Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-02-09
CHAPTER XXI.
The Rlnht Iam-


at Daily's. Seemingly nothing had
happened in her absence. Sandry was
little stronger. bit more impatient
to be at the work, able to go abort the
camp and the tilted meadow. de was
pale still. and TO her passionate eyes
more to be desired than ever. She
noticed quickly how wistfully tender
was the face of Siletz. ard how the
girl stayed apart from Saadry in a
certain difddence. This was balm to
her fears and her anxiety.
She went back to her work with re-
newed vigor. She was happier here in
this wild country than she had ever
been in her life. filed with the excite
ment of Fame that lured and Love
that beckoned. and, so she believed.
able to capture both.
Then one day an incident took
place that caused her to see that she
must let him feel the steel beneath the
velvet.
AS usual, she sat in the golden after
noon on the east porch. her work for
the day being over, and Sandry
lounged on the lowest step. his elbow
on the floor and his hat pulled low
over his eyes, gazing Gown the valley
Presently there cam a sound. a
rhythmic sound, at first far off, then
coming nearer, the rolling thunder of
big horse in full flight, and up from
the lower rollway came Black Bolt.
cleaning. dark. splendid. As II she
were q part of him, Siletz rode, sway
ing with her loose MOTION that always
suggested the very drunkenness of
speed. In her arm she held a great
bunch of wild bleeding hearts. their
brilliant crimson splashing gorgeously
along her olive throat. where the blue
| shirt lay open bit.
With slight pressure of knee and
heel the girl sent the great black horse
directly at the steps of the porch. AS
he came on Miss Ordway sprang up
with little scream, overturning her
chair But Sandry sat unflinching on
the lowest step, smiling. Within three
feet of him Black Bolt lowered his
head, set his feet ant came to SPLEEN
did stop.
Siletz leaned forward and dropped
her burden in Sandry's lap. showering
him with the blood of the bleeding
hearts. She did not look at him. Then
they trotted away around the corner
| TO the shed and Sandry's lips tight
ened pitifully as he gathered up each
smallest spray Of the woods.treasures
Where she stood back against the
wall, one hand at her pulsing throat.
Miss Ordway saw that Tightening of
the lips. the droop that came into the
mans whole face, and her eyes mar
rowed and hardened like a cats.
That night she came to him in the
eating room.
Walter" she said. Pm stuck In
the middle of chapter. VIII you go
over a few pages with me and give me
the benefit of mans ideas?"
He smiled.
I'm afraid mine will not be of much
account, but such as they are you are
welcome to them"
They will answer" said Miss Ord
way, "a woman cannot write from her
|
man to man. I'll bring my manuscript
out here"
And turning, she went from him to
the sanctuary of the little south room.
When she returned she carried hand.
full of closely typewritten pages.
They drew up one Of the pine
benches. spread out the manuscript be.
tween the catchup bottles and sat down
together
Instantly with the touch of the shift.
4 ing sheets in her fingers Miss Ordway
I seemed to drift away from the per.
sonal. She became detached. absorbed,
swallowed up in the thrall OF work
and Sandry had feeling OF what such
work must mean to one.
I Now see." she said, half excitedly,
here is the point about which / am
trife in doubt. But l viii have TO
sketch the situation for you so you
/ can get grip on it"
She turned toward him. spreading
out fat on the paper one exquisite
hand. Among her other hidden vani-
4 ties, Poppy ordway cherished an inor
dinate pride in these hands of hers
and she knew their value and their po-
teney to the last atom.
With an unconscious appreciation
Sandry now looked down at it where
il spread across the page. Uncon-
sciously, too. his mind caught a shad-
owy comparison-the memory of the
/ olive-colored, slim hands OF the girl
| Siletz But abe was speaking and he
looked again.
Now suppose my hero is confront.
| ed with a man-his friend, 1t hap
pens-who. in the plausible and I'M
| impeachable methods OF modern bust
ness. has calmly become possessed of
my hero's wealth. There is no pos
! sibIe way OF touching the swindler, for
IT las been done in a manner that
gives it the seeming of legality. Yet
| the victim knows in his heart thac the
other ia a thief. Now here is my
| point"
Miss Ordway was talking slowly as
! IL thinking carefully and no one listen
! ing would have suspected that the
words she uttered were purely me
4 chanical. having been written out and
! memoliEed that afternoon. and that
~~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~~~
| Wilton" she gurgied. 81 am yoursl"
And he clasped her in his arms and
they we're married And II was all