The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-12-17

laughed merrily, and Roger Joined her
with faint heart.
II came here expecting to meet
friend 1 hoped would be on your train"
he admitted soberly. your appear
ance deceived me; you are much alike
81 was the only passenger" she said
sympathetically Il hope your-your
friend will come tomorrow. Where can
my Cousins carriage be?"
They were sitting in the blackboard
in front of the station. and the agent
was trundling two trunks toward them.
"Seen a team from Wayland's?'
asked Roger Blake.
':Nope. Want these on the wagon?"
'TOO heavy. Wayland will send for
them. If his outfit arrives tell them
I've carried the young lady over to his
place."
81 hope I'm not taking you out OF
your way" she protested. II can wait.
| sent letter.
That's all right. l guess your letter
should have had. I've got plenty or
time to spare" he added grimly. Il
was going to be married this morning"
ooh, I see. I am very sorry" she
said sincerely. Then she maintained a
sympathetic silence while Roger drove
her over the long road across the pra1-
Pie to the Wayland farm, which ad-
joined his own on the north.
''How long are you going to stay?'
queried Roger just before their journey
ended.
"Weeks or months perhaps. l have
no near relatives and have been teach
ing school. My cousins have asked me
hope your trip to the station tomorrow
will be a more successful One-and
thank you," she said, with friendly
smile, as they parted.
Ten days afterward Roger met her
riding out of the canyon. Her face
was prettily tanned, and her broad
brimmed hat made an effective frame
for her lovely face.
"May l congratulate you today?''
she asked brightly.
Roger shook his head slowly, and
for the first time she noted the tense,
drawn look about his pleasant mouth
and the misery Of his haggard eyes.
"You have heard-I hope it Is not
bad newsY' she said. with that frank
friendliness he had found so~attrac-
tive in her before.
He drew q letter from his pocket
and extracted a newspaper clipping.
That's all the explanation I've had"
he said bitterly.
"Married-to some one else-to
James Farnham-how very stranger!
she said in a low, agitated voice.
"Why is it strange? Do you know
the man?" demanded Roger eagerly.
The girls face whitened, and a look
of distress came into her eyes.
"Don't tell me anything If it pains
you," said Roger gently.
81 must. You see, l was engaged to
him. and he Tilted me for another girl.
| didn't know her name until now.
I couldn't stand it, and so ran away,
but now She paused and a dreamy
contentment replaced the pain in her
face.
"Now?"
"Of course he couldn't be worth be-
ing very sorry about, after all! And
life is so good here-so clean and free.
I love it,
$50 do IT, said Roger sincerely. And
about that other, 1 don't believe 1t is
worthy of great sorrow. Shall we gal
lop?"
Months afterward Elizabeth came to
reign as mistress Of Rogers home. But
it was not Elizabeth Atwood.
It was that other Elizabeth who
came to him in his great trouble and
who, forgetting her own sorrow, sought
to comfort him. And In the end each
found a loyal, deep loving heart, and
the home in the wilderness sheltered
them as the man who builded it had
dreamed