The Prescott daily news., 1910-06-29
On the Lonesome
 Road
By BELLE MAAAATES

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 Sydney's 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. err"
 "Yes. Sydney. want our little Rhody. Fetch her back with you, for the day. 1 feel sure that she will come if you go after her"
 Mother, she isn't our little Rhody cry 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 hCcoes would wait for Aio ANi lACl itIllGl -sS, U'l G4 ftu Ol. When Sydney had quieted them down ard 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 whom he had been big brother and n PatfbP,,I Nc olI when Ormsby's farm had joined theirs. When Rhody was 16 years old her fortunes had suddenly changed. Wint Ormsby had patented a manu- featuring 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 1 nouncing as a snob.
 Sydney performed the innumerable i little errapds of his mother and sev- eral of the neighbors and then started l homeward. Out at the forks he halt ed Then-he never knew why-he | took the lonesome road, although it was out of his way and he was in haste to get home. Rhody in the old days had liked this read 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 blast made him urge his horses to stf1l greater speed.
 Within half mile of the turn to his home he saw stationary black object in the road Closer inspection | proved 1t to be runabout. AS he slowed up his shying horses he saw that the single occupant was a girl. Near range revealed the girl as Rhody,
 "Oh, Syd," she said, faintly. the machine won't move and I am sc cold!"
 Ill trice he wrapped her in warm robes and slowed her away fin the bottom of the sleigh. The horses were of at oanter, 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 drows!ly and relapsed into a semi-slumber Sydney stopped the team and lifted her out into the road A neiehbor came along on foot
 Here, Jed. Rhody's almost frozen, and l will have to walk her to the house Drive my team home and tell p.other 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-rooHl. where Rhody. rested and revived. was contentedly ensconced in big easy chair.
 Will you tell me-" he demanded. what you were doing in midwinter on the lonesome road in an automobile?"
 "I don't know whether l will or not" she answered. with the old de liant Hit in her eyes. will 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 l do is for one reason. It Is l hecansa=I love YOU