Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-12-19
the ground and " waved her big hat ::
across her: face, !. rosy from brow to
chin with the mfddaXShezt.. = ~ =

241lu0se& S0St1t.a
1T 1T was very warm on the road. but
how cool and nice under this trellis"
She picked blossom OF the cucum-
Der vine that, grew above, and the
stir Of leaves brought a feathery
shower about her, all fragrant green
and white -.
'''Yes'm, it's real nice. Mr.: Winslow
shady"
cit was good Of him to take the
trouble" Then, looking directly into
the octoroon's eyes; Lavender went on:
ut was about Mr.. Winslow that I
wanted to speak to you to-day
The quick smile, the evident pleas
ure in her listeners every feature, was
reward enough for the condescension.
about him? About Mr.. Winslow?'
Eyes, I had to come to town to-day
to do some trading, and l wanted to
see you, too. I am anxious to know il
Mr.. Winslow and Senior Gonzaga went
on the relief expedition in aid of Col.
Boomer
The octoroon said yes, and remained
silent
Nothing more was said for a mo-
ment. Lavender was having fierce
battle with her pride.
Should she ask questions of this
woman? Should she reveal to her
interest in things which her Utmost
heart should keep sacredo Yet. after
all, it was little to ask: if possible she
! would be spared further torture Of
| suspense
| So she said. abruptly: at has al
| ways seemed strange to me that Mr..
Winslow came here so sudden1y-in SO
| mysterious way"
Then, as the woman opened her
mouth to speak, II know, of course,
that he came in response to this note.
But you did not write it: I wonder
who did?''
| She placed in the woman's hand the
yellow envelope.
| The octoroon shook her head.
! "No'm; but it was somebody who knew
he'd get into trouble if he went to that
pollard willow where Sue Miller was
to meet her-her beau" The name
which trembled on her lips was not
uttered, as quick came the recollection
that she must be silent
But to her amazement Lavender sup
piled it. eyes, know she said
(for at last rumor had brought to her
ears something of the story Of Ger
AIDS intimacy with Sue Miller). II
know; to meet my brother. But who
could have wanted Mr.. Winslow
| there?"
"That don't know, least it was some
enemy who thought he'd get into trou-
BILE. The branch water man had
threatened to kill your-Mr. Gerald.
and SO anybody around there in the
dark was likely to"
But Lavender interrupted with a
sharp cry: "No, no; it could not have
been that. He-Mr. Winslow-has no
enemy who would be $3.50 guilty"
| She spoke with a touch of hauteur
which subdued the woman. She ar
gued now, instead: "Well maybe it
think Mr.. Winslow was in love with
Sue. That wouldn't have been so bad"
she concluded, for she saw that for the
first motive the young woman had no
temper.
mo, u, that wouldn't have been
so bad," Lavender repeated, half to
herself.
But the sickening suspicion over
came her, and she sank to the seat
and rested her hot cheek against the
soft, cool vine.
At that moment there was a sound
of mufle1 voices, and down the road
a film of sandy dust whitened the
trees.
"They have come back and, united
in their common anxiety, the maid
and wome,a rushed out awaiting the
procession.
1t was coming slowly. L,vender's
heart stood still to see how Qlnwly.
A dozen or more men truugcd be-
hind the unwieldy vehicle, witch
seemed to crawl after the jaded mules.
At last the girls strained eyes alight-
ed upon a straight figure, walking
sturdily and unframed by it's side.
Overpowered by the relief which sight
of Winslow brought, and shamed at
excess of it, Lavender leaned against
the wooden block, hands clasped and
color mounting until her cheeks out
famed the SALIVA that edged the way
with herp Of scarlet.
OwatOga hurried in aj7ance, and
strobe to her side without d word, but
with a variety of emotions wrinkling
his usually i1apassive face
With smile of greeting Lavender
asked: "You left Col Boone, and IL
he safe?"
<<He is safe-rt home the Indian
responded.
Then, with an inscrutable look and
gesture toward the covered wagon, he
added: "And the white maid is safo
now"
Without further explanation, he
! passed on dowa she road.
By this time the procession was halt
ed near the tavern, and the crowd dis
persed--mostly within the hosiery.
The octoroon had only time for a
hearty word for Charles, when she
hurried within where her duties as
hostess were eagerly sought by the
| thirsty travellers. - ?
Meanwhile, to Lavender's SURPRISE
there was a constraint, sadness in
| the response which Winslow and the
preacher made to her congratulations.
Charles bent SO low that his breath
swept her hand, and in his eyes was a
fond greeting, but he glanced uneasilY
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