The Ozark spectator., 1917-05-30

Spain or not, Uncle Duke" "What do you have to go for?" "Why, for mail, supplies-every- thing"
 "Pardaloe can attend to all that" Nan shook her head. "yyhether he can or not, I'm not going to be cut off from going to Sleepy Cat, Uncle Duke nor from seeing Henry de Spain."
 Meaning to say you won't obey, eh?"
 "When I'm going to marry a man 1t isn't right to forbid me seeing him." You're not going to marry him you're going to marry Gale, and the | quicker you make up your mind to 1t | the better"
 "You might better tell me am going to marry Bull Page-I would marry him first. I will never marry Gale Morgan in the living world. and I've told you so more than once." He regarded his niece moment | wrathfully and, without replying, walked back to the house. Nan, upset but resolute, went on to the barn and asked Pardaloe to saddle her pony. PGrdaloe shuflled around in an obliging way, but at the end of some evasion admitted he had orders not to do 1t. Nan famed at the information. She disliked Pardaloe anyway, not for any reason she could assign beyond the | fact that he had once been chum of Gales. But she was too high-spirited | to dispute with him, and returned to the house pink with indignation. Go i ing straight to her uncle, she protested against such tyranny. Duke was in sensible alike to her pleas and her threats.
 But next morning Nan was up at three o'clock. She made her way into the barn before soul was stirring. and at daybrcak was well on her way to Sleepy Cat. She telephoned to De Spain's office from the hospital and went to breakfast. De Spain joined her before she had finished, and when they left the dining room she explained why she had disappointed him the day before. He heard the story with mis- givings.
 "I'll tell you how 1t looks to me, Man," he said when she had done. You are like person that's being bound tighter every day by invisible cords. You don't see them because you are fearless. You are too fearless, Man." he added, with apprehension re- l flected in the expression of his face. ''Tll tell you what 1 wish you'd do, and say it knowing you won't do It, he concluded.
 She made light of his fears. twisting his right hand till 1t was helpless in her two hands and laughing at him. 'How do you know I won't do it?"
 Because I've asked you before. This is 1t: Marry me, now, here, today, and don't take any more chances out there
 But, Henry" protested Nan, "I can't marry you now and just run away from poor Uncle Duke. If you will just be patient, I'll bring him around to our side"
 "Never, Man."
 Don't be so sure. I know him bet ter than you do and when he comes for anybody, he comes all at once. Why, it's funny Henry. Now that I'm picking up courage, you're losing itr'
 He shook his head. II don't like the way things are going"
 "Dearie," she urged, should 1 be any safer at home if l were your wife, than I nm as your sweetheart. l don't want to start horrible family war by run ming away. and that is just what cer- tainly should do."
 De Spain was unconvinced. But ap- prchenSion is short-lived in young hearts. The sun shone, the sky spread q speckless blue over desert and noun tain, the day went to their castles and dreams. In retired corner of the cool dining room at the Mountain house, they fingered together over long-drawn-out dinner. The better-in- formed guests by asides indicated their presence to others. They described them us the hardy couple who had first met in stiff Fronticf day rifle match, which the girl had won. Her defeated rival-the man now most regarded and feared in the mountain country-was the man with the rcticent mouth. mild eyes, curious birthmark, and with the two little, perplexed wrinkles visible most of the time just between his dark eyebrows, the man listening intently to every syllable that fell from the lips of the trimly bloused. active girl oppo- site him, leaning forward In her eager ness to tell him things. Her jacket hung over the back of her chair, and she herself was referred to by the more fanciful as queen of the outlaw | camp at Music mountain. The two were seen together that day about town by many. for the story of their courtsblp was still yelled in mys- tery and afforded ground for the widest speculation, while that of their difficulties, and such particulars as De Spain's fruitless efforts to conciliate Duke Morgan and Dukes open threats against De Spain's life were widely | sl..a n