The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1911-02-17

more than is true" Mrs McBee broke
in. "If l thought you were telling
truth I'd never have another minutes
peace until things were Strengthened" "
Then get to work right off, Mrs.
Brant demanded.
How can I?' her hostess asked.
Mrs. Brant turned scornful eyes on
her. "You, a woman and a widow,
ask me that?" she said. When you
know better than anybody, all you've
got to do is to tell Asa Gray unless he
treats his daughter right, you'll say
yes to Steve Murray"
II never named him-you can't say
did," Mrs. McBee cried, flushing
deeply.
In truth. Mrs. Brant had come to
her at the psychological moment
Steve Murray had all but rejected the
McBee farm and Its mistress only the
evening before. Both had been Offer
ed tentatively, but In way he could
not choose but understand. He had
been brutal In seeming of misunder-
standing Judge. then. what balm Mrs.
McBee found In her friends assump-
tions.
Mrs. Brant pursed her lips. II
reckon nobody needs to name him
not as long as they've got eyes to
see," she said. It'll serve him out
fine, you taking the squire. SteVe's
made his brags all along; he, had just
to say the word, and any woman
would marry him."
"He is a conceited thing" Mrs.
McRee admitted "But | can't think
about my own concerns-Pm going
right straight of to see poor little
Milly. And If get the chance, her
pa'll get one good talking to-Tm go
ing to tell him to let her marry jim
my Hinton right off, and send them
out to California, where Milly can get
strong again. Patience knows, he's
got the money to do it-and If he
hasn't"
You have. And you can't put 1t to
better use." Mrs. Brant said heartily
Maria. you talk like mother and a
Christian-I love you better than
ever did before"
The very next afternoon Mrs. Mo
Bee drove away from the Gray place,
her face wreathed in smiles. Milly
had clung to her, weeping tears of JOY
as they parted, and the squire had
handed her into her buggy, with an
air of devotion wonderful to see. "You
say / may come over tomorrow morn
ing?" he had asked. Good! Well
settle everything. And can't thank
you enough for making me see the
right"
He was not so old, not yet fifty
moreover fine-looking and of good
presence, much more personable than
Steve Murray at his best, she decided
And the Gray place was certainly a
home any woman might be proud Of
She could queen it there as she had
never done In her own small house
the late Silas McBee had held that
money was to be kept, not spent. To
do her justice, her heart warmed
more at the memory Of Milly's face
than at the thought Of all the materia
gain such marriage meant to her.
She was radiant-with radiance
that went far to making her hand
some. Steve Murray realized it sud
denly-they met in the road a littl
way on his own gate.
'Howdy, Miss Marie. I guess II
come over tonight" he said off-hand
edly. Seems like / recollect some
thing you said when was there las
that | didn't answer right"
Now wonder what 1t could a-been!
Mrs. McBee said refiectively. "Oh!
remember now-it was about the Blu
Games. You forgot to tell me whetf
er or not you wanted them-if you d
want them you're just, in time to b
too late-Squire Gray has spoke fo
all I've got-as well as everythin
else on the place.
A meaning droop of lids carrie
home the last words. Steve wheele
his horse and galloped angrily away
Manlike, he had found out that h
wanted the widow badly in the mt