The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-08-05

| JVu Sul yOul udlI again.
But. just before they drew up at the
house of old Spic er South, she said
i might as well make clean breast
OF 1t, Samson, and give my vanity the
punishment it deserves. You had me
in deep doubt"
About what?"
"About-well about US. wasn't
quite sure that l wanted Sally to have
you-that l didn't need you myself.
I've been shameful little cat to Will
fred"
But now-?' The Kentuckian broke
off.
Now, l know that my friendship
for you and my love for him have both
had their acid test-and l am happier
than I've ever be en- before. I'm glad
we've been through it. There are no
doubts ahead I've got you both"
About him." said Samson, thought!
fully. May l tell you something |
which, although it's thing in your
own heart, you have never quite I
known" :.
She nodded and he went on.
The thing which you call fascina-.
ton in me was really just proxy.
Drennie. You were liking qualities in.
me that were really his qualities. Just
because you had known him only IN,
gentle guise, his finish blinded you.
to his courage. Because he could turn
to woman the heart of woman you
failed to see that under it was the
iron and fire. You thought you saw
those qualities in me, because l wore.
my bark as shaggy as that scaling:
hickory over there. When he was get
ting anonymous threats of death ev-'
cry morning he didn't mention them
to you. He talked of teas and dances.
l know his danger was real. because
they tried to have me kill him-and
if I'd been the ma n they took me for,
I reckon I'd have done 1t. l was mad
to my marrow that night-for min
ute. l don't hold a brief for Wilfred.
but l know that you liked me first for
qualities which he has as strongly as
land more strongly. He's a br-ver
man than |, becuse, though raised to
gentle things, when you ordered him
into the fight he " as there. He never
turned back or f1ickered. was raised,
on raw meat and gunpowder. but he
went in without training"
The girls eyes grew grave andi
thoughtful, and for the rest of the,
way she rode in silence.
There were transformations, too, in
the house Of Spicer South. Windows
had been cut, and lamps adopted. 1t
was no longer SO crudely pioneer
abode. While they waited for dinner,
a girl lightly crossed the stile, and
came up to the house. Adrianne met
her at the door, while Samson and
Horton stood back, waiting. Suddenly,
Miss Lescott halted and regarded the
newcomer in surprise. 1t was the
same girl she had seen, yet different
girl. Her hair no longer fell in tangled
masses. Her feet were no longer bare.
Her dress, though simple, was charm
ing, and, when she spoke, her English
had dropped its half-illiterate peculiari-
ties, though the voice still held its
melody.
"Oh, Samson" cried Adrienne, you
two have been deceiving me! Sally,
you were making up, dressing the part
back there, and letting me patronixe
you"
Sally's laughter broke from her
throat in musical peal, but It still
held the note of shyness, and 1t was
Samson who spoke.
Il made the others ride on, and got
Sally to meet you Just as she was when
left her to go East" He spoke with
a touch of the mountaineer's over.sen-
sitive pride. Il wanted you first to see
my people, not as they are going to be,
but as they were. l wanted you to
know how proud am of them-just
hat way"
That evening, the four of them
walked together ov er to the cabin Of
he Widow Miller At the stile, Ad-
'ienne Lescott turned to the girl and
,aid:
Il suppose this place is pre-empted.
m going to take Wilfred down there
~ the creek, and leave you two alone"
Sally protested with mountain hos
Vitality, but even u der the moon she
nee more colored adorably.
Adrienne turned up the collar Of her
weater around her throat, and. when
he and the man who had waited, stood
Gaming on the rail of the footbridge,
he laid hand on his arm.
HAS the water flowed by my mill.
she asked.
what do you mean? His voice
rembled.
will you have anything to ask me
1hen Christmas comes?"
IF can wait that long, Drennie..
e told her
Don't wait, DEAR" she suddenly ex-'
laimed, turning toward him, and
aising eyes that held his answer.
SIX me now!"
But the question which he asked was
ne that his lips smothered As he
ressed them against her own.
Back where the poplar threw its
hoJ Az