Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-06-07
CHAPTER XIV.
THEIR OWN.

Tha nights work ended the lone
leud etwee the Loop and the Raccoon
Rlver ranches. Each side had much
to forget and forgive, but there were
influences which made this forgetting
and forsiving easier, and it began the
next day when Earle Worthing RODE
Over 10 see Nance CardroSS and insist
cd upon her listening to his counsel.
trey We're talking at Martin kilrain.s
supper tapie about some of the more
immaculate results of this action of
N~orthlng's. Buck was once more a
guest at kilrain's that night.
For one thing, Buck" said the fore
man. smiling, Miss Cardross is soip'
to git rid of your friends, them sheep"
IN they'd been wolves they couldn't
iu pfea more rouble,' replied Buck
w they is in Sleeps clothing"
Jess said nothing. She had been very
all that day. She was unwont-
eddy gentle tonight.
I'm goin' up to Workings now"
Went ON kiirain. 81 won't be gone long.
Buck. Don't YOU hurry Off
No. said Buck, and his eyes sought
jess.
The night was chill. On the open
hearth a wood fire burned in Kilrains
sitting room. Before it Jess found her
self alone with Buck when Agnes had
gone into the kitchen.
1t seemed to the girl thai years haG
passed since Yesterday when she haze
sat in the woods thinking of her hap
mess 1t seemed to Buck that he had
llVed a lifetime since last he had been
in that room.
You didn't bring your 'cordiun,
Buck" said the girl.
His Ole smile twisted his mouth.
NO, Jess. l didn't wan to make yo.
put walls tween us tonight. Sides. itf
sick. an a sick 'cordium amt checrfN,
company
Jess smiled. 1t was a rather nervous
little smile.
Whats the matter with 1t, Buck o.
The young fellow looked at her. an
unconscious yearning growing in his
eyes.
Reckon I've been complainin' to *
too much!"
He took the long longs from he,
hands, their fingers meeting in the ac-
ton. It was no; the heat of the fire
that giowed in Buck $ veins as he shift
ed the logs and stood the tongs back
in the rack.
Jess he said, facing her all at one.
Il can't wait any longer for your love.
l can't Jess!!"
She stock beside him, looking dowr
at the leaping flames that made 3
blurred sheet Of gold before her eyes.
Her throat swclled to choking. Her
heart filled hey with it's tumultous
, ~throob:ne. She could not move for the
trembling that was upon her.
Buck spoke aFain, the culver in his
EoN voice holdin.s Jess breathless.
1t come to me .ast night as / rode
nome through them woous. Jess, think
in harm md heppened to you, that If
L found You safe, God would mold me
a fool for not begin you to be my
wife. even if you laughed at me again:
for, when a man loves as / do, Jess-oa
love you-'tain't OILY love. but life an
death an heaven an hell am his own
soul. an he amt no man if he don't
speak OUT"
She covered her face with her hands.
glad, frightened, awed. In all his Knowl-
edge of her Buck had never seen Jess
break down. He bent his head to catch
her choking words.
III v laugh at you again. ain:
worth your love, Buck, but there amt
another man on earth hat cou!ti ever
make me marry him now since you
have spoke to me like that"
A moment passed.
Does you mean that. JESSE"
| She took her hands from her face,
lookin@ w into his eyes.
II mean, if you wants me, Buck, I
am yours--for life. for death-forever!"
His arms closed about her, her own
about his neck. In that moment Of
their loves supremacy they forgot the
THE END.