Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-09-19


He turned contemptuous eyes upon
Sally BIS Quivering face. Lord, She
ought to be happy without you. It's
worse than Abraham's sacrifice II
there had been no lamb. At least,
Isaac would have burned quickly."
He saw Sally BIS face drop and gray
shadows creep in At last she found
speech. and her words were steady.
What's the use of money and
beauty, an Wis aristocratic way, If
Bill an me was ready to tie her down
to our kind2 To life on the desert;
maybe-Bill amt no finandseer-to
tough luck an pore grub. That's
what's bound to come if Bits luck
turns. Do you think that's lovin' herr
That lord b'longs to folks that's al
ways had money, an always looked it.
An if he fails, there's Freddy Bryan;
he's a man, the right kind. If he loses
his money, he'll make it again-he's
buckin' brigham she'll live genteel.
1 s'pose you'd call it lovin' her to drag
her away from all that, an tie her up
to little four-by-six life with you
a-trampin' along the railroad" 1t was
her turn for scorn, and it burned deep.
Alvin walked abruptly away to the
open window. The beautiful palm gar
den with its waxen-crested Gala hedge
and vine-wrapped trellises was full of
winter bloom and fragrance; but he
saw nothing. His eyes were misty.
He was looking into dun future with
out Viola, future never before con-
templated
Sally B., watching, saw her battle
won; and quick revulsion of feeling
set in. She admired his square, manly
shoulders. Freddy Bryan was thin,
and stopped little, and the lord was
small for an Englishman. Alvin's
plain, well-ftting business suit had a
wholesome, honest look that appealed
to her. She remembered how valiant
ly he had fought his way on crutch
through half-starved boyhood to man
hood, honorable manhood. Even his
straightness touched a new chord-she
was proud of the courage that had
pioneered an operation that was the
talk of the papers. And he had done it
for Vii
Alvin felt her changed attitude, and
when he came back to her and spoke,
his voice was very gentle. May 1 see
Viola before 1 go? It'll be my last
chance, you know"
'Oh, ALI she cried out, and stopped
Alvin was astonished at her emo
ton, yet waited.
Almost, ambition had lost; not
quite. "Al, boy! Do you think you'd
better? Won't it be harder for you?
An for her, too?" she added after a
breath.
A1vin'S face contracted. Give her
up without one more look into her
dear face? Not see for himself that it
was well with her? That she could
love-at least, be content with-the
man her mother would secure for her?
His heart beat DANGEROUSLY; and he
told himself he would see her, would
see heri
Yet he took up his hat, looked calm
ly for his gloves and turned steady
eyes to where Sally B. stood, her
white-knuckled hands grasping chair
back desperately
Tell Vi-ten Vino, don't tell her
anything" he said, with forced calm
ness. Goodbye, Sally b. He bowed
slightly and walked out of the door.
"Oh, AL Carter. you're the best man
1 ever" She caught her breath and
stopped, staring after him
Neither to the right nor to the left
did he turn his eyes as he walked
down the winding, rose-lined avenue
to the iron gates. Life seemed at an
end!
tA1! AL Carter." screamed a shrill
voice behind him. Through the gates
Sally B. flew, her hair disordered, her
full draperies bellying to the wind like
pirate sails, her Grape. ruffles dragging
out behind her. "Al, come back" she
cried breathIessly, catching him by the
arm, hurrying him through the iron
gates again, through the rose-lined
avenue to the house. Come back an
see vi, Gosh durn it, All 1 throw
up the camel What does shamming
old Greaser like me want of big bug
for son-in-law? You're good enough,
right smart bettern 1 deserve; an
good enough for vi, too. Go long in
the music room there, an find vi Tell
her if she's said Yes to Reg Lawrence
or to Freddy Bryan, or to any other
Teller, I'll say No to him! Col"
She dragged him into the hall,
pushed him toward the music room;
less stairs
Alvin stood still, dazed, half con-
scious of ripping, tearing ruff1es on the
stair, when a little figure sprang for
ward to meet him.
'Oh, Alvin!" she cried in quick
rapture, then halted questioningly-
Viola, your mother has accepted
me for you," he said softly, and took
her in his arms And long years of
misery were cut from the lovers cal
endar.