The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-05

toward HoT swept over HlIu, anu No
reached out for her hand on the bride
rein and crushed it in his own big,
rough paw. Once he rode near enough
to bend over and kiss her cheek
When they reached his shack at last
Bonita had become diffident.
She protested feebly that they ought
not to go in, but she was tired and hot
and allowed herself after all to be
lifted down from her saddle and al
most carried in the house
1t was a one-room shack of rough
lumber, with a lean-to kitchen in the
rear
There was a bed in one corner with
a decent quilt and two pillows with
snowy slips. The floor was brushed
clean. and two empty cracker boxes.
tanned. except a small zinc trunk.
Beyond, in the kitchen, dilapi-
dated stove, a small table with brown
oilcloth cover, on which were some
porcelain dishes. and the simplest
cooking utensils, hanging on the
rough pine walls. completed the fur
nishings of this typical 'baching" out.
fit
Jim went for fresh bucket of
water. and as Bonita stared about her,
the last remnant of romance slipped
away and she was seized with com
plete revulsion of feeling.
She pictured the big. low-ceiled
rooms of the ranch house of her ia
Their, the dainty muslin curtains, the
piano, the comfortable rocking chairs,
and the new velour-cOvered davenport
folding bed of which she and Mil had
been so proud.
Jim returned with the water. For
want of a chair, the weary girl had
dropped down on the side of the bed
and halfreclined against a pillow He
dipped up a dripping cupful and gave
it to her, setting the bucket on one of
the boxes.
She drank long and deeply, and as
he watched her there in his house, sit
loneliness and untutored desire in his
being swelled up.
He dropped on his knees beside her,
and threw his arms about her, holding
her close, drawing her face down to
his and covering it with kisses, which
in his rough tenderness. he rained on
cheek and lips, and eyes and brow.
You are mine-mine!" he said
softly and huskily.
At another time she would have sur
rendered happily. but in her present
mood, the remoteness of the spot, their
absolute aloofness from human con-
tact, the baroness OF this, his home,
alarmed her
In panic she fought him off.
She flung the cup across the room,
scattering the clean boards of the
| floor with the remaining drops.
OH" she cried. II want to go back
Jim. I'm afraid. cant cook aad
wash, and-and all the ret. don't
want to marry yOu-or anybody.
want to ride and have beauX and sleep
with Mil.
He was on his feet beside her now
with a different look on his strong
| features. lis crooked mouth was II
most straight line. His eyes were
serious with purpose.
Little GIRL" he said in a slow. hurt
voice, well go on to the Pitchforh
ranch tonight If you are of the same
opinion tomorrow. I'll take you home
AS for the work here, and-and the
rest, l hadn't thought of your mindin
that
Il had meant to help. ! had ex
pected to give you every minute of my
time that could spare from maxim a
Twin for us both. | had wanted t.
devote it all to maxim you happy.
love you! But it's up to you"
And so they rode on in silence unit
shutdown, when they came to the home
ranch of the Pitchfork outfit ant
Bonita was taken into the arms of ole
Mrs Durkin, who thought they were
there to make her friendly visit, ant
mildly demonstrated with them fol
not coming sooner.
Bonita was tired and distraught, ant
went to bed early. Good night" wal
the only thing Jim had said to he
from the time they arrived. She wal
homesick and penitent.
Next morning after breakfast sh'
was on the back porch watching thu
group of men at the hitching post.
In fringed chaps and with a blu'
bandanna knotted about his neck, jim
was leaning against wagon whee
with his hat pulled down over his fac
and an air of utter detection abou
him.
Are you goin' to try Old Eagle
JIM" asked a heavy-set man.
81 don't know" said Jim, but l cal
ride him."
1t behooves a man to talk discreetl
in country where he has to prov
every boast and threat. But he was il
no mood to fear danger.
So he flung down his cigarette, tool
his rope from where it was fastene'
to his saddle which lay on the ground
and turned toward the corral withou
word.
, What you goin' to do?" called one
Ride him." answered laconic jim
And suiting the action to the word, h
roped the old sorrel, and, after som
trouble, got the saddle on him, an
mounted.
The outlaw plunged and pitched
few times, then reared on his hind leg
and fell back. Jim hit the ground o
his-feet,
And when Old Eagle rolled over, h
dle-horn and held him still.
Then the air was penetrated by