Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-03-24

ulation isn't turning out so well. a-tel
ALL"
The disappointed girl turned sadly |
away and went out to Mrs. Allen il the !
kitchen.
Jack removed his belt and gun AMI |
hung them on the rack by the door
Spying Echos father at the corral, he |
called to him to come into the house.
"Hello, Jackr' was Aliens greeting +
as he entered, shaking the younger
mans hand.
''When did you come oyer!'
"This mornin'," Allen told him.
"Echo's birthday, you know, an the
old lady allowed we'd have to be here
Amt seen yuss since the weddin'. Got
things lookin fine here" Allen slowly
surveyed the room.
Jack agreed with him with a ges-
ture of assent. A more important
topic to him than the furnishing of a
room was what had become of Dick
Lane. After the wedding ceremony
no chance had come to him to speak
privately to Allen.
The festivities of the wedding had
been shortened. Slim had gathered
posse and taken up the trail of the
slayers. Jim Allen had Joined them
The hazing of Jack and the hasty de-
parture of the bridal pair on horse
back in a shower of corn, shelled and
on the cob, prevented the two men
| from meeting.
The older man had volunteered no
| hot n
heart Allen did not approve of his ac-
lions, but was keeping silent because
of his daughter.
Jack could restrain himself no long
er. "Jim. what happened that night?'
he asked brokenly.
Allen showed his embarrassment.
Meanin' . Then he hesitated.
Dick" was all Jack could say.
81 seed him. If l hadn't he busted
answer.
''Where is hep
Allen relighted his pipe. When he
got the smoke drawing freely he
gazed at Jack thoughtfully and an
swered. Hes gone. back where the
come from-into the desert Jim
puffed slowly and then added, "Looks
like you didn't give Dick square
deal.'
Allen liked his son-in-law and was
going to stand by him, but in Arizona
the saving "All's fair in love anC
war; is not accepted at its face value
81 didn't" acknowledged Jack. 81
was desperate at the thought of losing
her. She loved me and had forgotten
him. She's happy with me now
81 reckon that's right" was Jim''
consoling reply.
To clinch his argument and sooth
his troublesome conscience Jack con
, tinued, "She never would have beef
happy with him."
{ Chats what l told him." declare,
Allen. HE knew it, an that's VIII.
he went away, an Echo, no matte
what comes, she must never know
She'd never forgive you-an', fer tina
, matter, me neither"
, Jack looked long out of the windoy
r toward the distant mountains, thu
barrier behind which Dick was wal
,, dering in the great desert, cut OF
a from the woman he loved by falls
friend
"How I have suffered for that lie!
, uttered Jack in tones full Of anguish
'Thats what hurts me most = th
thought that 1 lied to her. I migf
have killed him that night" pondere
o Jack. He snuddered at the though
that he had been On the point Of ado
two 10 %lO Ia To Io1 20
J. the same temptation which Dick ha
IS yet to overcome.
IS "Mebbe you did There's more'n on
IS way Of KILN man, suggested Allel
IS Jack swung around and facec hin
y The observation had struck home q
q realized how poignantly Dick 1lu
0, have endured the loss Of Echo and t.
Is thought of his betrayal by Jack. 4
he had suffered mentally so Dick mu
be suffering in the desert In self ju
= LITIGATION he returned to his old arg
- ment.
he Il waited until was sure he w
h dead. Six months l waited after V
to heard the news. After had told Be
VIC loved her and found that / was low
in return-then came this letter. &c
he what a fight L had with myself VIII
1 found that he still lived-was thin
m ing of returning home to claim her
his own! / rode out into the hills al
m. fought it out all alone, like an India
he Then resolved to hurry the wedding
to lie to her-and 1 have been livi
me that lie every minute, every hour"
Jack leaned heavily on the tab
he His head sank His voice dropped
id. most to a whisper.
lat Allen slapped him on the back
he cheer him up. Philosophically he {
in nounced: well, it's got to be as it
ion You'll mebbe never hear from b
IN again. You mustn't never tell her.
ON amt a-goin' to say nothin' about
Her happiness means everything
se: me-