Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-11-13
Yes. sir; 1 am" Hei
most decided.

went on "But you were tolerably
sure about that other fellow-that
rancher with the fancy name-weren't
your She flushed at this, but waited
for him to go on. "Dont you think 1t
possible. that your fancy for Wayland
is also temporary
mo. sir~ she bravely declared. II
never felt toward any one the way l
do toward Wayland. He's different. 1
shall never change toward him."
Her tone. her expression Of eyes stop
ped this line of inquiry. He took up
another NOW. my dear young lady,
am business man as well as a IA
ther, and the marriage of my son Is a
welghty, matter. He is my main de-
pendence. l am hoping to have him
take up and carry on my business. To
be quite candid, didn't expect him
to select his wife from Colorado
ranch. considered him out of the
danger zone. | have always under
stood that women were scarce In the
mountains. Now don't misunderstood
me. I'm not one of those fools who
are always trying to marry their sons
and daughters into the ranks OF the
idle rich. l don't care hang about
social position, and I've got money
enough for my son and my sons wife.
But he's all the boy 1 have, and don't
want him to make a mistake"
"Neither do l." she answered simply,
her eyes suffused with tears. IF
thought he would be sorry
He interrupted again. "Oh, you can't
tell that now! Any marriage is a risk.
I don't say he's making a mistake in
selecting you. You may be just the
woman he needs. Only l want to be
consulted. want to know more about
you. He tells me you have taken an
active part in the management Of the
ranch and the forest. Is that1truef"
"rve always worked with my IA
ther-yes, sir"
"You like that kind Of life?"
II don't know much about any other
kind. Yes, I like It, But I've had
enough Of 1t. I'm willing to change"
"Well, how about city life-house-
keeping and all thatG"
$50 long as l am with Wayland |
| shan't mind what do or where /
live"
"At the same time you figure he's
| going to have large income, sup
! poser He's told you Of his rich father,
hasn't hep ."- +f.'
Berries tone was a shade resentful
l of his insinuatlonS "He has never said
much about bis family one way or an
other. He only said you wanted him
/ to go into business In Chicago and
4 that he wanted to do something else.
OF course could see by his ways and
| the clothes he wore that he'd been
brought up In what we'd call luxury,
but we never inquired into his affairs" /"
"And you didn't carer
"Well, not that exactly. But money
don't count for as much with us In
the valley as 1t does In the east. Way
land seemed so kind of sick and lone
some and felt sorry for him the first
time saw him. felt like mothering
him. And then his. way of taxing, OF
looking at things, was SO new and
beautiful to me / couldn't help caring
for him. had never met any one like
him. / thought he was a Hunger -
"A what2'
"a consumptiye. That is, did al
FIRST. And 1t bothered me. 1t seemed
terrible that any one so fine should
be condemned like that, and so did
| all could to help him, to make him
happy. / thought he hadn't long to
4 live. Everything he said and did was
wonderful to me, like poetry and mu-
sic. And then when he began to grow
stronger and | saw that he was going
10 get well, and Cliff went on the
rampage and showed the yellow streak
and gave him back his ring-I didn't
know even then how much Wayland
meant to me. But on our trip over the
range | understood. He meant every.
thing to me. He made Cliff seem like
savage, and l wanted him to know
1t, I'm not ashamed of loving him.
want to make him happy, and IL he
wishes me to be his wife III go any
where he says-only i think he should
stay out here till he gets entirely well. "
The old mans eyes softened during
her plea, and at its close slight smile
moved the corners Of his mouth.
you've thought 1t all out, | see, Your
mind Is clear and your conscience easy.
Well, l like your spirit, guess he's
right The decision Is up to you. But
if he takes you and stays In Colorado
he can't expect me to share the profits
Of my business with him, can hel
He'll have to make his own way" He
rose and held out his hand. However,
I'm persuaded he's In good hands,"
She took his hand, not knowing just
what to reply. He examined her FIN
gers with intent gaze.
II didn't know any woman could
have such grip" He thoughtfully
took her biceps In his left hand. "You
are magnificent" Then in ironical pro
test he added; Good God, mol cant
have you come into my family. YOU'D
make caricatures OF my wife ant
daughters. Are all the girls out In the
valley like your
| She laughed "No, Most Of then