Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-03-28


white face TO his friends.
1T isn't on the calerha-n he
said in a shocked voice. &c isn't on
TINS calendar-has anybody got an
other one?'
II isn't on any calendar, you ga
Ioot' 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!"
Crangie 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.
1 guess it was mistake-she was
playing a joke on me-" he said thick
ly and was gone. After few moments
OF tense silence they heard the clatter
OF the hoofs of the gray horse.
Il wouldn't believe it of 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 still laundering after that
fellow from down Tucson way?" whis-
pered Latin
Dentman, you mean?"
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 chivalrously. Some
how, I'm sorry she took it into her
head to treat Peter that way"
Tisn't like her to do it-not if she
knew it 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 I'M
expectedly Peter Barton's eyes were
turned steadily away. while he barred
his head before the girl who had nout-
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 and the
somberness Of his gray eyes, she grew
a little fearful of what she had done.
After awhile she found herself think
ing often of the stern-faced cowboy
who avoided her whenever possible.
After awhile her remorseful thoughts
OF Peter Barton quite crowded out her
fleeing 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
have 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 a becoming rid
ing dress Of linen that matched her
eyes, and without a hat on her sunny
head, she mounted the cream-colored
pony and was away
That was how it 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 usefulness in her
own when he suddenly looked up and
saw her. Then the sound died on his
lips and his face stiffened like a
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 disengaged her fingers.
"You needn't worry yourself about me.
Miss Man, he said kindly. I'm all
right, although ought to be larruped
good for going around with a long
face" He smiled cheerfully, but
Nancy Gage was not to be consoled
in that way. With a little cry she
dropped her head on the pony's neck
and sobbed bitterly.
Peter Barton was frightened. Miss
Nan, what is ito" he stammered ex-
citedly IF it's that Dentman chap
Tll-Ill have him"
IT'S yourself, Peter Barton-I don't
want anyone but you and never did,
sobbed Nancy. What said to you be-
fore was spoken when l was feeling
unhappy and what say today mean
every-word-I do"
Peter slipped from his horse and
came to her side. Miss Nan-Nan,"
he whispered fearfully. do you really
mean it-that you want me-that
you'll marry me?"