The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-10

which alternately exasperated and thrill
ed her. And now his awkwardness had
shattered the magic of the dream and
left her staring at reality-without
warning, without the courtesy of
s'garde a UonsI''
And his answer? He was waiting for
his answer. But men are not gods to
demandl-not highwaymen to bar the
way with a "Stand and deliverl"
And an answer is a precious thing-a
gem of untold value. 1t was hers to
give, hers to withhold, hers to defend.
You will call on US to say goodbye
this EVENING"" she asked, steadying
her voice.
A deep color stung his face; he bowed,
standing stiff and silent until she had
passed through the open door of the
veranda. Then, half blind with his
misery, he mounted, wheeled, and
galloped away, The Witch gathering
stoidly at his stirrup.
Already the primrose light lay over
hill and valley; already the delicate
purple net of night had shared for
est and marsh; and the wild ducks
were stringing across the lakes, and
the ms had gone to the forest, and
plo answered plover from swamp
to swamp, plaintive, querulous, IN
endless reiteration-" Lostl losti she's
lost-she's lost-she's lostI"
But it was the first time in his life
that he had SO interpreted the wild
crying of the killdeer plover.
There was a gown that had been
packed at the bottom of a trunk; it
was a fluffy, rather shapeless mound
of filmy stuff to look at as it lay on
the bed. AS it hung upon the perfect
figure of a girl of twenty it was In
the words of the maid, "a dhream an
blessed vision, glory bel" It ought to
have been; it was brand-new.
At dinner, her father coming in on
crutches, stared at his daughter
stared as though the apparition of his
dead wife had risen to guide him to
his chair; and his daughter laughed
across the little table-she scarcely
knew why-laughed at his surprise,
at his little tribute to her beauty
laughed with the quick tears trimming
in her eyes.
OF her mother, she spoke of Burleson;
and after while of the coming journey,
and their new luck which had come up
with the new moon In September
q luck which had brought a purchaser
for the mare, another for the land
all OF 1t, swamp, timber, barrens-
every rod, house, barn, garden, and
stock.
Again leaning her bare elbows on
the cloth, she asked her father who the
man could be that desired such property.
But her father shook his head, repeating
the name, which was, / believe, Smith
And that, including the check, was all
they had ever learned of this investor
who had wanted what they did not
want, IN the nick. of time.
If he thinks there Is gas or oil here
he is to be pitied," said her father
wrote him and warned him"
think he replied that he knew
his own business, said the girl
hope he does; the price Is excess
sive-out of all reason. / trust he knows
of something In the land that may
Justify his investment"
After a moment she said, "Do you
really think we may be able to buy
q little place In Florida-a few orange
trees and house?"
His dreamy eyes smiled across at
her.
THANK GodI" she thought, answer
ing his smile
There was no dampHess In the ain;
she aided him to the garden, where he
resumed his clutches and hobbIed as
far as the wonderful bush that bore
3 single belated rose.
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