The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-02-16

proffered reward, received with urban
ity Mrs. Livingston's patrouizing COM
mendation and thrilled at the gratitude
In Stella's dark eyes. He had pretend
ed not to see the soft little hand she
graciously extended and, slipping on
his coat, had rearranged the table,
served the dessert and sent the hotel
physician to see them.
The week that followed was a
strange one for Stella Hewitt. Proud
and high spirited, resenting the love
making Of her cousin, abetted by his
mother. who was Stella's guardian as
well as aunt, the girl found herself
deeply interested in the individuality
Of the man who waited on the table.
He had never presumed by so much
as a glance upon the incident in the
dining room, and Stella liked him the
better for it. One day she had met
him on one of the mountain paths,
and she had stopped and thanked him
prettily for the service.
"I'm going to let you thank me some
other time" he had said gravely.
Just at that moment Fred had ap-
peared, and he had uttered some sharp
words that divulged the fact that he
knew who the waiter was.
The next day the waiter disappeared
and two days afterward Mrs. Living.
ston found it convenient to move on to
another resort. Stella understood and
smiled bitter little smile.
Now she felt little throb of exulta-
ton that her instinct had not been
wrong. She had recognized in the
man who had saved her life some
claim to distinction. She admired him
for his pluck and perseverance She
felt that he was more to be respected
than Fred, who lazily accepted what
the gods land his Industrious father)
had provided and was without ambi-
ton of any sort, if one excepted his
desire to wed Stella.
Dessert was served, and Stella, play
ing idly with her spoon, looked across
the large room and saw Jim Forrest
looming large in the distance, bearing
a tray carefully poised on one palm.
Their eyes met across the intervening
space, and Stella smiled. Forrest did
not return the greeting.
''Who were you smiling at, Stella p
demanded Fred hastily.
She did not reply.
Mrs. Livingston had seen. however
and so it was the very next day they
gave up the rooms Fred had engaged
and went back to town where there
would be no doubt as to who would
serve the soup and where there were
no dangerous candelabra on the table
September came, and Fred went back
to college, rejected sutton. Stella
was most unhappy with her aunt, who
could not conceal the bitter disappoint.
ment she suffered in her sons failure
to win Stella.
The girl was very gentle with the
older woman, who chided her with in
gratitude and GOODNESS. At last she
sent Stella away for a long visit to
another relative in the west, while she
turned her thoughts to other matters
and tried to forget the failure of her
cherished plans.
In March Fred suddenly married a
pretty girl-the sister Of one Of his
classmates-and his college career
came to an abrupt close.
One night at dinner telegram was
brought to Mrs. Livingston. She read
it and uttered startled exclamation.
"Why-Stella is married. she ex.
claimed.
'"To whomY asked Fred.
"She doesn't say-merely "Will be
with you during our honeymoon. Let
ter explains Who can 1t be? She
hasn't mentioned any one in her let
terS."
Some cowpuncher," suggested Fred
a little drearily, then with more ami
nation. Il say. mother. you remem-
Der that chap. Jim Forrest, who wait
ed on table at Bellairy last summer
the one who saved Stella's life?"
Yes"
"Why. he's turned out to be all sorts
Of big gun. Seems his father made
him work his way through college
told him he didn't care what he did SO
long as the labor was honest-and now
the old mans dead and Forrest is
worth cool ten million!
Mrs. Livingston flushed deeply. 'It
would have made splendid match for
Stella" she said regretfully. "But
that's always the way. If she had
chosen him it would have turned out
he was beggar."
You could trust Stella to pick ou.
the right party, only, you see, you
scared them both off, mother. l don't
believe either one of them thought of
love or anything else. He was merely
polite. and Stella was grateful to him.
If they had been left alone it might
have developed into pretty romance.
eh. Florrie?" He grinned across at his
pretty little wife.
She nodded wisely. Poor old Stel.
LAP she said condescendingly.
The letter from Stella never came,
but Stella came herself, with her hus-
band in tow-none other than big Jim
Forrest himself.
II won her as poor man." he said
proudly to Fred, first as a waiter,
and afterward / met her on the Rose
Leaf ranch, in Wyoming, of which / am
part owner AS cowpuncher made
her love me. and have only told her
today that she won't have to count the
pennies. and, say, she's disappointed,
I do believer