The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-10-31
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

Beth Cushman was riding home by
way Of the long trail. 1t was q yield
Ing to sentiment that Beth herself de.
spised, but she could not help It when
che came to the crossroads.
The long trail had been her favorite
ride with Miles Hill. but that hand.
some c~owpuncher had ceased to call
up0n Miss Cushman.
From the trail she could look down
into q little canyon through the middle
Of which rushed q frolicsome stream.
On the bank Of tho stream there stood
q horse and rider. q girl on . cream
colored pony.
Beth drew a jealous breath. for she
could see that the girl was lovely In
q blond. golden hatred. pink and white
way.
As she gazed down there, the white
pony Tipped the stream and. out from
the rocks of the canyon. there dashed
Q horse and rider. 1t was Miles Hill,
riding black Poncho. Beth caught her
breath as the man rode rapidly to-
ward the girl. bent swiftly to kiss her
and. with his arm around her slender
waist, the two forded the stream and
rode rapidly up the canyon and disap-
peared from view.
Entirely heartsick, but with a brave
smile on her lips. Beth sat down to
supper that night.
unn vnn1o n ,unroc0 fonif01rn man
ate silently and swiftly. and rising.
went away on some official errand. for
he was sheriff of the county.
Mrs, Colt and her two daughters
breathed a little easier after his de-
parture and began to talk to the two
cowboys who ate with the family.
"Pa hasn't said anything, but l
reckon he's off on that Tfnkerman
case.'' observed Mrs. Colt
II reckon he is" returned Link Pat
erson. buttering another biscuit.
''Some one said Miles Hill had dis
appeared from the range" went on
Mrs. Colt. with a side glance at her
niece.
Jameson limited that Miles was
mixed up in the Tinkerman raid" put
in Louise Colt eagerly.
Jameson better try again. There
ain't a squarer fellow nowhere than
Miles HILL" muttered Link.
"Where is Miles. then?" demanded
Cora.
Miles? Why. | can't say exactly,
It's sort of q secret. You know. ma'am."
Link grew very red and looked at
Beth's pathetic face.
Beth lifted her head haughtly. Her
Y e flashed splendidly.
Il don't know why his whereabouts
should be a secret" she said nervily.
II saw him today"
"Oh, you did," queried Link, reliev-
ed, and Sammy Smith asked quickly:
II reckon it 'twap't far from Little
canyon. Miss Beth"
1T was right there. He was riding
with a girl. a very pretty girl" said
Beth bravely.
There was nothing more said con
corning Miles Hill. and after supper
Beth went to her room and rested her
e head on the sill. letting the cool.
sweet air caress her flushed cheeks and
dry the tears on her lashes.
Link and Sammy rode away. and
from the overcrowded bunk house
came talk and laughter and song ms
the cowboys prepared themselves for
some merrymaking in the town. five
miles distant.
Aftoe they. too. had clattered away
and Sam Soy had ceased to rattle
dishes in the kitchen silence fell on
the ranch house and its inhabitants.
From the veranda below Beth caught
the drift Of voices now and then
through the confusion Of other sounds
but after 1t grew very still the voices
came up sharply penetrating.
ri think your pa was too severe with
Miles Hill.' said Mrs. Colt. He sure
was plumb set after Beth. and Il
showed he was honorable to speak Il
Henry about 1t hrst."
miles isn't poorer than any othel
cowpuncher. around here. and plenty
q them marry and settle down.
agreed Cora. who was fond Of her lit
To cousin.
II heard him tell pa that II he'd naml
- sum be thought he ought to have
befors be asked Beth to marry him b.
nid no would have t." put in Louise
How much did p tell Miles b
nuGt raiser" asked Cora.
give hundred dollars" iauyhe(
Louiea. Il heard poor Niles tslhnl
Tim Il would take him q whole yeal
r. - that ont Of his pay and then ~
e3otheS would ~ % shabby Dsta
wouldn't look 1t him by that dms!'
what did pa say to thatr'
''He Just laughed. and Nm Miles %
angxy and said he'd show him . thou
0nd dollars before he'd ask him. IN
- went or In . rage. and ] haven,
eo1n him since"
ssDetA. poor child. sid she saw hin
With another GIRL. worried kind Mn
Cit
'sIEss ! shamsv' cried Louise. ri
1T scold Pa Colt when ! Ut hold .
n1nl 10 II ] don't
Doth withdrew from the win0ow IN