The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-09-03

Nhdt ht oV LubNh nlohNu W W
as to shelter her from misfortune.
Betty will always be honored b!
your presence, as We all areas w
shall always be-" he said, and sh,
smiled at him and held out her hand.
Somehow felt that had found {
friend" she said simply. THAT is VIII,
told you. II seemed best. and knew
you would understand"
That afternoon Sherwood went for {
long ride on his favorite horse, Max
tell, and during that ride he fought 6
battle. Now that Dulcie Duval wa!
out Of reach she seemed the most desir
able thing In the world. Indeed, from
the first moment she had been desira
BILE, but he had let the artist In him
blind the lover He had made himself
think that 1t was her picture. not her
self, that he wanted.
And now that he knew that he loved
her he felt that he must go away
back to Paris to the studlo-to the
dreams that had of late been partially
submerged In his practical plans fol
Sherwood farm.
When he came back that night, Betty
met him on the porch.
"We are going for ride early In the
morning." she said, miss Duval and /,
and want you to go with u.s."
mot tomorrow, Bettykins," he de-
INJURED. "Pve got a lot Of things to
do. l am planning to spend the sum-
mer In Paris"
Betty's dismayed exclamation brought
his sister and Miss Duval.
Hes going away" Betty cried. "and
he doesn't know when he will come
back"
And Sherwood, watching the face of
the Lady of the Lilacs, saw it grow
pale, and his heart leaped at the
thought that she cared.
In the early morning from his bed.
room window he saw them ride away.
Five minutes later he was at the
stables. How does 1t happen that
Miss Duval is riding Maxtell?" he de-
manded of n groom.
"Hulda is lame," said the man, 'and
Miss Duval Insisted on riding Maxtell.
We tried to get her to have one of the
other mounts. but she wouldn't"
"Maxtell can't be trusted" said
Sherwood sharply, mot with lady.
He never likes the futter of skirts"
II know, SIR" The man looked wor.
ried.
well, get Buckner Belle ready"
Sherwood ordered, "and I'll 60 after
them"
AS he cantered down to the gate n
boy met him with telegram. With.
out looking at the address, Sherwood
tore 1t open, then as half dozen
words confronted him he saw that 1t
was not for him, but for Miss Duval.
Her husband was dead, her lawyer
wired, and she must come at once.
In that moment the whole world
changed for Sherwood. He knew that
1t was unseemly for him to grow
light hearted because Of the death Of a
fellow creature. But for her 1t meant
freedom, for him happiness.
He paid the boy and spurred his
horse to greater speed, and at last he
saw ahead of him Betty on n sturdy
little mare; Dulcie, holding In Maxtell,
who danced along the road in a way
that spelled danger.
And even as Sherwood looked Max.
tell bolted!
And after him. like shot, went
Buckner Belle.
The big horse was not match for
the brilliant mare, and presently Sher.
wood was beside Dulcie, his hand on
Maxtell's bride.
Maxtell, meek as lamb at the sound
Of the we'll known voice, stopped so
suddenly that Dulcie swayed and slip.
ped from his back inertly. Sherwood,
dropping the brides. caught her In his
arms.
"Dulcie," he said impulslvely; ''Dul.
Gle, dear!'
She opened her eyes. "Please," she
said family, 'let me 60 You must
not"
"Hush!" he said. You are not strong
enough to stand alone, and you have
right here. You are free at last,
dear heart"
Her startled eyes met his. "How D.
she questioned.
"He Is Dead" he said quietly. "You
are to go to Kentucky this afternoon.
Betty's mother will go with you"
He released her then and went on In
steady tones.
"But you will come back, Dulcie.
When you feel that 1t is right-you
will come back-to me?"
Betty was pounding down the road
on the sturdy mare. Dulcie looked up
at Sherwood. strong and grave be-
tween the beautiful horses.
Yes" she said, and suddenly her
face was illumined. "Yes, l will come
back. and you shall paint me-your
Lady of the Lilacs.'"