The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-03-20
CHAPTER II.

shaded gallery, where Jean Chaplin
was writing letters, while the discon-
ISOLATE Fresno, banished, wandered at
large, vaguely injured at her lack Of
appreciation.
Absent-mindedly, the girls dipped
into the box of bonbons between them.
Jean finished her correspondence and
essayed conversation, but her compan-
ions blond head was bowed over the
book in her lap, and the effort met
with no response. Lulled by the SOM
niferous droning of insects and lazy
echoes from afar, Miss Chaplin was
on the verge of slumber, when she
saw her guest rapidly turn the last
pages of her novel, then, with a choco-
late between her teeth, read wide
eyed to the finish. Miss Blake closed
the book reluctantly, uncurled slowly,
then stared out through the dancing
heat-waves, her blue eyes Swallowed
with romance.
did she marry him." queried Jean.
mo, no." Helen Blake sighed, bliss
fully. at was infinitely finer. She
killed herself
II like to see them get married"
: Naturally. You are at that stage
But l think suicide is more glorious,
in many cases."
Miss Chaplin yawned openly. Speak
Ing of suicides, isn't this ranch the
deadest placer"
ooh, don't think so at ALL
ooh yes, you do, and you needn't be
polite just because you're a guest"
Well, then, to be as truthful as a
boarder, it is little dull. Not for
our chaperon, though. The time
doesn't seem to drag on her hands.
Jack certainly is making it pleasant
for her.
"If you call taking her out to watch
a lot of believing calves get branded
entertainment" Miss Chaplin sighed.
Miss Blake leaned forward and read
the inscription on her companions
medal. ooh, isn't it heavy!" feeling
it reverently.
Pure gold, like himself! You
should have seen him when he won it
VIZ, at the finish of that race all the
r;an but Culver were making the
most horrible faces. They were sim
ply dead"
Miss Blake's hands were clasped .ir
her lap. They all make faces" saiG
she. Have you told Roberta about
your engagement"
NO, she doesn't dream of it, and
don't want her to know. I'm SO afraid
she'll think, now that mother has
gone, that l asked her here just al
a chaperon. Perhaps I'll tell her wher
Culver comes"
II have heard Culver speak Of him
but never as an athlete. Have yor
and Mr.. Speed settled things between
you. Helen? mean, has he-said any
thing?"
Miss Blake flushed.
mot exactly" She adjusted
cushion to cover her confusion, ther
leaned back complacently. "But he
has suffered dangerously several
times"
A musical tinkle of silver spurs
sounded in the distance, and around
the corner of the cook-house opposite
came Carara, the Mexican, his wide,
spangled sombrero tipped rakishly
over one ear, corn-husk cigarette
dropping from his lips.
tits that romantic Spaniard!" whis.
pered Helen. "What does he want?"
tits his afternoon call on Marie
delta, the maid" said Jean. "They
meet there twice a day, morning and
afternoon"
"a lovers tryst!" breathed Miss
Blake, eagerly. isn't he graceful and
picturesque! Can we watch them?"
"'Sh-h! There she comes!"
From the opposite direction ap-
peared a slim, swarthy Mexican girl,
an Indian Watering balanced upon her
shoulders. She was clad in the
straight-hanging native garment, belt
ed in with sash; her feet were in
sandals, and she moved as silently as
q shadow.
During the four days since Miss
Blake's arrival at the lying Heart
Ranch she had seen Mariedetta fit
ting noiselessly here and there, but
had never heard her speak. The pref
ty, expressionless face beneath the
straight black hair had ever retained