The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-14
THE EVENING STORY
The Return of Gypsy.

iCOWDOyS OF circle ii Wleeleu their VI OAi
chos into the gray dust of the trail.
There was a wild jangle of spurs, a.
clatter of FESTIVE hoofs. and they were
off hike one Of the brown whirlwinds OF
their own desert. to meet Gypsy and
'the boss who were coming to the
ranch to spend a week.
| They had derisively hurled "Arios,
Layne!" at the bronzed young foreman
as he leaned against the corral gate
They could not understand why he had
Ipersistently refused to join their recep-
4 tion committee.
| 1t really was not the coming of Her
ington, ''the boss" that was calling
forth the unusual demonstration, but
the return Of Gypsy" their little COM
rade OF the range whom they had not
seen for four years. It never entered
their simple heads that two years of
school in France. followed by two more
of travel and society, might have chang
ed their merry fun-loving little pet.
She was coming back as she had
promised-that was the, dominent con-
sideration, and off they went, whoop-
| ing.
Ned Layne, however knew different
ly. He had seen her year ago, and
the knowledge had come to him then
She was a young lady and they-and he
l-were only cowboys. AS he leaned
against the gate, he thought of the old
days. He remembered her eyes and
4
led into the world. and he remembered
how she had said to him:
| "Goodby, Ned. Father is going to|
give you the place of foreman. Make
out the Bar T. Don't forget me, Ned"
and her eyes had been moist when she
suddenly dropped them.
1 ''PH never forget you, Gypsy" he had
promised stoutly, pressing the hand
that f1uttered in his.
| when I come home to the ranch
want you to be here to meet me-" she
added.
| 'Tll be sure to meet you." he return
ed; then the train had borne her away
to the new life. so different from that
among the boys on her fathers ranch.
| Ned Layne and Gypsy Harrington had
been great comrades in those eare-free
days; and if now he was the only one
not riding out to meet her it was be-
cause he felt that those old days were
gone forever and would best be forgot
ten. There should be nothing on ms
part to remind her of old promises and
old thoughts that could have no place
lin her life any more.
Just year ago Layne had seen her
once at great hotel in New YORK,
where the wealthy ranchman and his
daughter were stopping. He had gone
all the way to the far eastern city for
no other purpose than to see her, but
the result had been a sadly dtscourag-
ing one, and he had said farewell to
his dreams Gypsy, dressed in be-
| wildering gown and moving with be-
wildering ease and elegance among
the elegant throng that oppressed the
ranchman was on her way to the
opera under escort of an Immediately
clad young Englishman possessed OF
a big title, and Layne was left to be
entertained by her father.
She had asked him to come back
and breakfast with them, but her.
changed bearing and the cool treat
ment accorded to him by the con-
descending nobleman had nettled
Layne. He took the very next train
back to the land of sunshine, where
i people We're not proud and stuckup
land did not forget old friends
On his return the cowboys of Circle
H had besieged him eagerly for news
of their little chum of the ranch.
Eyes, 1 saw her." he answered, veil
ing the bitterness in his heart, "and
she's a great belle in her society toys,
She has a beau-Lord Percy Ellington
| she seems to like his attentions all
right The boss says he followed them
4 back from Europe"
Having impaired this information
to the news-hungry men. Ned had
gone off by himself under the starlight
and finally abandoned all his old plans
and hopes.
Ever since that night the young
man had been formulating a plan Tor
his future which he kept strictly. to
himself resolved to execute the first
step toward it when the owner of the
ranch returned to his own again. Ac-
Ecordingly he mounted Muggins, his
Town pony. and rode rapidly away
across the brown mesa before the
party could arrive.
From an eminence his well trained
eyes caught the blur of rising dust far
up the trail Nearer approach en-
abled him to recognize the ranch
blackboard driven by Bob-Cat Nick.
Seated by the driver was the trim
figure of GYPSY while the stout form
of Herington and slender man wear
ing a derby occupied the back seat.
Trailing behind or galloping proudly
on either side of the vehicle rode the
adoring cowboys. chatting merrily
with their old friend.
At sight of the derby hat frown
icrossed Ned's face. and putting spur
to the unoffending Muggins the dis
lgruntled young horseman rode off
down the gulch.
I"Yet what right have to be surprised
or care for that? No doubt Harrington
wants to show his prospective son-in-
law what fine ranch he has for his
daughter
When he had reached the live oak
thicket, quite distance away, he let
Muggins rest. Throwing himself upon
the ground, he surrendered his mind
to a train of miserable thoughts.
He had lain there long time. when
suddenly he was aroused from his bit
ter reflections by the GLITTER of hoofs
over the rock trail.
Pushing back his sombrero from his
eyes, he looked up into the smiling
face of Gypsy, seated upon Slap-Dash,
her fayorite pony.
And this is the way you keep your
promise" she said reproachfully.
He scrambled to his feet and,
throwing one arm across the saddle
on his pony's back, leaned there till
! he could summon self-mastery.
, what do you care. GYPSY" he fin
| ally interrogated. his eyes stubborn
J ~ refusing to meet hers.
Some of the brightness left the girls
; face as she noted the misery on his
"Tell me what it all means, Ned"