The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-04-14
Suddenly he arose and made a hasty

she clattered from the tinny piano and
even joining in the chorus of that pop
ular melody Because l Love You So"
until old man Gibbs pounded ON the
parlor door and requested silence that
he might snatch a few hours rest be-
fore he arose to pursue his daily vo-
cation of engineering the stagecoach
down to the nearest railroad station.
Later in the evening Bert Fletcher
appeared, and close at his heels came
Frank Blair. When the rivals found
Luke Prentice installed as court IA
vorite they unburdened themselves of
large boxes of candy and took
gloomy departure, Blair galloping back
to the Chincapin to tell his sister of
openly and then fitted Off to bed with
out even good night.
Back in the Gibbs house Luke Prem
tice and Miss Gertle opened the boxes
of candy and enjoyed the contents
hugely, and when Luke departed Miss
Gertie tied handful of chocolates into
corner of his cleanest pocket hand
kerchief,
Seven Wednesday evenings Luke
Prentice called upon Miss Gibbs, and
then the following seven Wednesdays
he rode down the Chincapin trail, but
In every instance, strange to relate, he
did not find Miss Estelle at home.
The Swedish housekeeper eyed him
blankly the seventh time.
II woden't t'ink Miss Blair be SEEM
youse. Her says her amt to home,
but her isl" she explained with a
world Of pity in her light blue eyes.
Stebbins, muzzling the parched grass
in the dooryard, brought up his head
with jerk as Prentice passed through
the gate. Suddenly he halted and look
ed back at the ranch house where he
had known many pleasant hours pick
eted under the trees where the herb
age was green and succulent and
where Jumps OF sugar were rendered
him in Estelle's pink and white palm.
Luke dug his spurs in Stebblns'
TANKS and Tapped the relns about the
pony's ears. Get along, you son of
Satanw he muttered angrily. you
trying to make more kinds of fool out
yourselfr'
The pony started forward just as n
shutter opened cautiously In second
story window and low whistle sound
ed softly across the yard. A soft, Sc
ductive whistle 1t was, and In the old
darc II n1wov, onrynI nc an inuitaffau
to partake of a lump of sugar from
Miss Blair's hand. Luke did not hear
the whistle, but Stebbins did and in
stantly turned and shot through the
gate and galloped wildly toward the
house, while Luke sawed at the reins,
mad clean through at the notifying
spectacle he was making of himself
before the round eyed Swedish wom-
an who gaped at him around a corner
of the house.
"She says she woden't be to home,'
she mumbled excitedly rs Stebbins cur
veted and pranced and baked and ut
terly refused TO leave the hospitable
Blair doorstep.
Then 1t was that Luke Prentice
brought forth a Mexican quirt from
beneath his saddle blanket and cut the
balky Stebbins once across the TANKS
As a result he found himself sitting on
the ground ten feet away with badly
wrenched arm, while Stebbins whin.
MED sharply near the front door.
Luke dragged himself painfully to-
ward convenient chlncapin and
leaned YEARLY against the trunk and
closed his eyes. Instantly he forgot all
his troubles, When he opened his eyes
TO consciousness again Estelle was
kneeling beside him binding his arm in
strong cool bandages while the Swed-
ish woman held an ice cold cloth to
his aching head.
II can get along all right now, Sci
ma" said Estelle briskly. and when
the woman had departed her voice
dropped almost TO whisper I'm so
sorry, Luke! II was all my fault, you
see. | whistled to Stebbins. | could
see he didn't want to go. He knew
better than his master what his mas
ter ought TO do. Why didn't you come
and make me give you an explanation,
Luke? ! wanted you to just boss me
around, only you never, never would,
and | thought maybe If | made you
stay away from me we'd both find
out. There, I'm not going to say it
allw
Luke Prentice said his part with
such good effect that he rode away
from the Chlncapin with a radiant
smile on his handsome face.
At the forks Prentice met two de-
jected riders turning out of the Lone
Tree trail. One was Bert Fletcher, and
the other was Estelle's brother Frank
Blair.
Evening" said Luke happily. "How's
Miss Gertie Gibbsr
The two stared unhappily at each
other, and finally Fletcher blurted out
angrily:
''The little cat! She's gone and mar
ried the engineer down to the smelter
house. l gave her a ring last week"
he added viciously.
$50 did l." said Frank Blair bitter
ly. 81 suppose you did, too, Luke?"
"Nary!" protested Luke Prentice.
1--WE been ringing a belle up to the
Chincapin, Frank. That's an old joke,
but It's true, brother-in-lawr He
reached down brown paw, and the
two others sprang to meet it and
shake 1t heartily, forgetting their own
ehagrin in the happiness OF their COM
rade.