Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-05-24

/ trembling little laugh that was none
/ the less merry.
/ But we are both safe and sound. so
what's to worry us? Let's find out
where we both came from and Then
suddenly she became sober. First.
let's go see IL we cen be of any use
/ down there" And she glanced beyond
| Wilton. where fitting lanterns and a
! confusion OF voices marked the place
of real catastrophe. Together they hnr-
ried down the tracks, 10 find that al
that could be done was being done for
the sufferers and that now all that was
possible was TO wait for the wrecking
train.
Wilton drew Betty away from be
crowd.
I'VE can't help" he said. land you
are shivering with the cold. I'm going
back to get your coat and my traps
and yours. Then we will make a camp
here on the bank"
A few minutes later found them
toasting before brisk little fire that
Wilton had kindled. while over in the
east low streamers Of pink silhouetted
the dull outlines Of mining village.
"Shall we try to find shelter In the
town asked Wilton.
"Oh, no." answered Betty. Lets
wait here"
Wilton. spread bis hands contentedly
TO the flames, while he stared so intent
y at the girl opposite that her eyes
wavered. Yes, II was the same Betty
Of Ave years before-yet not the same
Betty She of ave years before had
been a child Of eighteen. The woman
Of twenty-three before him was the
fulflllment Of all the earlier promises
Of loneliness. Wilton's heart beat more
quickly as he looked at the glowing
sweetness Of her face
Betty" he said abruptly. Betty.
why have you never written me all
these yearsr
Betty looked at him quickly This
irm, clear cut face was different from
the jolly boys features she had re-
membered, and there was a new, I'm
polling quality In his tones that she
rather liked.
Because. Jack" she answered slew
y, because you never wrote me-"
"Oh, but did" he replied; three
different timesr
II never received the letters" she
said. "You might have known that
Aunt Jane would take care of that"
Wilton walked up and down rest
lessly half a dozen times and threw
scme sticks on the fire before stopping
In front Of the girl. "And now" he
continued, would you mind telling me
why you sent me away from you FIVE
years ago1'
THAT was not Aunt James fault.
Jack" she said eagerly. Indeed. you
must not blame her for that She
could pursue her own methods, but
she never could influence me in my
own purposes"
"Thank heaven for thatv' interrupt
cd Jack grimly. you sent me away"
he prompted
Betty lifted her head bravely. 81
sent you away" she said. 'that you
might prove to me whether or not you
were a man. You were only a college
student then"
Jack thrust his hands more deeplv
into his pockets. He was holding in
well, considering the food tide with
In. The sunrise and freight We'd with
each other In lighting up the sweet mo-
bility Of her face. Yes, 1t was the same
dear Betty.
And now" he said, little hoarsely.
"see how useless 1t was, for you don't
know what the years have done for
me, and you are five years grown
away"
Betty rose slowly and looked into HI
clear, dark eyes. She looked at the
hne, firm mouth. the clean cut tanned
face, the straight. strong alertness Of
bis figure. She spoke slowly and
softly.
yes" she said, 1--WE did not write
to each other. but" here she smiled
little, ''your face tells me all that
want to know"
Jack took an eager step toward her.
"And does it tell you that have
loved you always. Loyalty, for the long
Eve years?'
Betty's voice trembled a little. Eyes,
Jack. IT, But the rest Of her reply
was lost In Jacks arms.