The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-01-07

The hazel pair nt hand were watch
Ing the valley. Austin looked and
saw horseman threading the lane
by the creek.
vincenzas face lightenej as, she
looked "Ah!" she exclaimed pres
emily; "it is Guido!" And shaping
her slim hands to form a mouth
trumpet, she sent down a long. clear
halloo.
The horseman reined sharply and,
taking off his hat, waved II about
his head. Then he rode on, with
trail of dust rising like smoke
behind him.
Between the galloping horseman
ard the hill, two people on foot were
moving slowly. Austin s;u lied them
for a moment. One was a woman,
in a white dress. the other a man
Heaton surely, for there was no mis-
taking that broad somorero. But
who was the girl?
Vincenza now hurried forward. all
anxiety for her fcck. 'Fantana."
she called. "oh. where are the
babies?" Spying them out, all safe.
she came back to give her ever
tagging gobbler a smart cuff why.
why do you not stay with the little
ones and take care OF ,hem?" she
demanded in a scold. You bad
Dewey"
Austin was delighted. He gave
over watching the couple in the "al-
ley and helped her circle the flock
and keep them from spreading.
The next four days passed with
amazing swiftness for Austin. fiis
morning were spent among the oaks
upon the hill, where the turkeys
never failed to make their appear
ance. He took a shotgun with him,
Hal having suggested that the ranch
could spare an occasional rabbit or
coyote-or even a wildcat!
AS a rule, after dinner, Austin
walked with Dorothy, the others rath-
er pairing off or grouping so that
this might be the case. One night.
however, toward the end CT his stay,
Miss Scott fell to his lot. The first
half-hour with her he contrived to
spend agreeably.
They had arrived at palm-bor-
dereI turn in the road that lei to
the valley. There they paused, look
ing back at the low, white house, the
wide windows of which were all bril-
liantly alight.
Isn't 1t a delightful nome?" said
Austin. $50 simple. yet 4. would be
hard to find detail that could be
improved"
There is one, though" retorted
Miss Scott. only you cant sea
mortgage" The expression on her
face, it was as If she had winked, car
ried full meaning.
1t worked like sudden poison.
But could he give unquestionei De-
lief to the mere insinuation of a
sharp-tongued, envious girl?
His meeting with Vicenza the next
morning was like breath of scented
air after a sitting room. She did
not krow of his wealth, she did not
parade her beauty, she was not hunt
ing human bank.
While they sat together unie- a
broad live-oak, and the turkeys set
tied down nearby in the sun, he lis
tened with keen pleasure to her
naive chatter and to the sturdy an
nouncement that she was going to
the city-soon, too, this with blush.
and that even now she was having
"tailor-suit' made for her Journey.
"A sailor-suit." thought Austin,
almost laughed at the Righteousness
of 1t. She seemed so lifted in he
simple print dress and the broad
sun-hat she was wearing.
The following day he breakfasted
before the others and Hurried off
eagerly, carrying the gun. He never
fired 1t yet. but 1t served a. an excel
lent excuse for his long rambles.
When he had reached the oak grove
on the hillside, he leaned the weap-
on against a tree. Then he stretch
ed himself out. his soft nat under is
head.
vincenza-in the last t. enty-four
hours. how often the thought of her
had come to him! What a contrast
this girl of the fields was to Dorothy
Thorburn. How winsome, how un-
affected. She was little woman to
be priced as jewel by fortunate
man.
Something moved in the chapparal
clump above him. He turned and
saw two brown-featherei birds
emerge.
Quail" he said under his breath.
He reached for the gun. aimed quick
IT, and fired.