The Ordway new era., 1912-09-06
down by Deep Rock springs. Stand
field Meyers demanded his final an.

down by Deep Rock springs. Stand
field Meyers demanded his final an.
swer.
Leave me alone now" she urged.
Il want to think 1t over before an.
swer you positively"
And SO 1t was that she sat there,
chin In hand. elbow on knee. looking
out across the valley basking In the
sunlight. Marshall came upon her.
She could not quite keep the gladnsss
saw him. stalwart and strong. with
his youthful dreams still In his brown
eyes.
1T Is great to be back in the
mountains. Anne. You look today Just
as you did that morning up at old
Chester when went to stammer good.
bye to you. was such q kid. Re-
member?"
Anne tossed the petals of a wild
rose on the clear little stream that
flowed from Deep Rock
NO." she said. quietly. THAT was
long time ago."
What's the matter with your
memory. Anne? You've changed. I
couldn't sleep last night for thinking
that you left the ballroom after
seeing me without coming to vel
come me. You meant home to me.
That's why I followed you to the
mountains"
You don't know how hard It 10 to
speak to anybody when standheld IL
around
"standneld Meyers! What has he
to do with your attitude to your old
friends?"
Il am going to marry him." Anne
wondered why her voice did not
culver with her heart.
Without a word he turned and
started down the path.
"Tom." questioned Anne, a tiny
pulse hammering In her throat.
Tom. won't you wish me joy?'
He came back then. his hand out.
the old brave smile OF his youth
lighting his face.
II was a beast. Anne, dear. OF
course l wish you Joy. 1t knocked
me over bit to hear the news.
was selfish, thinking only Of my
own loss. You see. l have always
foolishly. of course-believed that you
were mine. It has never occurred
to me that any man could take you
away from me-"
"oh." cried Anne. you mustn't talk
to me like that. What would your
wife think II she heard?"
MY what?'
your wife. You wrote me about Q
girl you said was very pretty. You
wanted to read one of my letters to
her. and when you didn't answer my
letter"
Didn't answer? wrote to you
four or i've times while I was hurt"
"Hurt?" cried Anne. in alarm. "Oh.
Tom. how?"
PONY bucked with me and I un-
fortunately got mixed up with a ma
chine that happened to be passing.
The boys hurried me OF to st. Jo-
seph's hospital. where they patched
up one shoulder and an arm until
they are as good a. new"
All the mothers solicitude deep in
the heart Of every woman for the
only man. although he may be her
senior by many years. showed In
Anne's eager, tender questioning.
why didn't you let me know.
Tom? Mother and would have gone
to you. Haven't you always known
that would do anything for you?"
"All but the greatest thing. Anne.
the giving Of yourself"
Aren't you married. Tom7"
mo. never wanted any woman but
you. My brother and his wife met
me and came on to meet you. but you
had gone. I absolutely held your
father up and demanded to know
where you were."
II haven't answered Standfeld yet,
Tom. 1t would be a crime to marry
anybody but you. My pride was
hurt"
You'll have to marry me now, to-
day." said Marshall, his arms about
her. Then we'll go west and shoot
up the town until find out what be-
came Of our letters"
"Alls we'll that ends WELL" laughed
the girl happily, while a mocking bird
broke into a melody of silver song
somewhere in the young green
branches overhead.
Copyright. 1912. by Associated Literary
Press)