Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-05
The Daily Story
MARTHENAs DUTY-BY CLARIssA MACKIE.
-iahte ed by, As.ociated Literary


Bitter Tree valley with glimpse Of
the shining river Mt the bottom and the
everlasting hills beyond.
Henry made her go straight to bed.
and he carried her supper to her I'm
the little room that he had furnishes
for her with all of a mans clumsy
tenderness
Larry Barnes went to Choco with
me. and we picked out the stuff. Larry
said be remembered that blue was
your favorite color. so we got every.
thing blue and white. Larry chose
the pictures. He said the one OF
St Cecilia there looked like you
Great fellow, Larry! Now. you close
your eyes and go to sleep. Get I'M
when you like and order what you
want for breakfast from Lee Sing.
Good night"
With Henry's kiss on her brow
Marthena went to sleep with a little
smile OH her lips and awoke to the
glory of perfect morning.
After she had leisurely dressed she
went down to the veranda. where Lee
Sing. with many polite gestures. in.
vited ner TO breakfast While she SAT
there she heard the mad clatter Of
hoofs and saw horse gallopine
around the yard. From the distan.
corral came a shout as one, two, three.
more horses leaped the gate and fol.
lowed the first unta med animal. Three
cowboys mounted on horses pursued
the runawsys, with lusty shouts and
lariats held ready for action.
Marthena wondered vaguely If Larry
Barnes was one of these cowboys who
rode SO fearlessly and so gracefully.
She went to the edge of the veranda
and waved her table napkin at the vi,
cious black horse that paved the steps,
and he scattered away to fall a victim
to the Iariat of the most graceful rider
of them ell, bareheaded giant with
hlue-black hair and a skin bronzed
like an Indians.
Then Marthena, when it was all over
and the horses bad been driven back
into the corral, realized that she had
displayed unwonted enthusiasm. She
had not only waved her napkin fran
tically at the victorious riders. but she
had cheered them on to greater eff.
forts. so that she went back to her
seat with scarlet cheeks and shamed
eyes.
A step sounded behind her and she
looked up to see the graceful. brown
checked rider who had flashed white
teeth at her as he captured the black
horse.
There was strange familiarity
about him that puzzled her.
Don't remember me. Marthena?" be
asked. holding out big hand.
.'Oh. Larry-Larry Barnes." cried
Marthena. what have you done TO
yourself? l didn't recognize you"
al hope the change is for the better"
said Larry GraveIy.
ut is. oh. it isr' cried Marthena.
with such evident admiration in her
tone that both of them suddenly laugh
ed outright in the pure joy OF youth
and perhaps in the discovery of some
thing that both of them had lost
"Henry's gone to Chico" said Larry.
sitting down on the railing of the
veranda. land he has delegated me to
give you your first riding lesson.
Cherry is the prettiest little pony you
ever saw. Marthena. and Henry and
picked out the saddle the other day.
and
Thank you for helping Henry
choose the things for my room" said
Marthena gratefully And she won
dered why Larry blushed so furiously
and changed the subject. She felt very
kindly toward him.
We'll, Sis said Henry that night at
supper. you look as rosy as can be.
How do you like the sagebrush!
Its heavenly" cried Marthana so
heartily that Henry laughed aloud, and
Larry. who had been invited to supper
blushed deeply.
"Then you don't want to go back 10
teased Henry.
Never" exclaimed Marthena- IN
tell you when | do. Henry"
"TIl wager that will be never sald
Henry. but he said it to himself so tnat
no one could hear. He had read tue
signs of reawakened interest In the
betraying eyes Of his sister and Larry
Barnes. and he was very glad. Larry
was a capital fellow. and Aunt Hep
sey's letter about Lionel Forbes nad
been disquieting.
Three months afterward Marthena
and Larry came in from long rae
with the glory of perfect happiness
In their faces. Henry. staho-
ing on the veranda smoking his plpS
smiled tenderIy as they came up the
steps.
BLESSINGS. my children he sau
heartily, for he had read that day III
paper from Sharon that Lionel Foroe
had married a girl from the cit!' anu
ne knew that Marthena would recee
the news with indifference.
Marthena. standing in her little oeo
room that night amid all the pretly
blue and white furniture chosen "
he two men who loved her devoteu,.
smiled through her tears as sne hhe"
Town TO say her prayers.
ITS wonderful" she murmureu
It's marvellous how the path OF o"''
M de one to love and happiness