Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1911-07-20
CHAPTER vi.

Gormly Announces His Candidacy
The hall into which Miss Haldane
stepped early the next morning had
been transformed into 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
lys personal supervision the hall,
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 a
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
nnd 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 ut eight O'Clock In the morning,
or Of making a guy of herself In Mrs.
Bullcns extraordinary attire. She had
learned Of course, from her maid how
the news had been brought and how
she AokbCIod 10 be there with the
change of apparel.
Miss Haldaue had not slept very
well, for one reason her thoughts had
dwclt increasingly upon that strange
conversation size 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 srarkled in her eyes as she
extended her hand.
How delightfully."- Christmaslike Is
the room; how good it smells" she
said after the first words of greeting.
y am glad indeed that it pleases
you" answered Gormly, smiling. And
if you will permit me, will repeat my
words of last night, or early this morn
ing. and wish you again very Mer-
~ Christmas and a Happy New Year
as we'll
And | will give you back your wish
with interest," returned Miss Haldane,
''as did last night. an sure that
we are all intensely grateful to you for
your forethought in having the maids
nd pln
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 Ea'dane."
In the west?" asked the girl
well, yes" wa, the somewhat re.
luctant answer, although the greater
rart Of my boyhood was not spent In
the west"
And this ride In the storm, was 1t
like the other rides and storms you
have experienced
This was very mild affair COM
pared to those. | could wish 1t had
OGell udIUeT.
"Why?"
This time was riding for another
woman, different woman"
Miss Haldane rather thrilled to the
direct statement; but womanlike she
changed the subject,
Did you have this Christmas ar
rangement OF pines made in the hall 2"
She asked irrelevantly.
For you-and your party" inter
posed Gormly with perceptible break
after the pronoun so as to allow the
fact to permeate thoroughly. 81 WISH"
he added. that circumstances permit.
ted me TO signalize the season by Of
fering you an adequate Christmas
present.
81 have, however. something that
may possibly interest you. which l
may venture to hope you may regard
as a personal tribute from me in lieu
OF such a gift"
"And what Is that?" asked Miss