Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-11-28
CHAPTER X-Continued.
Copyright, 1905, by ]. p. Lippincott Coz


under the frosty stars he had thu
good sense to walk her up and dowr
in the healing silence and darkness:
for five full minutes before he ven
tured to say what was in his mind.
When he spoke it was earnestly. and
to the purpose, not without eloquence
he loved her; had always loved her
he thought. Could she not, with time
and the will to try, learn to love him:
not as a cousin?
She turned quickly and put both
hands Of his shoulders.
"Oh Cousin Billy-don't!" she fall
tered brokenly; and he, seeing at once
that he had played the housebreaker
where he would fain have been the
welcome guest, took his punishment
manfully drawing her arm in his and
walking her yet other turns up and
down the long platform until his pa
thence and the silence had wrought
their perfect work.
Does it hurt much?" she asked,
softly, after a long time.
You would have to change places
with me to know just how much it
hurts" he answered. "And yet you
haven't left me quite desolate, Vir-
ginia. still have something left
all I've ever had, 1 fancy"
and that is"
My love for you, you know. It
isn't at all contingent upon your yes
or no; or upon possession-it never
has been, think. 1t has never asked
ri 70 ho
She was silent for a moment. Then
she said: Cousin Billy do believe
that you are the best man that ever
lived. And I am ashamed-ashamedi"
What for?"
IF l have spoiled you, ever so lit
tie, for some truer, worthier woman"
You haven't; you mustn't take that
view Of it. I am decently in love
with my work-a work that not few
done alone. 1 don't think there will
be any other woman. You see, there
rs only one Virginia. Shall we go
in now?"
She nodded, but when they reached
the Rosemary the returning engine
was rafting upon the open siding.
Virginia drew back.
Il don't want to meet Uncle Somer-
vile just now" she confessed. Cant
we climb up to the observation plat
form at the other end of the carr"
He said yes, and made the affirma-
tive good by lifting her in his arms
over the high railing. Once safely on
the car. she babe him leave her.
She was shivering a little in the
chill wind sliding down from the
snow-peaks, yet she would not go in
until she had made sure. In a little
time her patience was rewarded. The
huge engine came storming up the
grade on the new line, pushing its
three flat-cars, which were black with
tclinging men. On the car nearest
the locomotive, where the dazzling
beam Of the headlight pricked him
out for her, stood Winton, braced
against the lurchings of the train over
the uneven track.
God speed you, my iove!" she muir.
Injured. softly; and when the gloom of
THE upper canyon cleft had engulfed
man and men and storming engine
Eshe turned to 90 IN.
She was cropping for the doorknot
In the darkness made thicker by the
glare of the passing headlight when
voice, disembodied for the moment
said: wait minute, Miss Carteret;
I'd like to have a word with you
She drew back quickly.
"Is it you, Mr.. Jastrow? Let me
go in, please"
I'm one moment. 1 have somethins
to say to you-something you ough
to hear
Cant it be said on the other sid,
Of the door? l am cold-very cold
Mr.. Jastrow."
1t was his saving hint, but he would
not take it.
We have at least one thing in com
mon, Miss Carteret-you and l. Tha
is a proper appreciation of the sue
cessful realities L"
She stopped him with a quick littl
gesture of impatience
"Will you be good enough to stan
aside and let me go in?'
The keen breath of the snow-cap
was summer-warm in comparison wit
the chilling iciness Of her manner
but the secretary went on unmoved:
Success is the only thing wort
while in this world. Winton will fai
but I shan't. And when 1 do succeed
shall marry a woman vino can wea
the purple becomingly."
81 hope you may, I'm sure" sh
answered, YEARLY. yet you will e,
lcuse me If l say that don't unde
stand how 1t concerns me, or why 70
should keep me out here in the col
to tell me ABOUT it"
Don't you? It concerns you yer
nearly. You are the woman, Mi:
Carteret."
Indeed? And If decline IL
honor?"
The contingency was one for whic
the sutton seemed not entirely DR.