Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-02-15


 long time before I return to the life on the ranch. have other plans now."
 Ann half regretted her action and AS she rose said with smiling ass,1,np- tion of easy. friendly interest which hurt him worse than anything she had hitherto spoken: II think it wonderful the way you are coming on. We will see you at dinner ill q few days"
 "Thaak you. l shall be down at the earliest moment" he quietly rpll.ie;i and leaned back in his chair. wl4te and suffering, his eyes closed his lips 4uiyCrin.s.
 -tlll WIS well aware tis9t sic had not Iivett gD to Hef bi&lz =zI a....5 iil- ,e.siet% and tHat stle h,5t been e..aeH. unrczpaHSiye amt esl5=5.z545 Hz.i4 hf4a. s..H+ .t1 ] con zee h. l 5.5.ii#.. t;F.= deeea dit5ernt.l, ~a.s als5sg 9EE}a her hct,el ..elf. s.#R .-.4=. !a#5 4s5 oz= tl.8'z '; ;z.a 1sl....-t.a5 3u5aH.z.s. .a his fife tis@i le:5.. .itI
 Mrs. l.AF-.s.e s@s la.. &le4l1 wait. iag for EyH sptij.55.
 What did he .s..rz sine 5rcathle sIx asked. si,ia dying to know
 Anu answered with cvasive inditfer- ence He tlaHHed Ine again for my heroic action and begged pardon for his rudeness. all of which he might have spared himself the trouble of re- peatiug."
 Mrs. Barnett was on the scent for romance. What elset"
 Nothing else.2
 "Poor fellow He has been slrug- gling toward this event for days Only the doctors express orders kept him from getting up ten days ago He has beoa all tie morning dressing for it, and noW you tell iue in that supercil Jous tone that nothing happened
 .tz4A iire,i into anger. What could ha. | Hz You ncedh't speak in riddles, .j54,5l5@tte. What oo you taiHN sh92ld have hapBeae#i: Gglao, He#, You s.lY romantic fUfng'.,
 Some uajS in Ley voice touched Mrs. Barnett, and she slowly replied: '9tlJn Rupert. yQa are the eole.e4st, clae5esa creature eyer knew l kuow what you cid to that poor fellow. You uN mercituiiE snGbbed lim; you froze his gfdti suGe oa his lips Of course you ase infinitely his superior she became weakly sarcastic at this poIAt-.but you are not justitied ill stabbiug a sick man to tLe heart.
 You're quite mistaken. l was very nice to him..
 Nice, I've seen you niee to young men before Oh, I'd like to see some maa crush you, I'd enjoy seeing you craWl"'
 Mrs. Barnett went immediately to Raymonl's door and knocked At his word she entered. He sat where Ann had left him, but Louis was beside him, showing him d new drawing.
 Isn't that wondcrful.' said Ray mond, holding the sketch ill the air, his eyes aglow with pride ill the boy. If 1 could do that 1 would never be lone some or restless. wish 1 knew my use ill the world as certainly as Louis doeS'
 The young artist flushed with the pleasure. Its just as wonderful to and all that I'll teach you to draw if you want me to-
 Raymond turned to Mrs. Barnett with look in which amusement and certain sorrow met. I'm long past such instruction, lad. I haven't sense enough to keep out of mischief. You draw, and I'll do the posing. I'm good poser Don't you think so, Mrs BarnettY
 Fl don't know what you mean,' said she. feeling vaguely his pain and dis, cOuragement-his disillusiOnment.
 '1 posed as farmer and deceived good Don Barnett. l made up for cowboy and fooled Baker and the rest of the squad And now I'm posing as an invalid when I ought to be out on the ranch again. It's time l rode away to new range"
 Mrs. Barnett was alarmed at the undertone of bitterness in his words "You must not think of even walking downstairs for week."
 But I can't sit here and sink deeper and deeper into obligation to you," he answered. What rights have l in this room? I'm only a poor, wander ing ne'er-do-well, and your beautiful home makes me ashamed-more than ashamed-it fills me with sense of guilt. can walk now. and ought not to stay another day"
 Mrs. Barnett knew very well that his mood was due to Ann's icy dis dain, and she realized, too how diffi- cult the task of divertlpg his mind from this foolish purpose would be. She said gently: You were injured In our service, Robert, and it is our duty to look after you. You must not utter another word of this sort of talk to me or l will call Don, and then you will hear a voice that will make you quake. I tell you frankly l will not listen to your walking out of this room