The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-12-21
Lavender
.CreightOn'S
Lovers
By OLIVIA B. STROHM
Copyright, 1905, by Olivia B. strohm).

CHAPTER XXIV-CoNrINUED,

"She is well, or, at least, no worse.
saw her yesterday afternoon"
Then rapidly he detailed what had
happened since her absence. your
mother is treasured as far as 1t lay
in my power, but of course, we must
return as soon as possible"
ooh, if we only can! Every mo-
ment is precious" Lavender urged, then
reproachfully: Il couldn't make Owa-
toga take me back. He insisted upon
waiting over to-day, at least When
l appealed to Col. Boone, he said l
must be patient until sunrise to-mor-
row. If nobody came in search Tor
me by that time he would himself take
me home"
$50 l am superfuous; shall l go
back-alone?
She shook her head in smiling dis
sent, and he went on: But l am not
altogether useless. since have brought
you this" and he produced the bun
die which the slave had given him.
America! The dear, thoughtful
SOUL"
Lavender's lip quivered between
smile and tear at sight of the pack
age with it's careful wrapping.
And this" Winslow drew from his
knapsack the small silk bag he had
picked up on the beach.
Thank you" Then, as she took the
bag, and came a step closer: And
thank you for coming for me" she
said, sweetly. Then, drawing back
with petulant sigh: But, indeed, it
seems l shall never have done with
thanking YOU"
SIS it, then, so hard to thank me?'
His eyes demanded reply.
1t came with reluctant grace: ut
is never comfortable to be placed I'M
der obligations"
Pardon me-" he asked, meekly; but
are those really your reasons in the
abstract, or only in my own unfor-
tunate case?'
She half-turned from him, idly polk
ing the fire with a stalk of sugar cane
"An obligation is a bond-a fetter,"
she said.
Sometimes" he admitted. ut is
also tie."
Then unconsciously his voice soft
ened, and he stepped very near: Il
can imagine that obligation might be
happiness"
He was emboldened by her yielding
hn lie nf
mother rang in his ears like the re-
frain of harp: You, whom she
loves!"
He had refused to accept the words
as sober, serious truth, and had said
over and over again to himself that
he had mistaken their import. but in
spite of judgment, the memory of them
gave him courage.
1.-The heaviest obligation in the
world" he said, brings the most
happiness"
She looked up quickly, with side
wise turn of the head. Then, irrele-
vanity: There, | had forgotten the
meal, and Col. Boone wants hoe
cake for supper" Resuming her
task, she applied herself to the gritter
She sat on the ground. The once stiff
folds of her muslin gown now drag
Cling Imply about her. were stained
with berry juice and looped here and
there with cookie burrs. She shivered
a little in the night wind, and without
a word Winslow put the cape Of his
coat around her.
Boone promptly returned, and togsth-
er he and Lavender set about prepare
tons for supper. Winslow looked on
in lazy, satisfied silence.
The meal was spread on the ground
in the most primitive style.
IF you want to be useful while you
sit there, Mr.. Winslow, sir, suppose
you sharpen these twigs for forks?
That rabbit will be too hot for any
fingers but mine"
Winslow assumed the work with a
show of earnestness, but looked up often
TO watch Lavender. In the weird light
that was neither sun, nor moon, nor
fire. but a blending of all three, she
fitted about like wrath of sun
beams entombed in the forest shades
1t was one secret of her charm for
him-this entire qualification of his
artistic sense. 1t was not her beauty
alone that pleased him; it was the ele.
ment of the picturesque, the dramatic
which that beauty never lacked.
He watched her now, as she waited
upon Daniel Boone, whose wishes sh,
seemed ever to anticipate. A gourC
of water for the part of the fire tina
was too hot; more salt for the meat
or a deft turn of the hoe-cake wheI
needed
To this primitive cooking sh,
brought an alert interest that vastl.
pleased the old pioneer. She toast
ed bits of venison on the end OF
bayonet held over the Goals, and
shielding with the free hand her cheel
from the firelight's glow. she hid. toe
the blush that covered it at the o..
mans words of praise.
shell be a fine housekeeper som
day; envy the lucky fellow she's t
80, - ., THE cfn,nlo co,,i