Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-11-18

him her frank friendliness was.
The fact was that his good deed to
Emma had been the first striking ef-
feet Of a sOftening process that had
been going on very, very slowly. 50
slowly as not to be noticeable TO any
extent. for several years, which began
when he had been admitted to the
family circle Of his late general man.
ager and with which. all unconscious
ly. Emma had had a good deal to do
He had anchored himself to the family
as his one connection with refinement
and home life. But it had been a
cautious anchoring, maintained with
distrust and carrying with 1t no reel
procity in the shape Of business or any
other favors. A fighter who had got
nothing out Of existence without fight
ing, ever on the alert to forestall an
expected treacherous blow, his hand
had flown to his hip pocket, so to
speak. at the slightest movement that
appeared to him to be suspicious.
AS time wore on, however, his dis
trust had vanished. and Mrs. Harris and
her daughters had become a necessity
to him. He was being civilized. He
preferred Emma to the others, which
is saying that she was the person he
liked best on earth. but his manner Of
showing 1t had been repellent because
misunderstood. In the first place she
had hated him for his supposed injus-
tice to her husband whereas, having
read Brooks through from the start,
he despised him and would not help
III TO 10 hor- lf,ko g.,
reawakened distrust, battling with I'M
willingness to believe that his high
estimate Of her had been unmerited.
had caused him to try her out relent-
lessly on the occasion Of her appeal
for Brooks, alone with him and at
his mercy In his rooms, she had seen
that warm heart, full of pure re-
gard for her, beat beneath his forbid
ding exterior. From that night she
had learned to respect him and judge
him at his real value. His actions and
fdiosyncrasies received at last their
true Interpretation.
AS for Williams, the proof that he
had not been deceived In her fortified
his faith and made him really happy.
He was getting old. He had won his
hard fought, lifelong battle with the
world and was as rich as he cared to
be. The devil was disposed to turn
monk. The yearning for affection, not
demonstrative, but existent, which came
with the approach of life's sunset and
which was not to be fopaI elsewhere
was gratifed there. He put on slip
pers, smoked his pipe, had his favorite
chair, expressed his views in his au-
thoritative way and liked to be con-
suited.
But he never ceased to be impressed
with the ostentatious proclivities and
aristocratic airs Of Mrs. Harris and
Beth, though he laughed indulgently at
many Of the mothers foibles. To him
the two women represented the beau
monde and were authorities on all that
pertained thereto. He deemed 1t a
privilege to place one of his automo-
biles at the family's exclusive com
mand, and 1t was the most luxurious
vehicle money could buy. That he did
not give it outright was because he
knew their circumstances would not
enable them to maintain it.
er and sister. She never gave herself
airs. He felt himself nearer to her,
and the more intimate they grew the
more she became endeared to him.
She had changed much since she had
left Brooks. A spirituality that he had
not, OF course. known In her in the old
days had increased the charm OF her
personality. but her sensible, unaffect-
ed manner, her gentleness, were al
ways the same. More than once he
had surprised a wistful faraway look
In her eyes, a fieeting expression Of
melancholy, and his solicitude had been
aroused. Something caused him to re-
frain from questioning her, but he did
considerable bordering about it.
what a shame 1t is that a girl like
Emma isn't married to some nice fell
low worthy of her." he remarked one
evening, uttering his thoughts aloud.
''There are some things that no man
can understand. and this is one OF
'em-that she should be handcuffed to
a dirty scalawag like Brooks"
Captain" calculated Mrs. Harris,
raising her hands, you mustn't You
know it is understood that the per-
sons name is never to be men
toned"
Il know" he said, ''but you can't
alter facts because, being disagreeable
you don't want to remember 'em.
Brooks is a disagreeable fact, darned
disagreeable fact, and he's Emmas
husband into the bargain. AS such
he amt to be ignored altogether. be-
cause he stands between her and the
fair pasture lands"
why, captain" smiled Emma, I'm
happy enough. What more could I
want than the peace / have?
Are you sure, girlT" he answered.
( shaking his head doubtfully. Il don't
I know-I don't know"