith entered. Her eyes
met Desmond's in one long. searching
glance, then she turned white and
leaned against the wall. Rob let his
hat fall 10 the floor as he FASTENED to-
ward tie agitated girl.
Faith. Faith Haskins.' he cried.
lis IL you-and here?"
"Oh. Rob. | never expected TO see
you again. she sobbed, burylng her
face in the folds of her shawl. The
sight of an old friend had thrown her
on her guard aud brought back 10 her
sharply and keenly all her trouble and
Loneliness and made her strangely
weak
When Clint came in a few minutes
later he found his sister in the arms OF
what appeared to him 10 be a big buf-
falo. Never having heard that buffa-
loes We're IN the habit OF coming into
cabins and hugging people. lie ap-
preached Bessie. whose teeth had just
decapitated candy rabbit. and asked
in an awed whisper:
What's got Faithf Is il hurtin
herr
Il dcss not" Bessie whispered back
as well as she could with her mouth
full Hes awful nice, an l dess he's
a relation to Santa Claus. See what
he d.bbed me- holding up her pres
ents
Returning from the blacksmith's
shop, Ike and Jim left the repaired
wheel by the wagon and stole quietly
up 10 the shack As they passed one
of the windows they looked in 10 see
IL their victim were there. With sur
prise they beheld him sitting 10y Faiths
side. holding both her hands in his.
The freight revealed to their aston
Ished sight the two happy faces. while
two equally happy children were sit
ting on the floor ut their feet.
The fellows. realizing that their Joke
had missed ire started to walk
away, but Rob. catching sight OF them,
went 10 the door and insisted on their
coming In. After they had partially
recovered from their embarrassment
hihl kthihl
! toward restoring them TO their natural
selves-they distributed their gifts and
received the young laGy's blushing
thanks for all their kindness TO her.
Desmond said:
Pretty good joke you tried TO play
on me tonight, boys" with slap on
| their shoulders, at the same time laugh
ing heartily. But you see how IL has
turned out. Only I'll have TO explain.
| This little woman, Faith Hasklns. and
/ I used TO go to school together away
back near the old Tippecanoe in In
diana
I'VE grew up AS lovers. but her
father thought ! wasn't Of much ac-
count except to pick an old guitar or
play the fiddle. so when he had taken
| his family of to Nebraska he wouldn't
4 allow Faith to write to me, and of
! course I lost track of her. But loved
T her just the same. and that ! might
/ become more worthy gave up my Id.
| habits. taught school for a few terms
and earned the money TO give me "A
start here in Kansas ON this timber
claim and am Ia a pretty fair way To
make my living. as you know. | ind
my Iitlt - Hoyl tEtcAb haN Lti ioIEbt-
ten me. and since she had the audacity
| to Jump my claim in my absence I
think ! may as well keep her here.
Now. as you fellows have already had
a finger la the pie l want you TO go
with Us tomorrow to visit the Judge
/ over at the courthouse. Something's
going to take place there that Will eel
ebrate Christmas In proper style. II
was Kind of you 20 see to repairing the
wagon. but there won't lie any use for
IL going To Uncle Etban's ranch. for
Clint and Bessie Nil have 90 stay and
help us he happy. loull ~. won't you.
boysT'
"Goy Ia course we VIII, Wen see
you and her through. II tie earth slips
a cog. We viii. you bct, - ginger.
but you're lucky galoot. I wish ole
Christmas ii drop jewel like that
]