, 1906-03-14
-eturnine TO the ranch"

swered, YEARLY and sadly: ut will be
a long time before l return to the life
on the ranch. l have other plans
now"
Ann half regretted her action and as
she rose said, with a smiling assump-
ton of easy, friendly interest which
hurt him worse than anything she had
hitherto spoken: Il think it wonderful
the way you are coming ON. We will
see you at dinner in Il few days"
THANK you. l shall be down at the
earliest moment" he quietly replied
and leaned back in his chair, white
and suffering, his eyes closed, his lips
quivering.
Ann was well aware that she had not
lived up to her higher self in this in
serview and that she had been cruelty
u~nresponsive and distant with him.
"And yet | don't see how l could have
acted differently" she argued with
her better self. "He must not go on
thinking me more deeply interested in
his life than l really am"
Mrs. Barnett was impatiently wait
ing for her return.
what did he say?" she ~breathlessly
asked. Pm dying to know
Ann answered with evasiye indiffer-
ence. HE thanked me again for my
heroic action and begged pardon for
his rudeness, all of which he might
have spared himself the trouble Of re-
peating.'
Mrs. Barnett was on the scent for
romance. what elseY'
Nothing else"
poor fellowl He has been strug-
Cling toward this event for days. Only
the doctors express orders kept him
from getting up ten days ago. He has
been all the morning dressing for it,
and now you tell me in that supercil-
ious tone that nothing happened"
Ann fired into anger. What could
happen? You needn't speak in riddles,
Jeanette. What do you think should
have happened? Come, now, you silly,
romantic thingi'
Some note in her voice touched Mrs.
Barnett, and she slowly replied: Ann
Rupert, you are the coolest, cruelest
creature l ever knew. l know what
you did to that poor fellow. You un-
mercifully snubbed him; you froze his
gratitude on his lips. OF course you are
infinitely his superior'-she became
weakly sarcastic at this point-"but
you are not justified in stabbing u sick
man to the heart"
you're quite mistaken. l was very
nice to him."
Mice! I've seen you nice to young
men before. Oh, I'd like to see some
man crush you! I'd enjoy seeing you.
crawl"
Mrs. Barnett went Immediately to
Raymond's door and knocked. At his.
word she entered. He sat where Ann
had left him, but Louis was beside
him, showing him a new drawing.
isn't that wonderful said Ray
mond, holding the sketch in the air, his
eyes aglow with pride in the boy. IF 1
could do that | would never be lone
some or restless. | wish | knew my
use in the world as certainly as Louis
does"
The young artist flushed with the
pleasure. Its just as wonderful to
ride the way you do and throw a rope
and all that. I'll teach you to draw if
you want me to-"
Raymond turned to Mrs. Barnett
with a look in which amusement and a
certain sorrow met. Tn long past
such instruction, lad. l haven't sense
enough to keep out of mischief. You
draw, and I'll do the posing. I'm a
good poser. Don't you think SO, Mrs.
Barnett?"
Il don't know what you mean," said
she, feeling vaguely his pain and dis.
couragement-hiS disillusionment.
Il posed as a farmer and deceived
good Don Barnett. l made up for a
cowboy and fooled Baker and the rest
of the squad. And now I'm posing as
an invalid when l ought to be out on
the ranch again. It's time l rode
away to a new range"
Mrs. Barnett was alarmed at the
undertone of bitterness in his words.
"You must not think of even walking
downstairs for a week"
but l 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 a sense of
guilt. | can walk now. and | ought
not to stay another day."
Mrs. Barnett knew very well that
his mood was due to AIMS icy dis
4 -. 81 IL. 4: - 800