The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1906-04-13

I ontinued.) mi @yf 4
forget his services as cook and cow
boy, and, besides, she hated being per-
turbed.' She resolutely5 changed the
subject. s,%s$ t. :.
/ "Dr. Braide says you are getting on
splendidly and that you will soon be
returning to the ranch ~, .>7 IA. J.. !. =
i Checked and chilled by her manner,
he plainly abandoned all further
thought Of confding in her and an
swered, YEARLY and sadly: 1T will be
L long time before return to the life
ON the ranch. have other plans
1 now s.2--:- ,.,5S -.
Ann half regretted her action and az
she rose said, with q smiling assump-
ton of easy, friendly interest which
hurt him worse than anything she had
hitherto spoken: think it wonderful
j the way your are coming on. We will
see you at dinner iii few days" -, =:
"Thank YOU i shall be down ut the
earliest moment he quietly replied
and leaned back in his chair, white
and suffering, his eyes closed, his lips
4 Quivering. ~ - VT,
l Ann was well aware that she had not
lived up to her higher self; in this in
4 terview and that she had been cruelty
unresponsive 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
i thinking me more deeply interested in
his life than really am"
1 Mrs. Barnett was impatiently wait
ing for her return. st'~- --- 49,.
What did he sayY she breathlessly
i asked. I'm dying to know" = 3:
| Ann answered with evasive indiffer-
| ence. HE thanked me again for my
heroic action and begged pardon for
his rudeness, all of which lie might
have spared himself the trouble Of re-
| peating.' Co.,
Mrs Barnett was on the scent for
romance. What else?' .a
Nothing else" ->fS- !.
poor fellow! 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 fred into anger. What could
happen? You needn't speak in riddles,
Jeanette. What do Fou think. should
have happened? Come, now, you silly,
romantic thing?' -.:.=,z:.. . H.. -.
Some note in her voice touched Mrs.
Barnett, and she slowly replied: ~" Ann
Rupert, you are the coolest, cruelest
creature ever knew. J. know what
you did to that poor fellow. You un-
mercifuily 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 arc not justified in stabbing sick
| mau to the heart"
quite mistaken. was very
nice to him. - -3s.-,.
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
crawlw ~ ~ ,=z4.s. .:-'"
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 new drawing.
Isn't that wonderful" said Ray
1mond, holding the sketch In the air, his
eyes aglow with pride in the boy. If
could do that would never be lone
some or restless. wish knew my
use in the world as certainly as Louis
does, II :... st. ...s; :.<< <
The young artist flushed with the
pleasure. "It's just as wonderful to
! ride the way you do and throw a rope
and all that. I'll teach you to draw II
you want me to-" -,
Raymond turned to Mrs. Barnett
with 4 look in which amusement and a
certain sorrow met. Pm long past
such instruction, lad. I haven't sense
enough to keep out Of mischief. You
draw, and I'll do the posing. Pm a
good poser. Don't. you think SO, Mrs.
Barnett ?''sS g." ~
- don't know what you mean," said
she, feeling vaguely his pain and dis
couragement-hisd establishment.
81 posed as u farmer and deceived
good Don Barnett / made up for a
cowboy and fooled Baker and the rest
OF the squad. And now I'm posing as |
an invalid when ought to be out on
the ranch again. It's time l rode
away to new range" -1~:.:
Mrs. Barnett was alarmed at the !
undertone Of bitterness in bis words. |
You must not think Of even walking |
downstairs for a week.
But cant sit here and sink deeper |
and deeper into obligation to you," he /
"What rights have l. in
this room2 I'm only d poor, wander
ing ne'er-do-well, and your beautiful
home. makes me ashamed-more than
ashamed-it fills me with sense Of
guilt. car, walk now, and I ought
not to stay another day" s ..s.
Mrs. Barnett knew very well that
his mood was due to AIMS icy dis
dain, and she realized, too, how diff
cult the task OF diyerting his mind