The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-01-16

had come back with this boy? No. no.
1t was charming to encounter this
charming and original child. but his
grandmother: The old lady in the
stiff brocade with the reticule full Of
ypectacles and knitting needles and
lozenges; no.
Then. as he decided to cross the
park quite to the west side and take
a car down as fur rs Vesey street.
Peter Van Zandt. as he went. ,Alw a
figure In brown sitting Oh a:pench
near the wooden paling ut the north
end. A lady in a russell gown and
boots. a large mink cape with cuffs
and small nun to match: on her brown
hair a cap Of the same fur, brown
gloves too. She rose. he saw that her
figure was slim and graceful: she
turned her face his way. although she
could not see him for the tree that had
prevented little Peter from seeing her.
1t vas his wife. Betty Van Zandt.
Betty as of old. Respondent in the rich
bursting bloom Of her cheeks and lips,
the s%Oftness and dazzle of her blue
eyes. the curve of her chin, the slope
of her shoulders. the long supple line
of her. from throat to heel. Peter
stood perfectly still for a second. then
started toward her. then shrank away.
Betty had left him. Could he intrude
or force himself upon her? Take ad-
vantage of the open freedom of the
streets to address or approach her?
By no means M ..M
He stood afar watching her as she
apparently watched or waited for
some n else. For whom? Suddenly
with startling accuracy Van Zandt re-
called Ashleigh. Pshaw! Ashleigh was
safely married. Some one else, then.
for whom Betty watched. with whom
she was going to walk and talk. The
keen steel Of Jealousy struck to his
heart. She was though. after all of 1t.
his wife. And his eyes flashed as the
little boys had flashed when his grand
mother had cautioned him as to
strangers.
Betty was beautiful. more radiant.
vibrant with life and vividness than
ever The lines. If there were any in
her face. were the little lines Of laugh
ter, and her glorious eyes looked forth
into the world with all the glad e
pectancy Of youth. Could a man ex-
pect a woman like that not to be loved.
not to love-? Absurd! She was made
for love. He turned on his heel and
left the park. A hand organ was dron-
ing out when This Cruel War Is
Over" at the corner, and all the bal
lads stuck between the palings. tlnt-
tered in the breeze. He paused there
and looked at them vacantly. Annie
Laurie" ben Bolt" and the rest.
Then he glanced back to his own
house. He saw smoke coming from
the chimneys. He saw the pigeons
wheeling above the stable in the rear
Of the garden. The stable? To be
sure, the stalls were empty. Poppet
and Peacock. the roans that had fetch
ed Betty and him back from Grace
church to the st. Nicholas on their
wedding day. had years since been.
sent to a farm OF Long Island.
Peter Van Zandt. keeping himself
well In hand. keeping his face averted
from her. made another turn. went
back to Broadway and walked all the
way down to Tattersall's.
A few days after that the little boy
came rushing. tumbling in from the
garden up to Betty's room.
"Grandmamma. grandmamma! There
are horses in the %stable-two speckled.
and a coachman. and they are in the
stalls and their names are Poppet and
Peacock. just az the names of the old
horses you have tell me about"
Betty looked up from her crochet
work. "Pierre!r she exclaimed. "You
must be mistaken"
"But. no. grandmamma. I am not.
And they are your horses. The groom
told me so. and it is the surprise you
make for me ia it?'
mo. 10. nor!' Betty cried out impetu-
ously. mo. dear. It is only that the
owner Of the stable has probably rent
ed It to rome one to whom these new
horses belong"
"Grandmamma" the little boy spoke
with some lmpatience-"I tell you the
groom a = they are your new horses.
And. there: hear prancing on the
snow A'orp the house,! He darted to
the w..,dow. '.See:" Rushing back TO
drag his grandmother with him.
LOOK! There they are! Look. :ook!'
II see" She saw the coupe put into
thorough order. its white Innings Ne
pewed and = pair OF strawberry roans
champing their bits and gayly dancing
in the snow before the door.
sMagnihcent!:' cried,the child. "YonEs.
grandmamma! Perhaps Santa Claus
sends them early because he will be 20
busy with 70 many chimneys:"
Betty shook her head and drew away.
sis It that we will 60 out in It now?"
The child pressed her eagerly. II am
sure the coachman expects 1t. for DO
put the warm soapstones in for your
feet. Yes?"
"No. dear. It is a mistake
She went hack to her chair and her
woodwork.
Yes. that was TIA mistake. Did Pc.