La Junta tribune., 1908-07-25

insisted on doing the milking himself.
aud he brought the big. unwieldy piow
and swung Il In behind the mules and
went susrs.,y around the four acre lot
In iesxeslng paralleiogratns.a
II Was the novelty Of seeing a wom-
an about that was pleasant. He had
no sisters. and his mother had long
been dead. Il was just the novelty
aud the neatnexs and cOntenieslness OF
II all he liked And this Idea. II bis
thoughts took such definite form. re-
mained with him for y month-unti'
the invalid begaB to hObble about on
crutches when suddenly the truth
came home TO him as had her beauty
that DAY On the ridge. Billy VAS In
love.
BETTY noticed the change In him at
once. and lfer face grew puzzled. but
only for little while. Then an odd
twinkle of humor came into her eyes
as though she understood. Aud min
glcL with the humor was a tender.
tiickering light which had been gaining
strength In her eyes these past few
weeks. a light which Billy had not vet
seen.
AS he entered Jake looked up with
angry impaticnce. and Billy raised a
hand defensiveiy before his face. hut
the invalid was not thinking OF that.
"Heered anything bout wheat to-
day:" he grumbled. Coin down. Of
course"
"Goin' up" Billy answered promptly.
"a man hoIlered to me from the aiSe
o. the hill this mornin' an said twas
seventy"
Seventy Jake grabbed his crutches
and rose totteringly to his feet. but
sank back. with snarl OF mingled
rage and pain. Seventy cents. an
I've got ninety bushels. DUN the old
back! BY the time I'm out ag'in It'll
be down to fifty. like twas last year.
an that'll be n clean loss OF SIS"
cant ! go, pap:" suggested Betty.
The gloomy face cleared slightly.
then lowered. He loved the profits Of
his industry. but not SO much as he
loved Betty II WIS thirty miles 10
Staunton.
No. We can't" he snarled.
There was II brief silence. Then Bet
,y said;
There's Billy. pap. He's mighty
strong and willin'."
The fucc darkened. then grew light
err Evidently the idea. at first scout
ed. WAS being tolerated. That meant
Billy had been anaking giant strides
forward during these few weeks.
u dunno douhtfully.
Billy saw his opportunity and rose
to Il l.tn nf
try. lie was developing rapidly.
"IlI take 1t down all right" lie said
confidently "I've sold wheat 10 Staun-
ton afore. But mebbe It'll he worth
while to hold back till you're out
aein.''
Jake snorted.
"rbcre's more fallin's than risin's IN
wheat" he snapped. I've found that
out. l reckon ye'd better go. an.
mind. 1 want ye to get 1t all down by
tomorrow. seventy cents! Yes. ye
must get II all In tomorrow"
BIliy's head was whirling. But there
was Betty looking at him confidently.
and her father already beginning 10
lose some OF his newly acquired confi-
,Icnce. He must brace up.
"Ali right" he answered as steadily
ms he could. ''The mules can draw
half on the long Vaughn. an Ill borry
Tom Stuart's mule an Ike Coyuer's
hay waggin. That'll take the other
half. Ikc's boy Sam can drive behind
me so can Keep an eye ON Hun. On.
yes. Wen get on fust rate"
JAKE nodded approvingly. 1t was n
good plan.
-Seyeniy cents" lie admonished
warnlnsiy "rry an get it,
After the wheat was loaded the next
day Billy entered the cabin for few
last instructions. Before leaving he
contrived to draw Betty into the back
kitchen for Il moment.
/. Say. Betty he began. "I-l-say.
would We mind me buyin' ring TO
Staunton. a gold ring for you an meT
She looked at him quickly. under
standingly. her face flushing. She
could not remember single one OF her
married acquaintances who had been
given gold ring.
why. no. wouldn't mind. biily,
she said simply. ..I'll be real glad"
"An'-an' would ye mind speakin'
to your pap bout 1t while I'm gone.
Betty: II might be good time now
I'm a-totin' his wheat"
"N-no don't mind." :"
She watched him from the doorway
until the heavy wagons rumbied out
Of sight Then she went to her father.
Zap" she announced abruptly.
"Billys asked me to marry him."
AN youi"
1--WE said yes" composedly.
lake controlled himself with a
mighty effort With Betty he must be
diplomatic.
We'll. We know best" he grlniaced
affably But we know how It's with
Billy. Yell have to wait TIL he's able
n. i.oop GO dnn.t rn1.kon he's III Ypn