The Washington times., 1908-04-12


good old West-and in case you can't
pull Up and leave the East. why make
the money give you a little bit of COM
fort where you are"
All Of Sylvia's tenderness of feeling
toward a man whose care could so
embrace herself and her orphaned
brother cOursed in her veins She had
always felt more than merely an in
terest in Jerry Kirk; she had felt many
girlish inclinations toward romance as
his letters came Now she owed him
a debt Of gratitude, not only for all
that he had done for her, but also for
the love which his generosity had ex-
tended to little Dummy. His honest
wish was that something might hasten
the train on its way and permit her
TO keep the tryst that her answer to
Jerry had promised.
In the midst Of her meditations AL
Ian Kennedy appeared in the car strid-
ing up the aisle with her hright-eyed
little brother on his shoulder. Her
heart gave a quick. spontaneous leap
Do what she would. her gaze was
caught and Eeld by Allan's look OF
pleasure.
She watched the grace. the fine re-
serve Of strength with which he
young man took Dummy down and
placed him on the floor. She felt a
Jingle, half Of guilt. half Of ecstacy,
the moment the winning little fellow
sped from Allan's arms TO her own,
10 give her one OF his childish kisses.
They made a charming pair together
the girl and her Unspoiled little cham
pi0n- The family resemblance be-
tween them was remarkable despite
emphatic contrasts of feature. The
same frankness and look of compass
sion shOne in her eyes and his. though
hers were gray and his as brown as
chocolate. her ;:air and his had the
sclf-same look Of abundance, yet the
little chaps was brightly golden. while
hers was glossy black Between them
color had been prodigal Of its favors.
ana wholcsonieness was there 20 keep
it company
When Dummy would have sped away
To visit his two Old ladies for a mo-
ment. Sylvia gently restrained him
Come back sOor and sit with me-
She said, and Dummy promised that he
would
Won't you have a seat?" she added
TO Allan Il thought Ia like TO ask
yoI one or two questions"
Nothing could make me happier.
answered Kennedy. eager 20 serve her
IN any way.
She glanced at him quickly as lac
took his place. Her heart was beating
NCitedly. In fear Of herself and IN
tear of what she felt must presently
happen. II nothing were done to pre-
vent il, she meant 10 place a barrier
across the path that was IeaGing Allen
and herself TO dangerous ground. Her
face was triie pale.
Il wanted 20 ask If you know the
country VI about Tamarack.'' she
said. we are going there 10 live
To live he repeated. we shall
be neighbors! The lumber camp told
you Of, where j am expecting TO work.
is only thirty miles from Tamarack.
It's mighty pretty country. on the
eastern slope of the grand old Sierra
Nevada MOUNTAINS"
I'm glad-glad it's pretty" she an
s'5ered. DO you happen 10 know a
man there by the name OF Jerry
Kirkg''
No, l don't believe / do. was
never in Tamarack but once, and tne,
only in passing through Is Mr.. Kir1
friend OF yours?'
sylvia let her heart knocidng II,
i"endously. This was the cruci1 mo
inent- She could not meet the look ~,
@liaH's eycs-the LOOK OF ardor swim,
eFystdllzing INTO something yasr,,.
more profound, more conpelllns n1,,.-s
Joyousiy magnetic 10 her very being
But she meant 10 go on TO her s..lf-
appointed end.
Yes. ahu answe, ed, family, he
IS a very uedr friend, indeed. he 20
ieaIly-something more than just ,
Trend"
Aehnedy felt. rather than understood
Low much her answer meant. a sbaro
little pnns. IS .: premJnition. dartel
though his breast. For u second
he studied her whitened face his own
orohzed cheek slightly paiing. Then
he said, little hoarsely:
He isn't AMY one to whom Won
are engaged?"
Yes answered Sylvia, faithful TO
her resolution. Il have come all the
way from Connecticut to-to he bis
Wife
OH said Allan.
1t sounded as II he had taken bIovv
and could say no more.
She felt swift-born regret. II did
not seem as If Allan Kennedy could
really have made himself so welcome
TO her heart. so nearly loved. Vet the
futter in her bosom was the language
Of love beginning to suffer. He had
been so generous. thoughtful. kind 4a
almost had some rights for all that he
had done for little Dummy. Her nature
conceded him rights. indeed. and sym
pathies- Indeed. she knew that she was
giving him more than sympathy. but
she had to be honest.
y have known Mr.. Kirk for years
she said. He was always a friend OF
ours-before my mother or my father
died. There was no one in the world
10 do such noble things as he has
done. He sent me the money to come
back West. and il only the train
could have gone on through"
She paused. She had been about TO
add cry of what the fates might
have spared herself and Allan Kenne-
dy. but she caught herself in time. He