The Red Cloud chief., 1914-02-12

1
tie down. will with the right woman
to help me. We are almost in Clay.
Vile. what's to hinder license. a
wedding-and California together?'
He was leaning close. and his eager,
dominant face both attracted and re.
PEELED her She shrank back In th'
seat
'Why--everythinss to hinder -wil
my engagement"
II know, I know I shall be counted q
cad for stealing another mans sweet.
heart; but It's for all our lives long
Lois-for all our lives long. And
after all, happiness IL what we're
seeking"
On and on he talked in this strain
earnestly and we'll. Through 1t all
Lois tried to hold fast to her Heaton
instincts, but she felt old moorings
slipping from her. lost in tho tide OF
her rising emotions.
When they arrived in Clayville she
had not consented in actual words
but her eyes had given tacit consent
There was Joy and triumph in his face
as he sprang out of the sleigh in front
Of the bank
Shall l tie the horses or will you
hold the reins?" he asked.
'T'll hold them"
Il won't be gone longer than tel
minutes-then the courthouse-and
the minister's"
She laughed reprovingly, but her
glance fell beneath his compelling
eyes.
At that moment little mongrel dog
ran out and began to bark in way
that threatened to annoy the horses.
Wendell. still holding the reins in one
hand. took the whip from the sleigh
socket, and gave the dog several cut
ting lashes that sent 1t whining and
covering away
"Oh. don't" pleaded Lois. at the
look Of terror in its eyes.
"Tll teach It not to bark at teams"
he retorted CURLY. Then in a changed
tone, drawing the robes around her.
I'll be back in a very few minutes"
Left alone, Lois faced the reality OF
what she was about to do. Should
she leave the safe conventionality OF
the old life for the. unknown allure.
ment Of the new? She realized she
could love Wendell with a more 70,
mantle love than she had ever felt for
Will Ellis; but on the other hand she
could also feel greater anger and great
er jealousy toward him. He seemed
to have the power Of rousing all the
turbulent emotions in her nature.
And as he said-it's for life." she
shiveringly reminded herself. and
above the glamour Of his personality
she seemed to see again the look Of
abject terror in the little dogs eyes as
he had whipped 1t. This cruelty In
his nature BODIED Ill for her happiness.
II can't go on" she declared with a
revulsion Of feeling. without any
formulated plan except to get back
home as soon as possible she sprang
out Of the sleigh, and with trembling
haste lest Wendell should return be-
fore she got away. tied the horses to
the rack and scurried down the snowy
street.
The south.bound ive o'clock inter.
urban train was soon due and she re-
solved to catch that. She had no
money with her. so she decided to
stop in the grocery store at which
they we're in the habit Of trading and
borrow some from kind old Mr.. Dan.
by, who was lifelong friend of the
family. As she was going in the door
her name was called. CHANGING around
In startled fear she saw Will Ellis.
the last person on earth she wished
to see just then. sitting in sleigh in
front Of the store.
I'm on my way back to Endicott.
will you come with me-or were you
going with the other man." The
sarcasm in his tone told her that in
some way he had heard of her ride
to Clayville with Harry Wendell.
lam going home on the car" she
flashed.
He alighted from the sleigh, and
drew back the robes. Get in." he said
peremptorily.
Lois. surprised into docility by his
unexpected firmness. obeyed. Ellis
touched the horse with the whip. and
they we're carried swiftly away to
the tune Of jingling sleigh bells.
Neither spoke until the town lay far
behind them. then he turned:
Have you anything to say. LoisT'
Merely that I'm not going to mar
ry you-or Harry Wendell either"
You're hard to please" His lips
curved In a hooking smile. We're
the two extremes for you to choose
from"
She gave q hysterical little laugh.
That's tiff you'd been more like
Harry. or he like you, l could really
love either or-but you're the two ex-
tremes In temperament" Then she
added In resentment you never
really tried to win me VIII. You had
every chance In the world but you
took everything so stupidity for grant