The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-01-20

"The wretch" she cried passionate.
ly, shaking her fist at the retreating
figure OF Barden, which she could Just
discern disappearing down the noun.
tain trail, 81 know he bought up the
mortgage just to compel me to marry
him. There is no one to loan us the
money. Mr.. Linwood might, but"
blushing painfully. mo, I couldn't go
10 him now--after what Barden
said"
The clatter Of horses hoofs on the
hard road attracted her attention.
Looking In the direction from which
the sound came, Hope saw a stalwart,
smooth-shaven young man on horse
back, and riding by hts side was a
young woman, her face almost hidden
from view by an immense hat.
Catching sight of the girl on the
wall, the young man excused himself
to his companion and rode forward.
Leaping lightly from the saddle and
with unmistakable pleasure cleaning
in his dark eyes, he hurried toward
Hope.
Il did not know you were home" he
said, the pressure tightening on her
hand, "or / should have called. We
have been very busy with a new deal,
else I might have heard. l trust you
will pardon my unneighborliness and
let us make amends"
Certainly, Mr.. Linwood," she re-
piled
Her strange, unnatural tone caused
the man to study her face closely.
There were traces Of tears on her
cheeks and her eyes were red.
Hope, he spoke very tenderly--
you are In trouble. What is the mat.
ter? Tell me, and l am sure l can
help you"
He tried to take the girls hand
again, but she drew it quickly away.
Rising, she said with averted face,
Mother is i'll, Mr.. Linwood. l must go
to her. Please excuse me. Your
friend is waiting for you," she remind
ed him, and walked swiftly toward the
house.
Rex LinWoOd gazed after the girl he
had known since early childhood. Why
was she SO reversed, so changed to-
ward him? 1t used to be Rex" now
it was the formal Mr.. Linwood." I'm
able to solve this new problem, he
rode back to Mrs. Cary and accom-
panied her to the station.
On his return to the mine, and after
due deliberation, he resolved to go
over to the Marshall ranch that very
night and force an explanation from
Hope. That young lady, finding her
mother asleep and her father watch
ing near by went back to the old cor
raj to think. Much as she disliked
him, would 1t not be better, after all,
to accept Mr.. Barden and make her
parents happy in the retention of the
ranch? She could, perhaps, school
herself to endure life with him.
Sick at heart with the thought, she
began mechanically to pick up some
broken bits Of rock. Suddenly she be-
came interested in the fragments, and
examined portions of the wall care
fully
'I wish had paid more attention
to the study of geology" she said
aloud, 'but they look like the specI-
mems Prof Jordan analyzed before the
class. Oh, If only it could bel We |
could then save the ranch ourselves"
Suddenly she thought of Mr.. Miller, |
he assayer up at the Red Knight. He
was a kind old man, and had once
oeen her teacher in the public schools.
Mr.. Miller will know" she assured
herself, as she mounted her pony and
ook the mountain trail. She was hop
ng that she would not meet Rex Lin
wood just now, but as she approached
he assayers office she saw him giving
directions to body of Mexican work
nen.
In a moment he was by her side
laying, II am glad to see you at the
Red Knight, Hope. It has been an
lge since you have ridden over to the
nine"
Just one year." answered Hope.
"An age to me-" he insisted, serious
y, trying to lock into the girls eyes.
She avoided his direct gaze and
.sked, rs Mr.. Miller in the Office?
want to see him on business"
Here l am, Hope" called a pleas
mt faced, elderly man from the door.
Il am glad to find you at home" re-
urned the girl, permitting Rex to as
ist her to alight.
During the next half hour as the old
ssayer was examining the specimens,
y adroit questioning he drew from
he girl the cause Of her present trou-
lie and anxiety to in some way get
old Of money. But when she rode
ack to the ranch, there was only
eeble hope stirring in her breast, for
IT. Miller had said: II would have to
ee the wall and the place where the
ock was taken from, before holding
ut any real encouragement. Just one
r two specimens are no proof"
Il was foolish to think of IT," she
eplled 1T will come to nothing, and
n spite Of my determination to the
/ have advertised our trou- (
lie, and to no good purpose"
That night Rex Linwood rode over
D the ranch, as he had previously de-
AS the two stood under the
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