Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-12-28
CHAPTER II--continued.

mThen the chores aren't done, I sup
nose" Billy Louise went over and
took lantern down from its nail.
,nning I'D the wick so that she could
ycbt It with the candle. go up to
the fire and thaw out" she invited the
mon. Wen have supper in a few
minutes"
Instead he reached out and took the
lantern from her as soon as she had
lighted it. "You go to the fire your
self he said. "P1 do what's neces-
sary outside"
"Why-y'- Billy Louise, her fingers
still clinging to the lantern, looked up
at him. He was staring down at her
with that intent look she had objected
70 an the trail, but she saw his mouth
and the little smile that hid just back
Of his lips She smiled back without
knowing it. I'm have to go along,
anyway. There are cows to milk, and
yUu couldn't very well find the cow
stable alone"
"Think not?"
Together they went out again into
the storm they had left so eagerly.
Billy Louise showed him where was
the pitchfork and the hay and then
did the milking while ne piled full the
hangers. After that they went to-
gether and turned the shivering work
horses into the stable from the corral
where they huddled, rumps to the
storm. and the man lifted great fork
fuls of hay and carried it into their
stalls. while Billy Louise held the Ian
tern high over her head like western
Liberty. They did not talk much, ex-
eept when there was need for speech,
but they were beginning to feel lit
tie glow of companionship by the time
they were ready to fight their way
against the blizzard to the house, Billy
Louise going before with the lantern,
while the man followed close behind,
carrying the two pals of milk that
was already freezing in little crystals
to the tin.
a didn't quite catch your name, mis-
ter" Mrs Macdonald said after they
had begun the meal. but take an
other biscuit, anyway"
Warren is my name," returned the
man, with that hidden smile because
she had never before given him any
opportunity to tell it-"Ward Warren.
I've got claim over on Mil creek"
Billy Louise gave little gasp and
distractedly poured two spOonfuls Of
sugar in her tea, although she hated It
sweetened.
I've got to tell you why even at the
price of DEPRESSION. Long ago. when
Billy Louise was twelve or SO anu
lived largely in a dream world ue her
own, she had one day CHANGED upon
paragraph in a paper that had come
from town wrapped around a package
OF matches. 1t was all about Ward
Warren. The name caught her fancy,
and the text of the paragraph seized
upon her imagination Until school
nlled her mind with other things she
dad built adventures without end in
winch Ward Warren was the central
ugure, Sometimes, when she rode in
'ne nils, Ward Warren abducted her
anu led her into strange places, where
sue trled to SILVER in honest dread.
Ol'en and often, however, Ward War
ten was a fugitive who came to her
1Or oeip. Then she would take him to
caPe and hide him, perhaps, or she
"ouIu monnt her horse and lead him
~ ueYious ways to safety, and upon
sVnie hilltop from which she could
pYlnt out the route he must follow she
"ould bid him a touching adieu and
Deseecn him in the impossible Ian
huase OF some old romancer to go AMI
eaa blameless life.
Ease has got all gone feelings now.
-.'''''hle'" Billy Louise remarked irrel-
IL,autIy during a brief pause and re-
leeu INTO silence again She knew
nf '' as good for at least FIVE minutes
- S1'dight monologue with her mother
- mat talking mood. She finished her
os,l While Warren listened abstract
Al IN, 70 a complete biography of the
.oo a.aeS and earned all about Marthy's
sy and Gases shiftlessness.
ed "ara Warrenr' Billy Louise was
T'pg to herself. Ward Warren!
we We couldn't possibly be two Ward
waI1,Ieus; it's such an odd name
pa,ae sn she went mentally over that
rara ,,laph. She wished she did not
sbo sls every single word of If, but
If hr. And she was afraid to look
dr. IN after that, and she wanted to
lna ,,,lsuily. She felt as though he be-
plsSe 70 her. Why, he was her old
hDnd--a,e' And she had saved his life
bers us OF times at immense risk to
49, ana hS had ALWAYS baon bAr de-