Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-01-12

Red0ear and the delegates. They
came without delay. Redbear's arm
was so nearly healed that he had full
use Of it. Oinna did not accompany
him He said their grandfather had
become so fond OF her that he had
insisted upon her remaining in the
mountains until the return OF the DEL
eeation from Washington Marie Of
fere1 to send for nor and give her a
:,aiAa V lille ner :2r@!:h3r WIS away, 5a:
i,edbear hastily DECLARED tl,al The gil,
wished to stay With the old chief.
Hardy took charge of the delegation
as far as the railroad, and Marie and
dupont went along to keep him CONF
pany He provided for the comfort
aboard train of Redbear and the five
solemn chiefs, and shipped them off
with through tickets to Washington
and a careful set of instructions to
help them in the conduct of their mis-
sion.
My only wish is that l might go
with them" he remarked, as the
'iron horse" whirled them away
toward the land of the sunrise. "They
will be like Babes in the Woods
You sure have done your level best
for them, Cap replied Dupont. you
amt got no license to worry nohOw.
Mr.. Van is there to boost EN- along"
Besides, you have your work here"
added Marie with a glance that COM
pletely diverted his thoughts.
They spent the night in the rough
shack misnamed hotel, and at dawn
started on their return to the agency.
AS Dupont's pony was continually lag
ging behind, Hardy had the pleasure
OF Maries company virtually alone for
the greater part of the ride. She
seemed to enjoy this quite as much
as he, and remained in gracious good
humor even through the blazing heat
of midday. Nor did she allow herself
to feel fatigue until, after their arrival
at the agency, she had cooked sa-
worry supper, and then entertained
Hardy for an hour or more in her ar
tistic little parlor.
The next day, fresh as ever, Marie
was ready to ride up to the falls and
help him run line of levels with the
instruments that he had hired in
town. Never had he known anyone
so Astounding in life. Mentally as well
as physically, she seemed ever tireless,
buoyant, animated.
Day after day they worked and
planned for the good Of. the tribe;
day after day her graciousness toward
him increased. And day after day his
love for her deepened and strength
ened until it could be seen in his every
look and act, and heard in every in
Election Of his voice when he spoke to
her. Though her manner toward him
showed no trace of overt coQuetry, she
made no effort to repulse his silent
devotion or to check the growth of
his passion.
A week after the departure of the
delegation found him fully looking the
part of q gallant lover-ardent, youth
full, almost handsome. He had lost
much of his former look of pensive
severity. Even the silvery hairs over
his temples seemed to be regaining
their original ruddy brown.
A few days later enc of the lines of
levels happened to bring him and the
girl to the edge of the coulee. across
from the butte. He suggested that
they go down and across to the spring
rill for q drink:
AS they turned back, Marie recog-
nized the exact spot where he had
been shot. Womanlike she shud-
dered and turned pale at the recol-
lection, though at the time of the oc-
currence she had been so brave.
''LOok!' she said in a half-whisper.
"Here is where you fell. + thought
you were killed!''
"The experience was well worth
while" he replied. His voice shook
with the irresistible passion of his
love. Dearest let me call you that
here, this once! 1t was here I first
looked into the depths Of your heart,
and learned how good and kind you
are"
The girl turned to hide her face
from the reverent alteration of his
gaze.
"No, no." she murmured. Don't,
pleased"
II must speak, DEAR" he replied. 81
ask nothing of you. It is only that ]
wish to tell you how you made me
realize again that life is worth living,
When I came from the Coast, / had
lost one dearer to me than anyone else
in all the werld---my mother She
was a little woman, very frail-her
blue eyes were dim and faded, her
hair white; but even when she-was
at the very end-her dear eyes sought
to ease my grief with the same look
you gave me as you bent over me
here and thought me fatally injured"
"Please!" begged the girl, choking
back a sob. Il do not deserve
Your mother but I am not kind nor
good!"
Hardy went on in the same voice
of profound passion: "You lifted me
out of the shadow of the Valley. You
came to me in my blank darkness, a