The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-22


and he ran his brown finger rapid
over the days. finally paused at tn
thirtieth. hesitating. and turning
white face 10 his friends.
!, 1T isn't on the calendar" b,
said in shocked voice. 1T isn't OF
this calendar-has anybody got an
other oneo"
I, 1T isn't on any calendar. you ga
loot shouted Crangle noisily.
Haven't YOU ever heard that old rhym,
about Thirty days hath September
April. June and November! Why, thu
lady was joshing YOU"
Crangle was the only one who
laughed in the white agonized face ol
Peter Barton. He looked from one
to another of his mates and saw only
pity In their glances. He reached uE
and swung his hat to his head
again.
Il guess it was a mistake-she was
playing joke on me-" he said thick
ly and was gone. After a few moments
of tense silence they heard the clatter
of the hOOfs of the gray horse.
Il wouldn't believe it If her." NUT
tered Ben Holcomb to Latling under
cover of newspaper. They had seen
, how /; was with Pete. and Boss Cages
daughter.
You don't suppose--you don't sup
pose she's still hankering after that
fellow from down Tucson way?" wits.
pered Latin.
Dentman you mean?"
The other nodded Miss Nan was
some took with him, and when he
went away SO sudden and we heard
he was married, she looked mighty
peaked for awhile"
I'm afraid maybe she did mind,
though We ought not to put it into
words" said Ben chivalrously Some
how. I'm sorry she took 1t into her
head to treat Peter that way"
"Tisn't like her to do it-nOt II she
knew 1t was going to hurt him." was
Iatlin's reply.
Du. ing the months that followed
Peters proposal. he carefully avoided
approaching Nancy Gage. On the big
ranch that was an easy matter. and
the few times they met each other un-
eXpectedly Peter Barton's eyes were
turned steadily away, while he barred
his head before the girl who had nout-
ed him.
Nancy, at first mercilcss in the sting
Of her own love affair. assumed that
he had understood and accepted her
rude rejection of him. But when she
met him time after time and saw the
set gravity of his features ard the
sOmhcrncss OF his gray eyes, she grew
a little fearful OF what she rad done
After awhile she found herself think
ing often Of the stern-faced cowboy
who avoided her whenever possible.
After awhile her remorsefu thoughts
OF Peter Barton quite crowded out her
fleeting fancy for the brilliant Dent
man from Tucson, and she found her.
self longing for an opportunity TO apOl-
ognize to Peter for the wrong she had
done him. Once she rode out DELHI.
erately with the intention of throwing
herself In his way that she might !
hav, chance to ask his forgive. |
ness.
II was the last day OF September. i
and the parched grass lay fiat on the
plains. She had heard her father tell
Peter TO ride over to Honey Greek post.
Office for the weekly mail. and from
her window she had seen his we'll.
knit figure on the gray horse sweep
away from the corral and out of sight.
She dressed herself In a becoming rid.
ing dress Of linen that matched her
eyes. and without hat on her sunny
head, she mounted the cream -colored
pony and was away.
That was how 1t happened that Re.
ter came across her on the shoulder Of
a hill as he had on that May dag
when he had asked her to marry him.
He had been whistling softly as he
rode, and she had been watching his
face with strange wistfulness In her
own when he suddenly looked up and
saw her. Then the sound died on his
Ups and his face stiffened like q
grave mask and he lifted his hat
Nancy Burton put forth hand and
caught the bride Of the gray horse.
Peter! Peter Barton-dont look like
hat" she half sobbed.
Gently Peter disengaged her fingers.
You needn't worry yourself about me.
Miss Man," he said kindly. I'm all
light, although ought to be Iarruped ,
,ood for going around with a long
ace" He smiled cheerfully, but .
Nancy Gage was not to be consoled =
n that way. With little cry she /.
lropped her head on the pony's neck
md sobbed bitterly. {
Peter Barton was frightened Miss \
IAN, what is IT." he stammered ex- {
itedly. III it's that Dentman chap
'll-I'n have him" e
ITS yourself. Peter Barton-I don't \
rant anyone but you and | never did," 6
obbed Nancy. What I said to you BE- 3
pre- was spoken when I was feeling 6
Unhappy and what say today mean 3
do" Q
n~t,r clyDp<,d From, h1c horo~ ana Y