Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-06-20
"Give me a chance

said evasively. "Give me chance
Miss Temple"
Eve said no more, and during the
weeks that followed she let him alone
he would disappear for days at q
time, to return stern and preoccupied
Always he wore khaki, but now 1t was
usnally fresh and clean.
Cousin Hannah reported that In the
bunk house she could not find parh.
Gle Of wearing apparel or personal be
l0ng1ngs.
II don't believe the man sleeps there.
I'm afraid Of him, Eve. I want to 90
back home. Can't you sell the ranch
for the price Of our tickets7 You can
easily get another school, and I will
take boarders- anything to get away
from this God forsaken sand patch"
"If Mr.. Lonsdale's scheme fails we
win go, DEAR" Eve assured her.
TITS bound to fail, Eve. No one but
the good Lord should interfere with
his works. II the ranch were paying,
and we could have some help around
the place, and there was something
going on, and I could have a flower
garden, I'd be contented," she said en-
ergetically.
"Come, dig your flower beds, Mrs.
Fox" said Lonsdale's quiet voice.
Hidden Water has come back, and
you win have to change the name Of
Dry creek. Come down and see."
Incredulous, the two women followed
him to the creek. Their ears heard the
welcome sound Of rushing water, and
they beheld the marvellous sight Of the
brimming creek shaking among the
hills and across the plain.
In her minds eye Eve saw the green
grass on her hills, cattle and sheep
dotting the ranges. Prosperity had
come to the ranch with the return Of
the Hidden Water.
She turned to Lonsdale.
"Oh, how can I ever repay you" she
breathed gratefully.
The look in his eyes told her there
was only one way he wished to be
repaid, but he put her grateful words
aside and gave her wise advice about
the management of the ranch. She
would need a good foreman. He rec
commended Dal Johnson, an expert
enced and trustworthy cattleman. "Dal
win pick out the right men to help
you," he assured her.
But you-won't you stayT she
asked.
I'm sorry, but I'm going back east u
he said.
All the gladness went out Of Ewes
face. Suddenly the lure Of the south
west left her cold and lonely. She
checked herself angrily. "What is the
matter with meT she asked, and hel
heart answered:
"You love him-this unknown manv'
Thereafter Eve, self conscious and
miserable, steeled herself against be.
traying her heart to the stranger who
had won 1t.
In q day or two Lonsdale bade them
goodby and dropped out Of their lives,
Those were busy days at Hidden Wa
ter. Dal Johnson was hustler, and
under his sway the dream of Ewes life
came true. Cattle and sheep dotted
her green hillsides, Cousin Hannah's
garden bloomed, and the music Of the
rushing creek sounded day and night.
Eve grew to hate the sound Of the
water. Always it seemed to say,
"Where Is John Lonsdale-where is
he3"
One day Eve found courage to ask
Dal Johnson about Lonsdale. "Where
did he go" she asked.
went back to his pa in New York
You know, his pa is big gun in Wall
street, and he told John to come west
and see what he could do for himself,
Sort Of trying him out, you know.
"Well, he came to Cactus county
and bought the next ranch to this, and
It looked like he'd bought q gold brick
all dry and sandy. And one day
when he was plumb discouraged and
about to write home and tell his pa
he'd made a mess of 1t and begging for
tickets home and a stool in the Office.
why, one day he found that Hidden
Water had burst through the sand on
his place, and. well, he came into his
own then.
"But as soon as he found it had been
diverted from your place, woman's
undertaking, you know, why, hang II
all, the fool just plugged up the stream
on his place. It took weeks to do It,
and SO the Hidden Water came back
to you"
"Ohw cried Eve sharply. "And 80
Mr.. Lonsdale"- Her voice broke.
"Mr. Lonsdale Is man. Hes gone
back to tell his pa that he's failed and
to sit on that stool when his whole
hearts longing for the open country"
Johnson spoke regretfully.
Before night message was flashing
across the country to John Lonsdale
In his stuffy Office:
We need you at Hidden Water. Won''
you come backf EVE.
He replied:
Do you know my pricef
And she answered:
want you anyway.