The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-01-06
By KATE CLEVES

tapped the leaves Of the big calendar
until he disclosed the September sheet.
and he ran his brown finger rapidly
over the days. finally paused at the
thirtieth. hesitating. and turning
white face to his friends.
1T isn't ON the calendar" he
said In shocked voice. 1T isn't on
this calendar-has anybody got an
other one?"
1T isn't on any calendar. you ga
loot!" shouted Crangle noisily.
Haven't you ever heard that old rhyme
about Thirty days hath September.
April, June and November Why. the
lady was joshing you'll"
Crangle was the only one who
laughed In the white agonized face Of
Peter Barton. He looked from one
to another of his mates and saw only
pity In their glances. He reached up
and swung his hat to his head
again.
II guess 1t was mistake-she was
playing joke on me-" he said thick
ly and was gone. After few moments
of tense silence they heard the chatter
OF the hoofs of the gray horse.
II wouldn't believe 1t IT her." NUT
tered Ben Holcomb to Latling under
cover Of newspaper. They had seen
how it was with Peter and Boss Cages
daughter.
You don't suppose-you don't sup
pose she's srill hankering after that
fellow from down Tucson wayr whis-
pered Latin
"DentmaD, you meanr
The other nodded miss Nan was
some took with him. and when he
went away SO sudden and we heard
he was married, she looked mighty
peaked for awhile"
I'm afraid maybe she did mind.
though we ought not to put It into
words," said Ben chivalrousiy. Some
how. I'm sorry she took 1t into her
head to treat Peter that way
'Tisn't like her to do it-not II she
knew 1t was going to hurt him." was
Latlin's reply.
During the months that followed
Peters proposal. he carefully avoided
approaching Nancy Gage. On the big
ranch that was an easy matter. and
the few times they met each other UNI
expectedly Peter Barton's eyes were
turned steadily away. while he barred
his head before the girl who had flout-
ed him.
Nancy, at first merciless In the sting
of her own love affair. assumed that
he had understood and accepted her
rude rejection Of him. But when she
met him time after time and saw the
set gravity Of his features ard the
somberness of his gray eyes. she grew
little fearful of what she lad done.
After awhile her remorseful thoughts
of Peter Barton quite crowded out her
heeting fancy for the brilliant Dent
man from Tucson, and she found her
self longing for an opportunity to apol-
ognize to Peter for the wrong she had
done him. Once she rode out DELHI
erately with the intention Of throwing
herself in his way that she might
hav. a chance to ask his forgive
ness.
1t was the last day of September.
and the parched grass lay fat on the
plains. She had heard her father tell
Peter to ride over to Honey Creek post
office for the weekly mail. and from
her window she had seen his we'll
knit figure on the gray horse sweep
away from the corral and out of sight.
She dressed herself in becoming rid
ing dress Of linen that matched her
eyes, and without hat on her sunny
head, she mounted the cream-colored
pony and was away.
That was how 1t happened that Pc
ter came across her on the shoulder of
hill as he had on that May day
when he had asked her to marry him.
He had been whistling softly as he
rode, and she had been watching his
face with a strange wistfulness in her
own when he suddenly looked up and
saw her. Then the sound died on his
lips and his face stiffened like q
grave mask and he lifted his hat
Nancy Burton put forth hand and
| caught the bride Of the gray horse.
Peter! Peter Barton-don't look like
that!" she half sobbed.
Gently Peter disen0aged her fingers.
You needn't worry yourself about me.
Miss Man." he said kindly. I'm all
right. although ought to be iarruped
GOOD for going around with long
face" He smiled cheerfuIly. but
Nancy Gage was not to be consoied
in that way. With little cry she
dropped her head on the pony's neck
and sobbed bitterly.
Peter Barton was frightened. Miss
/ Nan. what Is IT." he stammered ex-
citediy. III it's that Dentman chap