Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-09-10

east?"
"No-born and raised on the Big
Four ranch-next door neighbor to
Hunneford's."
Next door neighbour"
"Ten miles away-that's not far for
Wyoming" he laughed. Nov We are
coming to Hunneford's place-we turn
off here there's the gate ahead and
you can see the chimneys. The house
cottonwoods. He pointed here and
there with his whip and Helen was so
interested in the strange sights that
she quite forgot Jimmy Hunneford' s
desertion. Indeed there was warm
place in her heart for Mort Rivers for
he had somehow made her forget her
disappointment and first impressions
are often lasting
Mrs. Hunneford came running from
the house to meet them. She gathered
Helen in her motherly arms and kissed
her again and again. Then she called
over the girls shoulder: THANK you
so much, Mort, you'll stay to supper
with us, of course"
Sorry, Mrs. Hunneford but | can't
tonight Thank you just the same" he
said, turning over the blacks to cow
puncher while another sunbrowned
man carried the trunk and bags into
the house. 'Ill come over tomorrow.
I hope you will have a good nights
rest, Miss Dare-this Wyoming air is
great" He smiled and waved his hat
as he mounted his own saddle horse
picketed among the trees and rode
down the trail.
Isn't he perfectly Splendid asked
Mrs Hunneford as she looked after
the young man. Il am as fond OF
most" she added laughing, Come in,
dearie, and let me tell you about Jim.
] suppose you wondered why he didn't
meet your"
ooh, / supposed that there was an
excellent reason" said Helen as she
removed her hat in the pleasant sit
ting-room. mir. Rivers was very nice
indeed"
I'm glad you liked him." said Mrs.
Hunneford slowly. well, jim may
as well confess it, Helen, the scamp
forgot all about it and went over to
Blackwells grove with big picnic
party! He won't be home till evening
unless he happens to remember it be-
fore then-then he will come tearing
home"
Hes the same old jim smiled
Helen but her heart felt very full at
that moment She did not feel in
the mood to be forgotten and she told
herself that Mort Rivers would not
have forgotten an appointment like
that to go to an ordinary picnic.
Her woman's instinct told her that
there must be strong attraction
there at the picnic to make Jim for
get-and of course it was girl. jim
my had a weakness for girls.
1t was as Mrs. Hunneford had said;
Jimmy remembered too late-but he
came flying in at nine o'clock, hand
some and penitent and Helen gave
him a pleasant sisterly greeting.
Gracious, Helen, you're the same
as ever-you1l have the boys by the
ears-it sure will be treat to them
to see peaches and cream after dose
of er-er-" he hesitated for smile.
Instead of carrots" chuckled Mrs.
Hunneford to his evident dismay.
''Helen we've had perfect invasion
of homely schoolteachers and the last
three have had red hair"
Jimmy turned very red: Il say,
mother" he protested, now Flo
Downs has auburn hair-tisn't bit
carroty!"
81 want you to meet Flora Downs,
Helen" said Mrs. Hunneford serenely;
''she is the most charming girl
know you will like her"
81 am sure to-" agreed Helen. but
her heart was beating a protest
against the desertion of Jimmy Hume
ford. She thought she loved him
well, perhaps she could tell better in
the morning but it did not take any
foresight to observe that Jimmy had
gone over and nailed his colors to the
mast of Flora Downs. HE will never
know that / care" thought Helen
fiercely.
And Jimmy never did know.
The days that followed were very
different from what Helen had
planned Instead of long rides over
the prairie with Jimmy, there were
rides with Mort Rivers: instead of
going to the social functions with jim
my. she went with Mort Rivers; jim
my was ever by the side of Flora
Downs until that tickle young woman
suddenly babe farewell to everybody
and went east to marry young man
who worked in a bank and who had
been waiting for her.
Those were bad days for Jimmy
Hunnefordl Helen was kind to him
and there came day when the mem
ory of Flora Downs seemed like a
foolish dream and then he realized
that his love for Helen had never wav-
cred after all.
Alas for poor Jimmy, it was too
late. Helen had learned the true