The Tupelo journal., 1911-08-25

Six months he had lived there at
the Mariposa ranch, learning the
business from her four brothers, n
of whom had been his chum at Yale.
And if ever there had been = scorn-
full wssterner it was Nan Rath-
bourn, from the 6rst day she had
heard Of this college youngster who
had inherited the big Sewall outfit.
She had expected him to be a failure,
to be q shirker. And she had treat
ed him accordingly ever since. He
had taken hold of the work that lay
before him with double energy, and
had made a success out of it. Final
ly, he had built this new house up
on the hills, where the spruces chung
to ledge and upland crag, and the
valley lay before it like the prom
ised land. 1t was to be his home, he
told her, and he had made it a home
for two, for there was to be a bride
there some day.
And that was all he would say.
Day after day she had seen him ride
away, and knew it was to superin-
tend the building of Honeymoon
lodge, as he had called it. Then
there came a day when she knew
suddenly that she was jealous, fierce
ly, heart-brokenly jealous of this 9th
er girl who was to come from the east,
and be Dave Sewall's wife.
1t was not a happy awakening.
She fought against it with all the
strength of her nature, and the worst
of it was she did not have the guile
to conceal it, as an older, and more
experienced girl would have done.
All at once she refused to ride with
him, to talk to him, to be with him
at all.
And today, the very last day of
his stay, he had asked her to ride up
and see his Honeymoon lodge.
As they dismounted and hobbled
the ponies, she hesitated. There was
the bungalow before her, broad, low,
rich in it's native timber, with the
broad veranda sweeping three sides,
and its rock chimneys rising above.
Above it were the spruces, fragrant
and murmurous. Below lay the val
ley and beyond, for miles and miles,
were the encircling mountains, drift
ing down into the sloping foothills.
"Like it, Miss Man," asked Sew
all, resting one foot on the step.
eyes," said Nan, catching her
breath eyes, I like it. It's beauti-
full, just beautiful"
"Nice enough for any girl?"
eyes"
"Think she'll be lonesome way up
here?"
"Girls aren't lonesome-not when
they've got the right one for al
ways" She flashed a quick look Of
resentment at him. How stupid he
was to think a girl who loved a man
would be lonesome. She felt sure
that Eden was a crowded commune
ty even with the angels walking
around.
"Then-" he paused just q mo-
ment, looking up at her keenly-
"when do you think I can send for
the missionary bishop"
GAS soon as you know she is COM
ing"
"Could you be ready by Sunday,
NAM"
SO gently it came that she did not
catch the intent for an instant, not
until his hands closed over hers, and
she saw the look in his eyes.
"Don't answer too quickly, dear. |
know I've blundered as usual, and
surprised you, but l didn't know
what to say. There isn't anything
except that l love you with all my
heart and soul, and built Honey
moon lodge for you. hoping you'd
come to it-and to me-when it was
ready. Don't laugh at me, Nan
Laugh at you?" She looked up
at him, and stopped short, you
don't know how I've hated that other
girl, Dave, how I've hated her be-
cause she'd have all this-and you"
1t was very still under the spruces
for a minute as he held her in his
arms; then she laughed, and drew
back.
Hadn't l better go in and show
you where to hang the pancake turn
err" she asked.