The Prescott daily news., 1910-06-28
On the Lonesome
 Road n Dv-t r- .n --4
By BELLE MANlATES


 brought the tinge of sadness to his brown eyes.
 The horses. jubilant and frisky, as farm horses are apt to be when not hauling a load, required all Sydneys skill. He stood up in the old bob sleigh, the whirling snowfakes 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 refined up the horses. Any thing more you want in town, moth. er?"
 Yes. Sydney. want our little Rhody. Fetch her back with you, for the day. I feel sure that she will come if you go after her"
 Mother. she isn't our little Rhody any longer. She is weaned away naturally-and I would no more drive up to Wint Ormsbys gilt-edged door in this old bob-sleigh than I'd cut my hand off"
 The impatient hCrsc9 would wait for no further remarks, but sped on. When Sydney had quieted them down and they were skimming smoothly along the country road he found him. self wishing that his mother had not awakened old emories-memories he was trying so hard to efface. The mem ories were all of Little Rhody," to mh ho T faithful attendant in the old days when Ormsby's farm had joined theirs. When Rhody was 16 years old her fortunes had suddenly changed. Wint Ormsby had patented a manu- facturing implement that had been big success He had bought an enor- nous house and moved into town. Rhody was sent to the city to a 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, a man about town. whom Sydney felt justified in de nouncing as a snob.
 Sydney performed the innumerable little erraDds of his mother and sev- 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 1t was out of his way and he was in haste to get home. Rhody in the old days had liked this road and had giv- en 1t the fitting appellation. It was a bleak, long stretch, with no protect ing rises of land, and the cutting win ter hlast made him urge his hofses to stfll greater speed.
 Within half a mile of the turn to his home he saw a stationary black object in the road. Closer inspection proved it to be a runabout. As he slowed up his shying horses he saw that the single occupant was girl. Near range revealed the girl as Rhody.
 "Oh, Syd," she said faintly, the machine won't move and I am SO cold!"
 In triCe he wrapped her In warm robes and slowed her away in the bottom of the sleigh. The horses were of at a canter, requiring all Sydney's attention for some little time. As soon as he could he turned to her with reassuring words, but he received no response.
 She was colder than l knew" he thought, as he shook her arm.
 She murmured drowsily and relapsed into a semi-slumber Sydney stopped the team and lifted her out into the road A neighbor came along on foot
 Here Jed, Rhody's almost frozen, and I will have tO walk her to the house Drive my team home and tell mother to nave things ready"
 Then he shook the girl roughly, Come" he urged. we must run"
 He hastened her tagging steps, down the lane and up to the door at which his mother stood waiting.
 Two hours later he came into the sitting-room, where Rhody, rested and revived, was contentedly ensconced Tn a big easy chair.
 "Wil you tell me-" he demanded, what you were doing in midwinter on the lonesome road in an automobile?"
 q don't know whether l will or not" she answered. with the old de- liant lit in her eyes. "Whl you tell me why you drove past our house to- day and never gave glance toward the window and you never came to see us?"
 Yes" ne replied, quietly, looking into the depths of her eyes. Every thing I do is for one reason. It is because-I love you
 TLn1a ta hia q amnni with a lit-