Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-12-15

1NOLu u I'LL Clllcu muLIcicu DupOuL
at sight of her Strengthened lips.
''That's the Injun in you. Don't let
him see you look that way till after
we git the mine cinched."
II am not fool, mon PEREZ"
Dupont shook his grizzled head du-
biously.
But at midday, when Hardy came
over for the noon dinner, Marie re-
ceived his courteous greeting with a
graciousness that soon lightened the
pensive severity of his look. Before
the end of the meal they We're chatting
in manner that brought twinkle
into Dupont's cunning eyes.
The girl proposed ride up TIC val.
.ey.' Hardy was greatly pleased. LIZ
had already grasped the simple details
Of the agency business, and now, PEND
ing the absence of Vanderyyn and Red
bear, had nothing to do except instruct
rhe police in his ideas of cleanliness
and discipline.
Marie never looked more charming
than when on horse. She took her
new friend for long ride around one
of the mountains. Every cliff and
rock and piney slope was familiar to
her. She pointed out all the grandest
and most beautiful views, and showed
herself even better versed in the lore
of the wild than she had seemed to
be posted on the culture and graces
of polite society. After that there was
no break in her friendly manner toward
the captain for several days. FIRE.
quently they took other rides, over or
around the nearest hills and noun
tains.
Vandervyn had arranged to be gone
a week. There was no cause to dis
cuss the time of his return, and as Ma
RE seldom mentioned him, Hardy was
not often annoyed by the vision of the
handsome young fellow interposing be-
tween himself and the girl.
From day to day it could plainly be
tain air and the delight of the girls
companionship were bringing back
strength and vigor to the officers
tropic-weakened body. Soon healthy
red appeared under the tan of his
cheeks. The lines of severity and re-
pressed grief began to smooth away.
On the morning Of the seventh day,
when he rode over to join Marie for
| a ride out to the butte on Wolf river,
ten years seemed to have dropped from
| him. Even when he lifted his hat to
| the girl and exposed the Silyered hair
at his temples, he looked nearer
twenty-five than thirty. He had
shaved off his bristly mustache!
POSITIVELY, captain" she bantered,
"you startle me. You are growing so
young! First thing I know, ! shall
be. feeling myself grandmother in
| contrast
Impossible he CALAMITY replied.
| "You are the Spirit Of Youth. Being
| with you is what makes me seem SO
much younger than I am. Yet ! shall
never see thirty-two again"
| you're barely of age this morning."
] she said, smiling at his shapely clean
shaven lip.
SIN that case you must humor my
callowness by pretending you need
my aid TO mount"
| She put one small booted foot in his
hand, rose with the lightness OF a
| feather and perched herself sideways
! on her mans saddle. Unused to such
strange behavior, the pony began to
buck. Hardy sprang to seize the beast
by the head, Marie waved him aside,
and proceeded to give an imDromptu
exhibition OF her. skill as a horsewOm-
an. With one knee crooked around the
horn of her saddle, she kept her diff
cult seat like circus rider, until the
pony subsidized.
'You've ridden to hounds" stated
/ Hardy as the girl swung astride and
/ they started off down the valley.
She smiled with qualification. sReg-
gle never notices such things; but
YOU TIE first time / saw side
saddle l thought it ridiculous"
On their way down the valley they
met no one, for the families OF the
police had moved back to their old
camp site opposite the agency. Marie
suggested that they climb the butte.
With subtle coquetry, she gave Hardy
the privilege Of assisting her UP the
lodges, though, had she chosen, she
could have outclimbed him. They
mounted to the top of the highest crag,
where they sat down on the bare rock
to view the plains and mountains
through Hardy's glasses. The utter
stiffness and solitude, the ilpqFnqqensity of
the cloudless blue dome above them,
the great sweep of the landscape-aHl
tended to quiet the excitement of their
4 lively ascent. A hush fell upon them.
Marie let the hand that held the
glasses sink into her lap. She gazed
off up the river. dreamy-eyed.
| After a prolonged silence Hardy
murmured in half-Whisper: How
alone we are! The world is young--it
is the beginning of time. And in all
the new, young world, you and are
alone--Marie."
1t was the first time that he had