Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-01-12

SHN NOA Just fancy your kHOWlHS
this Hampden man. He's-he's coarse
and bad. Miss Ordway."
But isn't it worth a little risk?
What big thing is ever accomplished
without some risk? And think Mr..
Sandry-isnt Hampden trying to ruin
the Dillingworth company? In other
words, to ruin your"
There was tingling, suggestive tim
bre in her low voice, subtle, fiatter-
ing tone that thrilled the young owner
strangely.
Miss ordway." he said admiringly.
as mans friend you're simply
great"
Il may have to make frequent de-
mands on Black Bolt" she said fur
Their, for l cannot navigate in your
deluged valleys. I'm a poor mariner"
"S-s-h-h!" warned Sandry. you don't
want to speak about this climate that
way. Why, haven't you noticed that
the Oregon mist doesn't wet through ?"
They laughed together after the
fashion of youth and health, though at
the last turn of words ne felt a vague
uneasiness. He remembered SiletZ'
dark face between her braids and the
tears falling on her cheeks.
Poor little grill" he said to him
self And on Thursday of that week
another horse made it's appearance at
the camp, wiry. long-limbed bay,
picked up at Toledo.
This is for you, Miss Ordway," he
told the novelist, $50 you may come
and go at will. No one will have him
when you wish to ride. You can al
ways put your hand on Z mount at
moments notice. Black Bolt is so
frequently gone when you might need
him.
So it came about that the young
woman from the East went after
Hampden," and the sharp, crude man
of the hills was to be no match for
her. By another week she could not
fare forth upon the road to the Siletz,
ride into Toledo, where she was a
matter Of wonder in her beauty and
her smart clothes, or take the least
canter on the rangy bay but what
Hampden met her-by the merest
chance. She was a revelation to him.
In his crude way he was soon at the
point where he would have laid down
his world for her little finger, and in
his loose-fbered soul he swelled with
self-approval beneath her notice.
What delicate fattery she employed
only she herself knew. 1t was sufi-
cient at least, for he unwound to her
his somewhat eventful and picturesque
life with the simplicity of child.
They rode and talked, traversing the
lonely ways, piercing the mist, thread
ing trails where Hampden had to ride
close at her side to keep the wet foil
age out of her face, and she saw the
passion growing in him to the point
of idolatry-which filed her soul with
rioting laughter.
"Ill get it-I9l get it," she told her
self. and there was no place in the uni
verse so interesting as this rain
soaked country, this land of mysteri-
Gus operations.
What are these little. deserted
huts?" she asked him one day when
they had climbed high on a wooded
ridge and come upon tiny cabin, win
dowless and rooted with shakes. i've
seen several of them"
'Homesteader's cabin" he answered.
"Ah-and where's the homestead?
For goodness sake, did any man ever
intend woman to live here?"
WELL" he said reluctantly. you see
that is.-no. They don't often come
here to live. This here's a snap
"Ah-yes"-there was note of
vague puzzlement in Poppy's golden
voice-"and what is that?"
why. a fellcr comes up an takes
a claim proves up on it, you know
gets mis- patent-an' then sells out.
Re,inquishes his right to the buyer"
"Oh-and this is only a temporary
arrangement" She waved a hand
around at the dreary clearing among
the lesser growth. THE man who
built this didn't intend to stay at the
beginning. And who was smart enough
enough to buy him off when he got
tired of staying, / wonder?"
81 did," said Hampden promptly,
flushing at the imputation of brains.
Easy" said Miss Ordway to her.
self Aloud she said wonderingly:
well, what do you know about
that! fancy you made a pretty pile
or will-out of such a deal, Mr.. Hamp-
den? Just think of the perfect oceans
and oceans of pretty clothes even a
dozen of these great trees would buyl
Pardon think in clothes because |
love them"
The Difference of that pardon" did