Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-05-23
De very glad to welcome you," he said
rather shyly as they drove off.

1uuuA JOu, leplleu iASdluu SIdNelS.
Agatha Waite believed she had had
her share Of trouble when she had
lost both parents in early girlhood. She
had been brought up in the home Of
an ambitious aunt, who had planned
a brilliant marriage for her rich and
did not want to make a brilliant mar
fiage. What she had always wanted
was q place she could call home, a spot
that would shelter her as a beloved oc-
cupant because she was herself, not
because she was rich. To Agatha love
and marriage meant the foundation of
a real home. Her aunt'S house had
been merely a gathering place for
fashionable people, and Agatha was
weary Of it all.
That vas one reason she had left
New York and was on her way to the
home of an old college friend, a class
mate who had married a ranchman
and settled in a wilderness Of the
west whose nearest railroad station
was at Pollock. Agatha's mistake in
getting off at the flag station was an
unlocked for adventure in the monot-
ony Of her journey.
Another reason for her departure
Elto the wilderness was that a year be-
fore Agatha Waite had met a man
who loved her and who possessed all
the qualities of mind and heart that
her own heart recognized as it's true
mate. Agatha loved Jim Fenton in re-
turn, and yet such was her fright
when he actually declared his love that
she begged for time to consider. This
he granted reluctantly and, as it prov
ed, fatally for their little romance.
Agatha's aunt had overheard a bit of
Jim Fenton's confession and was pre-
pared to tell him a few minutes later,
when she found him moodily alone,
that Agatha's heart and hand were al
ready disposed of. Angered at Agatha's
apparent deception, Fenton had flung
himself away and betaken himself to
his home in Chicago without n word
of explanation between them.
So here was Agatha Waite riding
over an unknown prairie in the most
unexpected manner. Surely her new
existence was beginning with adven-
lures.
What made it more of a real adven-
ture and indeed lifted it into the
realms Of actual romance was the fact
that the large, lean, brown man with
the sparkling blue eyes was none 9th
er than Jim Fenton himself.
What was he doing here in the far
west? He had spoken Of his mother
was it his mother that she was to
meet in a short time, the mother of
whom he had spoken so often in those
brief blissful days of wooing, when
she had not realized it was love that
was at last creating a new world for
her? His sudden disappearance the
day after his declaration of love was
a horrible mystery to her. She shud-
dered now whenever she thought Of
the days and nights of agony that fol-
lowed. She had herself we'll in hand
now, she told herself rather triumph
antly. She could treat him as dis
family and coldly as a stranger, as his
conduct deserved. Nevertheless she
wondered what had made the lines of
suffering about his lips. They had not
been there before.
Suddenly he spoke, and his voice
smote the heavy silence like a deep
toned bell:
"We sha'n't get home till just after
sunset"
eyes," she returned in a strained
voice.
II suppose suppose Sir Robert will
be anxious about your absence. If you
like, I can drive over to the telegraph
Office at Piedmont and send a message
for you" His calm, even tones did
not falter as be thus acknowledged
their former acquaintance.
Agatha, whose eyes had been fixed
On the sun dropping behind a bank OF
blue black clouds, turned toward him
and spoke with genuine surprise.
"Sir Roberto" she repeated haugh.
tily.
81 understood your aunt. Mrs. Nor
gan Waite, to say that-that-you were
to marry the Englishman," said Fen
ton slowly. perhaps 1 am premature
in assuming that it has already hap
pened."
you are premature indeed" Aga
tha's voice shook with realization Of
what had happened to blight her 70
nance. 81 have never entertained the
idea Of marrying Sir Robert-or any
one" She looked away with quiverinc
lips. The u had set now and tht
prairie was dimming with an early
twilight. Away in the distance twin
killed. the lights Of a ranchhouse. They
neared it rapidly as the man sank int
silence.
At last he spoke again. this i'm
sternly.
"Then your aunt-lied to me?" Ii,
asked.
!, "Yes." returned Agatha, with stiff
lips.
"And I-you-Agatha; what have 70,
thought of. me to leave you withou
explanations"
what could 1 think?" pleaded Aga
tho onnccin,1c tho+ I,ic, hor1 1,oo nv,