The Cairo bulletin., 1910-05-23
On the Lonesome
Road
By BELLE MANDATES

perfect understanding of what had
brought the tinge of sadness to his
brown eyes.
The horses. jubilant and risky. as
farm horses are apt to be when not
hauling load. required an Sydney's
| skill. He stood up In the old bob
sleigh, the whirling snowfiakes beat
ing his face. his strong. sturdy young
shoulders squared for action. His
mother threw a shawl over her head
and came out on the stoop.
Sydney"
He reined up the horses. ANY
| thing more you want In town. moth
| err"
Yes Sydney. l want our little
Rhody. Fetch her back with you. for
the day | feel sure that she will
come II you go after her"
Mother she isn't our little Rhody
any longer She is weaned away
naturally-and would no more drive
up to Whit Ormsby's gilt-edged door
| in this old ob.sleigh than I'd cut my
| hand Off"
| The impatient horses would wait for
| no further remarks, but sped on.
| When Sydney had quoted them down
| and they We're Swimming smoothly
| along the country road he found Hun
| self wishing that his mother had not
| awakened old memories-memories he
| was trying so hard to efface. The mem
cries were all of Little Rhody." to
whom he had been a big brother and
| faithful attendant In the old days
when Ormsbys farm had Joined
| theirs. When Rhody was l6 years old
her fortunes had suddenly changed.
| Whit Ormsby had patented q manu-
featuring implement that had been a
big success He had bought an enor-
| nous house and moved into. town.
Rhody was sent to the city to fash
ionable school for two years and that
had been followed by year OF for
eign travel.
She had recently returned home and
1t was reported that she was engaged
to Ellis Mordaunt. man about town,
whom Sydney felt justified In de,
nounoing as q snob.
Sydney performed the innumerable
little errands of his mother and sew
eral Of the neighbors and then started
homeward Out. at the forks he halt
ed. Then--he never knew why--he
took the lonesome road, although II
was out OF his way and he was In
haste to get home Rhody In the old
days had liked this road and had Civ
en- 1t the fitting appellation. 1t was
bleak, long stretch, with no protect
ing rises Of land and the cutting win
ter blast made him urge his horses
to still greater speed.
Within half a mile of the turn tc
his home he saw a stationary biach
object in the road. Closer inspection
proved it to be runabout. AS he
slowed up his shying horses he saw
that the single occupant was girl
Near range revealed the girl as Rhody
"Oh, Sgd" she said. family, "tht
machine won't move and am &c
cold"
In a trice he wrapped her In warn
robes and slowed her away In thu
bottom of the sleigh. The horses were
off at a canter, requiring all Sydney
attention for some little time. Al
soon az he could he turned to he
with reassuring words, but he received
no response.
She was colder than ! knew" h,
thought, as he shook her arm.
She murmured drowsily and relapset
into semi-slumber. Sydney @oppe,
the team and lifted her out into tn
road. A neighbor came along on foot
Here, Jed Rhody's almost frozen
, and I viii have to walk her to tn
house Drive my team home and tel
mother to have things ready"
, Then he shook the girl roughly
Come" he urged. 1--WE must run"
!. He fastened her tagging steps
: down the lane and up to the door q
a which his mother stood waiting.
Two hours later he came into tn
: sitting.room, where Rhody. rested an
revived, was contentedly ensconced
}. big easy chair
"Will you tell me-" he demanded
4 what yo~ were doing in midwinter 9
the lonesome road In an automobile?
Il don't know whether VIII &
not" she answered. with the old d.
FAINT Tilt In her eyes. viii you tie
y me why you drove past our house +
day and never gave glance towar
;. the window and you never came
see us?"
!. "Yes," he replied. quietly. lookin
! into the depths Of her eyes. Ever
: thing do is for one reason. II
:. because--I love you"
!. Then, to his amazement, with a Il
tie low cry. she came rapturonsly I'M
10 his arms.
% Sydney. sydney" she said, softl
"a after q little while. THAT Is why
y was on the .a.essome road--becaui
It love you. didn't know quite no
ID | loved you until this morning wht
/ you drove past stood at the libral
window, Mr.. Mordaunt's card In II
hand. sent In word to him that
could not see him Then slipped 0,
and took my electric to come out
a. your house.
a .On the way out 1t just came ov,