The Red Cloud chief., 1911-08-03
ChAPT Err VI.
OorvnIy Announces His Candidacy.

The hall into which Miss Haldane
stepped early the next morning had
been transformed into u perfect bower
OF winter beauty. There had been no
time to buy anything; but the most
available pine trees on the place. OF
which there were several. had been
ruthlessly sacrificed. and under CORN.
ly's personal supervision the hall. q
magnificent apartment under any cir.
cumstances. had been lavishly decor
ated with the fragrant evergreen In,
honor of Christmas
Gormly had been busy during the
night. He actually had not slept q
wink. So soon as he had got the
party safely to bed. he had gone to
the stable. and In default of anyone
else who could do so. he had himself
ridden across the country through the
snow and storm. which was even then
dying out. to notify the people at the
Haldane place OF the predicament Of
the family and to arrange that maids
and men with proper clothing should
be brought over to his own cottage
early In the morning
Hence Miss Haldane was under no
necessity Of appearing In evening cos
tune at eight o'clock In the morning.
or of making guy OF herself In Mrs.
Bullen's extraordinary attire She had
learned, Of course, from her maid how
the news had been brought and how
she happened to be there with the
change OF apparel.
Miss Haldane had not slept very
we'll; for one reason her thoughts had
dwelt increasingly upon that strange
conversation she had had with her
host. She had awakened earlier than
the rest. had dressed Immediately, and
had descended to the hall in hope Of
seeing him. Her pleasure and salts.
faction sparkled In her eyes as she
extended her hand.
How delightfully."- Christmaslike 10
the room; how good 1t smells!" she
said after the first words Of greeting.
II am glad indeed that It pleases
you" answered G0rmly. smiling. And
II you will permit me. l will repeat my
words Of last night, or early this morn.
Ing. and wish you again very Mer.
~ Christmas and q Happy New Year
- WELL"
"And l will give you back your wish
with interest" returned Miss Haldaue,
~ did last night. am sure that
We are all intensely grateful to you for
your forethought in having the maids
and clothes brought over. Felice, my
maid. has told me that you rode over
yourself very early this morning to
carry the news OF our plight, and to
bring them. 1t must have been hard
riding"
1T took me back to boyhood days
Miss Haldane."
In the west!" asked the girl.
well. yes" wal tho somewhat re
luctant answer. although the greater
part Of my boyhood was not spent II
the west"
"And this ride in the storm, was 4
like the other rides and storms yo,
have experienced"
'This was a very mild affair com
pared to those. could wish It ha.
been harder"
"Why?"
IniS time l was riding for anOthe
woman, a different woman"
Miss Haldane rather thrilled to III
direct statement: but womanlike sh
changed the subject.
did you have this Christmas a
rangemeut Of pines made In the hall
She asked irrelevantly.
For you--and your party" inteI
posed Gormly with perceptible brea
after the pronoun 30 as to allow tn
fact to permeate thoroughly. II wish,
he added. that circumstances permi
ted me to signalizs the season by O
fering you an adequate Christina
present.
II have. however. something tbs
may possibly interest you. which
may venture to hope you may regar
~ a personal tribute from me In lie
Of such gift"
"And what 10 that!" asked MI.