The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-11-19

them things at Billy"
Silas glared at his wife for a mo-
ment, then slowly and silently re-
sumed his seat at the table. Ross
glanced owe at the daughter and saw
her sitting with her eyes cast down
and her face red with shame.
For a little while the meal proceed
ed quietly, but at last old Silas' pent-
up feelings got the better of him, and,
turning on his wife resentfully, he
said:
"You must think a dadgum sight O.
that dadburn fool, you so blame 'fraid
I'd hit him. What you want to shield
him fer, I'd like to know?"
II hain't wantin' to shield him.
Mrs. Bone replied. Lord, hain't both
erin nothin' bout what comes Of Billy
Slye!"
Then what you put in that erway
fer?"
lease hits them tumblers I'm
a-lookin' out fer. You reckon I'm
a-gwine to set yere an see my dishes
all broke up!"
Silas resumed his eating, but pres
emily he stopped long enough to mum
BILE:
"Dadgum me If I'm goin' to have that
onery scamp turnin' the COWS in my
corn an then comm we're a-pickin' an
a-naggin' at me bout it like that! I've
stood it jest bout as long as l kin, an
the first thing he knows I'm a-goin' to
take him by the hair O. the head an
swipe the whole face O the earth off
with him. I am, sho'."
A long silence followed this remark,
during which the two young people at
the table exchanged more than one
glance. Ross noticed that each time
his eyes met hers the daughter blushed
and looked down, while at the same
time the blood %quickened In his veins
and a new and strange sensation thrill
ed his heart.
When supper was over old silas
pushed back from the table, took a
chew Of tobacco and sat for some time
apparently in deep thought. Ross
watched him closely, trying to read in
his co%untenance the trend of his mind,
but finally he gave it up, for the old
mans face betrayed nothing. Billy
ventured back and resumed his seat on
the doorstep.
Several minutes passed, then Silas
broke the pause. Turning to his daugh-
ter he said, "Whar's George?"
For an instant the daughters face
darkened, but 1t was only for an in
stant-the mere passing of a shadow.
Il don't know" she replied. HE was
not at home when l left, but he may
be there now"
Il guess more'n likely he is. l reck-
on you amt amin to go back home to-
night"
mo. Why?
II lowed I'd best send word to
George bout Mr.. Ross, an 1 thought IL
you was f1ggerin' on goin' home you
could tell him. But seems you amt
goin' I can't see Jest how to man
age it."
During this conversation Ross look
ed eagerly from n speaker to the 9TH
er. Their. words had a deep interest
for him, not alone because they related
to him, but also because they related
to her. They implied plainly that she
was married.
That. Of course, was non of his af-
fair. She was a stranger to him, and
naturally 1t could not matter to him
whether she was married or single
that is, ordinarily such would have
been the case. But in this instance II
was different.
He resented the thought of her being
another's man wife," He felt assured
that George was he. husband, and he
hated him. He felt that George had
no right to possess her. Why he felt
this way he could not tell. He only
knew that such were his feelings.
James Ross had seen many ONE
in his time, and many Of them had
been beautiful and noble, and he had
admired them. But none Of them had
ever affected him as this one did.
From the moment his eyes first rested
on her he felt that he knew her and
had known her always. It seemed,
u NAISly l4Ol AS AL1l ii Slullu Ou Her
and that in some way she belonged to
him. He could not tell why these
things were so, but he knew they
were so.
In short, on his part it was a case of
love at first sight. Blind, unreasonine
love, 1t Is true, but most love is Of that
kind.
Billy. from his position on the door
step, had been all this time looking
lovingly at the table. hoping, no doubt,
that even vet he might receive an in
vitation to partake OF food, an album
dance of which remained over from
supper. But. though he had waited pa
tiently and though he had sighed time
and again to attract attention to him.
self in his supperless condition, no II
took notice of him, and the much de-
sired invitation did not come.
At last, having given up all hope Of
getting any supper and feeling the old