Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-04-09
CHAPTER XXI.
The Party at the Lazy Q.

Mary stared thoughtfully into the
mirror. II was q better one than the
silver into which she had looked more
than q year before. when Paul Lang
ford came riding over the plains to the
Lazy 8. A better house had risen from
the ashes OF the homestead laid waste
by the cattle rustlers. Affairs were
we'll with George Williston now that
the hand OF no man was against him.
He prospered.
Louise stepped to the door.
II 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 reserves-you- a
mere bride OF Ave months standing?
You should be grateful she didn't take
the broom to you"
"She can cook" said Louise laugh.
ing. 81 admit that. l only offered to
peel potatoes. When one stops to con-
slider that the whole county II coming
to the 'house.warming" Of the Lazy
8, one can't help being worried about
potatoes and such minor things
do you think the whole county Ia
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. A hostess
she had laid aside her short skirt
leather leggings. and other boyish "fx-
ings" which she usually assumed for
better ease in her life Of riding. She
was clad simply in long black skirt
and white shirt-waist. Her hair was
coiled in thick braids about her we'll
shaped head, lending her Q 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 hrst to
George Williston's "house-warming."
The men of the Three Bars and Of the
Lazy 8 were tried -friends-but he
would not care to come.
Listen! Some one was coming. It
was much too soon for guests. The
early October twilight was only now
creeping softly over the landscape. 1t
was still evening. She heard dis
tinctly the rhythmical pound Of hoof-
beats on the hardened trail. Would
the rider 20 on to Kemah, or would
he turn in at the Lazy 8?
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:
"Come in, come in. Langford! ! am
glad you came early"
. ''Will you send Mary out. Willis
ton? / need your chore boy to help
me water SADIE here"
The voice was merry. but there was
n vibrant tone in It that made the
listening girl trembls q little. Lang
ford never waited for opportunities.
He made them.
Mary came to the door with quiet
self.cmposure. She had known from
the first the stranger was Langford.
How like the scene Of q summers
day more than year past; but how
far sweetsr the maid-how much
more It meant to the maa now than
then!
''Father, show Mr.. Langford In,
she said, smiling q welcome. Il 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. 4
Il said help me-" he corrected
"The spring n down there" she d.
r~~sAa II think yon know the way,