Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-12-23
CHAPTER XII.


eern. the elder girl knelt beside her.
''Marylyn," she begged, smoothing the
soft, unbranded hair spread out upon
the robe, "Marylyn, what's the mat
tart"
A long Sob
why, dear baby, don't you fret
We're going to be all right. Dadll
soon be back, Mr.. Lounsbury's watch
ing, and we won't lose the little home"
"Oh, 1t amt that = 1t amt that"
weeping harder than before I'm so
unhappy"
It was an answer that smote Dallas
10 the heart. Some trouble, heretofore
concealed. was threatening her sisters
peace of mind. And she had not dis
covered 1t in time, had not prevented
n, had not shielded her as she ought.
"Marylyn, honey, tell me what's the
matter"
The younger girl crept closer, screen
ing her eyes.
Dallas lifted her into her arms Her
cheek was feverish, her hands were
Cry and hot.
Sudden terror seized the elder girl
the old terror that had fastened upon
hsr through all the years of her moth
eTs failing.
"Marylyn," she said huskily, do you
feel that-that you're not as well as
you was? Are you afraid you'll be
sick like-motherT
the head.
Dallas pressed her close, murmuring
her thankfulness, whispering broken
mndearments. ooh, Daps so glad!
Che couldn't stand 1t If her baby sister
was to suffer. Oh, honey heart, honey
hearth
But Marylyn was not comforted.
Listen" babe Dallas. I'm all your
ME have you ever asked me to do any
thing that l didn't do, or to give you
anything that l didn't give If I couldf
And now something's fretting you. l
can't think what 1t is. But you got to
tall me, and I'll help you out"
mo, no"'
al don't care what it is, l won't
blame you. If it's something wrong
why, it couldn't be-I'll forgive you.
You know that, Marylyn."
Again mo. no" but with less re-
distance,
''Tell me-" said Dallas firmly.
Marylyn looked up You'll hate me
II do" she faltered.
The elder girl laughed fondly. AS
AZ could"
you promise not to tell pa?"
'fCourse promise"
''Oh, Dallasr' She buried her face
n her hands. "It's-it's that II like
himi like him.
A moment of perplexity. Then,
gradually. it dawned upon the elder
girI whom the other meant In very
surprise her arms lOosened their hold.
you do hate me-" Marylyn said
paaintively.
mo, honey, no-why should ! hate
YouT Her words were earnest But
her voice-something had changed IL.
And she felt a strange hurt, a vague
hurt that seemed to have no cause.
Marylyn raised herself on an elbow.
Tie liked me-once," she said. HE
ahowed it just as plain. 1t was right
here-that day the cattle went by"
Dallas got up. She had begun to
tTemble visibly. Her breath was COM
ing short. as If she had been running.
But the younger girl did not notice.
he stayed away SO long" she went
en- ''Then, today when he came-you
Eemember, Dallas-he just said a word
o. two to me and laughed at me be-
cause was afraid. And-and l saw
that l was wrong, and IL saw-he
lfked-you."
"Mer Dallas turned. She felt the
blood come driving into her face. She
felt that strange hurt ease and go in
q rush of joyful feeling. Then she I'M
derstood the cause of it and why she
had trembled-why that day had been
the happiest of her life.
OF a sudden she became conscious
that Marylyn's eyes were upon her
with look of pathetic reproach. She
began to laugh.
Nonsense, honeyr she said. Don't
be silly! Ne! Why, he'd never IKE a
great big gawk like me"
"But-but'-
"Me, with my red haiF-you know it
10 kinda red-and my face, sunburned
as a. Indian-hands all calloused like
IKE a mans" She turned back to the
dusk through the window. "Oh. no.
not mer'
"But you looked so funny Just now"
Ibid ]? Did II" Dallas stammered
out her reason: "Well-well. that was
bscause-because I thought you was
going to say it was soldier" She
laughed nervuusly. "But it was Mr.
Lounsbury you meant, honey. wasn't
MP
The suspicion that had troubled the
mind of the younger girl was allayed.
@Why, Dallas, how could you think
such a thing about me! Like a SoldierT
Ny. no! 1t was Mr. Lounsbury-but
he don't like me-"