The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-12-02

Nheu McOlOuu reacned the cottage
Dicksie met him. Katie Dancings
mother is sick. and she has gone
home. Poor Marion is all alone this
morning. and half dead with a sick
headache" said Dicksie. but l told
her. and she said she shouldn't mind
the headache now at ALL"
But what are you going to do7"
Il am going to get dinner; do you
want TO help."
I'm going 70 help"
"oh. you are! That would be very
funny"
Funny or not. I'm going to help"
You would only be in the way"
You don't know whether I should
or not"
Il know I should do much better if
you would go back and run the rail-
road few minutes"
The railroad be hanged. am for
dinner"
But will get dinner for you"
You need not can get II for my.
self
You are perfectly absurd, and II
we stand here disputing. Marion won't
have anything 10 eat"
They went into the kitchen disput-
ing about what should be cooked. At
the end OF an hour they had two fires
going-one In the stove and one In
Dicksie's cheeks. By that time II had
been decided 70 have . luncheon In.
stead OF a dinner. Dicksie attempted
some soup. and McCloud found a strip
of bacon. and after he had cooked Il,
Dicksie, with her riding-skirt pinned
up and her sleeves delightfully."- rolled
back, began frying eggs. When Marion.
unable longer 10 withstand the excite
ment appeared. the engineer. flushed
With endeavor. was making toast.
The three sat down at table togeth-
er. They found they had forgotten
the coffee. but Marion was not allowed
to move from her chair When the
coffee was made ready the bacon had
been eaten and more had 20 be fried.
McCloud proved able for any part OF
the program. and when they rose II
was four o'clock and too late. Me.
Cloud declared. to go back to the OF.
fee. that afternoon.
Marion and Dicksie. after time. at.
tempted jointly to get rid OF him. but
they found they could not, SO .he
three talked about Whispering Smith.
When the women tried TO discourage
McCloud by talking hats he played the
wheezy plano. and when Dicksie spoke |
about going home he declared he
would ride home with her. But Dick |
sic had no mind that he should. and |
when he asked 10 know why, without |
realizing what a flush fingered In his |
face. she said only. no; n she had |
reasons she would give none. MCCIoud |
persisted. because under the flush |
about his eyes was lie resolve that ne |
would take one long ride that evening.
In any event. He had made up his
mind for that ride-a longer one than
he had ever taken before. or expected |
ever 10 take again-and would not be
baked.
Dicksie. insisting upon going home.
went so far as to have her horse
brought from the stable. To her sur
prise. horse for McCloud came over
with II. Quiet TO the verge OF solem.
nifty. but with McCloud following.
Dicksie walked with admirable firm.
ness out OF the shop to the curb. Nc.
Cloud gave her rein 10 her, and with
a smile stood waiting to help her
mount.
She was drawing on her second
glove. you are not going with me-"
You'll let me ride the same road,
won't you-even II can't keep up?"
Dicksie looked at his mount. ut
would be difficult to keep up. with that
horse"
Would you ride away from me Just
because you have a better horse?"
NO. not just because have a bet
ter horse"
He looked steadily at her without
speaking.
why must you ride home with me
when don't want you tor" she asked,
reproachfully. Fear had come upon
her and she did not know what she
was saying. She saw only the express
sion OF his eyes and looked away, but
she knew that his eyes followed her.
The sun had set. The deserted street
lay in the white half-llght OF a noun
tain evening. and the days radiance
was dying in the sky. In lower tones
he spoke again, and she turned deadly
white.
I've wanted so long to say this,
Dicksie. that ! might as well be dead
As to try to keep II back any longer.
That's why l want to ride home with
you II you are going to let me-" He
-urned to stroke her horses head.
Dichsie stood seemingly helpless. Nc
Cloud slipped his finger into his waist
;oat pocket and held something out in
his hand. This sholl pin fell from
FOUR hair that night you we're at camp
BY the bridge-do you remember? i
couldn't bear to give II back"
Dicksie's eyes opened wide. LET r
ne see II. don't think that is mine" {,
Great heaven! Have / been carry :
ng Marion Sinclair's pin for !
months" exclaimed McCloud. well, l :
Won't lose any time in returning IL 10 \
Ter. at any rate 8
'Where are you going?" Dicksie's b
,ofca waa faint 4