The Irish standard., 1908-03-07
CHAPTER XXI.

mirror. 1t was better one than the
silver into which she had looked more
than a year before, when Paul Lang
ford came riding over the plains to the
Lazy S. A better house had risen from
the ashes of the homestead laid waste
by the cattle rustlers. Affairs were
well with George Williston now that
the hand of no man was against him,
He prospered.
Louise stepped to the door.
Il am in despair. Mary" she said
whimsically. Mrs. White has ordered
me out of the kitchen. What do you
think Of that?'
Louise! Did you really have the
hardihood to presume to encroach on
Mother Whites preserves-you- a
mere bride of five months standing?
You should be grateful she didn't take
the broom to you
"she can cook" said Louise laugh
ing. Il admit that. only offered to
peel potatoes. When one stops to con-
slider that the whole county is coming
to the "house-warming" of the Lazy
S, one can't help being worried about
potatoes and such minor things
do you think the whole county is
coming, Louise?" asked Mary.
. "Of course" said Louise Gordon,
positively, slipping away again. She
was a welcome guest at the ranch, and
her heart was in the success of to-.
nights party.
Mary had dressed early. AS hostess,
she had laid aside her short skirt,
leather leggings, and other boyish "fix.
tngs" which she usually assumed for
better ease in her life of riding. She
was clad simply in a long black skirt
and white shirt-waist. Her hair was
coiled in thick braids about her we'll
shaped head, lending her most be-
coming stateliness. .
Would Paul Langford come? He had
been hidden. Her father could not
know that he would not care to come.
Her father did not know that she had
sent Langford away that long-ago
night in December and that he had
not come back-at least to her. Natur-
ally, he had been hidden first to
George Williston's "house-warming." {"
The men of the Three Bars and of the
Lazy S were tried friends-but he
would not care to come.
Listen! Some one was coming 1t
was much too soon for guests. The
early October twilight was only now
creeping softly over the landscape. 1t
was a still evening. She heard dis
tinctly the rhythmical pound of hoof-
beats on the hardened trail. Would
the rider go on to Kemah, or would
he turn in at the Lazy S?
Hello, the housed" hailed the horse
man, cherrily, drawing rein at the
very door. "Hello, within!"
The visitor threw wide the door,
and Williston's voice called cordially:
il Come in, come in, Langford! am
glad you came early"
"Will you send Mary out, Willis
ton? 1 need your chore boy to help
me water Sade here"
The voice was merry, but there was
a vibrant tone in it that made the
listening girl tremble little. Lang
ford never waited for opportunities.
He made them.
Mary came to the door with quiet
self-cnvosure. She had known from
the first the stranger was Langford.
How like the scene of summers
day more than year past; but how
far sweeter the maid-how much
more it meant to the man now than
then!
Father, show Mr.. Langford in,"
she said, smiling a welcome. II shall
be glad to take SADIE to the spring"
She took hold of the bride rein
trailing to the ground. Langford
leaped lightly from his saddle.
Il said help me-" he corrected.
"The spring is down there" she d.
rected. II think you know the way"
She turned to enter the house.
For an instant, Langford hesitated.
A shadow fell across his face.
Il want you to come, Mary" he
said, simply. ut is only hospitable,
you know"
"Oh, if you put 1t in that way"
she started gayly down the path.
He followed her more slowly. A
young moon hung in the western
sky. The air was crisp with the COM
ing frost. The path was strewn with
dead cottonwood leaves which rustled
dryly under their feet.
At the spring, shadowed by the
biggest cottonwood, she waited for
him.
II wish my father would cut down
that tree" she said, shivering.
You are cold" he said. His voice
was not quite steady. He took of his
coat and wrapped it around her,
despite her protests. He wanted to
hold her then, but hS did not. though
the touch of her sent the blood bound.
ing riotousiJ through his veins.