Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-04-26
CHAPTER VII-continued.

To his utter amazement the blue
eyes filled suddenly. But the owner
of the eyes was winking the tears
away and laughing before he could
could put the amazement into words.
You shouldn't hit out like that
when one isn't looking; it's wicked"
she protested. Besides. the railroad
is coming; it's got TO come"
1T is still undecided" he told her
mechanically Mr. Ford is coming
over with the engineers to have a con-
ference on the ground with-with the
Cartwright people. am expecting
him any day"
And the government
THE department is holding entirely
aloof. as it should. Everyone in the
reclamation service knows that no
good can possibly come of any effort
TO force the region ahead of its nor
NAL and natural development And,
besides. none of us here in the valley
want to help blow the Cartwright
bubble any higher than it has to be"
Then you will advise against the
building OF the extension?"
Instead of answering her question
he asked one of his own.
What does IL mean to you-to you.
| personally, apart from the money your
| father might make out of it, Amy?"
| She hesitated a moment and then
met the shrewd scrutiny of his gaze
with open candor
The money is only a means to an
end-as yours will be. You know very
well what l meant when l told you
that three times we have been obliged
to come back TO the mountains TOTO
try again. I dreaded the coming Of
your camp; l dread a thousand times
more the other changes that are com
ing-the temptations that a mush-
room city viii offer This time father
has promised me that when he can
make his stake he will go back to Ken
lucky and settle down; and he will
keep his promise More than that
5tevie has promised me that he will
90. too. if he can have a stock-farm
and raise fine horses-his one healthy
ambition. Now you know it all"
He reached up from the lower step
where he was standing and took her
/ hand
/ Yes; and | know more than that
/ I know that you are a mighty brave
| little girl and that your load is heavier
/ than mine-worlds heavier But you're
going to win out; if not today or to-
morrow. why. then. the day after It's
written in the book"
She returned his hand-grip OF en-
cOuragement impulsively and smiled
down upon him through quickspring
ing tears.
You'll win out. toe. Victor. because
| It's II you 10 do it. I'm sure of it
know 1t. There is only one thinl
that scares me-"
Name It," he said. I'm taking ev
erything that comes today--from you.
You are a strong man; you have
a reserve Of strength that is create
than most mems fun gift; you can Gu
and slash your way to the thing yol
really want. and nothing can top lou
But you'll forgive me for being plain
won't you?-there is a little. just tn
least little bit of desperation in tn
present point of view. and"
Say it," he commanded when sh
hesitated
Il hardly know how TO say IT, Their
were ideals in the beginning; don't le
chem fall down in the dust or in the
In the mud It's got to be clean money
you know; the money that is going t
give you the chance to say. Come, cir
let's go and get married You won
forget that. viii you?"
He relinquished the hand OF encoui
agement because he dared not hold
any longer. and turned away to star
absently at the timbered tunnel mout
whence a faint clinking of hamme
upon steel issued with monotonou
regularity.
p Il wish you hadn't said that. Amy
, about the ideals"
! a don't know what you mean " sh
] said simply.
; Perhaps it is just as we'll that 70
else-about the railroad Presider
, Ford hasn't decided: he won't decid
until he has looked the ground owe
| and had a chance TO confer with me
D She bridged all the gaps with swi
. | intuition. He means to give you n
| casting vote? He will build the exte
= sion If you advise it? Then it will /
/. | in your hand to make us rich or
. keep us poor" she laughed. BE
: good god-in-the-car. please, and yol
petitioners will ever pray" Then. wit
4 an instant return to seriousness: OBJ
you mustn't think Of that-of cours
you wont-with so many other az
greater things to consider"