The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-09-05

81 trust you will always feel free to
come whenever you like,P 4 Louise,
ignoring his supposition.
That's mighty kind and neighborly
in you" agreed Kennen as he rose to
depart. "And that reminds me, Lou,
I've rented the cottage to a woman
from Anderly who wishes to get out In
the country for the summer-Mrs.
Carlton her name is. l hope you'll
like her She seems a pleasant
spoken person"
Louise shiyered little-the spring
night had turned suddenly chilly, and
she went in and closed the door.
Not once during the weeks that fol
lowed did she receive a call from her
one-time lover. To be sure, he shout
ed friendly greetings across the road
or waved as he scurried past in his
runabout, and Louise began wonder
ing how long 1t would take time to
effect that patch about which she had
so often fretted. She was setting
plants in the vegetable garden the
morning he met the new renter at the
station.
Louise had never done the trans
planting alone before, and had never
realized how tedious the task might
be. In fact, when she came to think
about it, John had always helped with
all the undertakings that had made
her place model of attractiveness.
But am glad he does not come" she
assured herself repeatedly; 1T is not
right to receive so much from him
when I means to give nothing in re-
turn"
AS the summer passed time did not
appear to hang heavy upon the cap
able hands Of John Kennen, for he
was bestowing all those attentions at
the little cottage across the road that
he had once lavished upon the unap-
preciative- Miss Atwood While Louise
laboriously repaired her broken trel-
lis, John was fashioning fine new
model for Mrs. Cartons roses, Long
after neat rows of transplanted vege-
tables were putting out new roots In
the cottage garden, Louise shed actual
tears Of vexation and weariness over
the seemingly endless task of finish
ing her own
Louise knew that the neighbors
were noticing They think I've been
Tilted, and cannot tell them the
truth about It," she said grimly to
that inner self to whom lonely people
commune, "Well, haven't your" re-
torted that impertinent other SELF "If
| I ha To- oh
have to endure It," she said aloud. II
expect this. is good for that pride and
independence of which people are al
ways complainingl"
whoever dreamed of John Kennen
acting in this way" people seemed to
delight in telling her. 1--WE never sup
posed an idea. of marrying ever enter
ed his head. he has always been SO
quiet-never hunning round with the
girls like most boys"
We'll, he is certainly making up for
lost opportunities" smiled Louise as
the little runabout whizzed past with
the new neighbor in the >place she
once occupied by right of first choice.
Louise chanced to be on the front
veranda where that extra rocker al
ways flaunted its emptiness at her the
afternoon they brought home the run
about slowly, with limp figure crum-
pied up on the seat.
Somehow she forced herself to re.
main behind the blinds while they car
ried him in, and while the doctor ar
rived hurriedly and Mrs. Carlton bus
tied about. Somehow she forced her
self to listen to neighbors who end
lessly repeated how he had unhesi-
tatingly run his machine into a
treacherous ditch to save child that
had started heedlessly to run across
the road in front
No, he was not hurt seriously unless
other symptoms developed. the doctor
assured every one. He needed good
care more than anything else at pres
ent, and he was likely to get that.
When they had all gone she sat on
In the welcome darkness behind the
vines watching the lighted windows
across the road She was not con.
scious OF Mrs. Cartons approach un-
til she was very near. ''Will you come
over, Miss Atwood?" she requested.
"Mr. Kennen has asked to see you"
1t seemed to Louise that she could