The Meeker herald., 1917-09-08
A Revival
OF Romance
d. SADIE oLcoTT

tired OF the W10tef oOoA Bhyeos
pined for something dinerent In ths
arst place, she bad bad half dozen
proposals, not one Of them having tn u
anything like real love. They cane
from men who wished to mary from
.ome interested motive One wantej
her because she would bring hef hus-
band seme means. another because she
would give him . better social position
and still others because they wished to
marry and she was considered one Of
the prizes Of the season.
Miss Warren's father owned, among
other things. 4 ranch in The far west.
which had fallen to him through
foreclosed mortgage. One morning dur
Ing the early spring Josephine heard
him say that his ranch. which be called
his western elephant. would ruin him
II he did not 60 out and look after It
do 60. papa" she said. "and take
me with you"
His having his daushter's company
decided him, and within few weeks
father and daughter wers In q west
ern ranch house and Miss Warren In
stead Of receiving the attentions OF
surrounded BY cowboys with sombreros
and spun.
One night Josephine was awaksnsd
BY a serenade under her window. A
man. accompanied BY Q guitar. was
singing with Q voice smooth q run.
ming brook. Moreover. his whole heart
seemed to come out with bis voice, and
bis song was one OF passionate love.
Josephine could not help comparing Il
with the lovemaking she had listened
to from the gilded men of the eastern
social world.
Rising from her bed. she went to the
window. The moon was, at the full
and shone directly upon the face Of the
serenader. He was In cowboy apparel
except for the hat. which Lay On the
ground beside him. Whether II was
the moonlight or that his face was
really more refined than tho average
cowboy or tho effect Of the music, hs
certainly appeared to Josephine - q
superior being.
He sang but one song. which seemed
altogether too short to the llstenee.
then went away. leaving Josephine In
sort Of ecstasy she had never felt BE-
fore. oh, that she might be wooed In
such fashion by one Of her own sta
ton!
The next morning she asked those in
the house who was the serenadef.
They had heard the serenade, but mo
one knew any cowboy who could sing
anything except ragtime music, and
there was NO musical instrument
among them except . banjo. Josephine
was disappointed. And yet what ben.
cut would she derive from knowing
which Of the many herders had poured
forth an impassioned love soogi She
was not for such a. these: she would
return to the east and settle down 70
the artificial life Of woman OF society
with some man who spent a part Of tho
day In trade. the rest at his club and
his evenings escorting her 10 social
functions.
Josephine hoped that the ssrenader
would favor her again. Every night
she lay awake till sleep conquered her,
hoping to hear those delicious nOtes
once more. When she rode out, which
she did q great deal on hoeseback, she
scanned the face Of every man she met,
looking for that Of the sereuader. But
no one appeared with the sains fea.
lures. and Josephine at last concluded
that the moonlight had given The one
abe had seen it, heaven born expires.
sion.
When her father announced to her
that he had done what was to b. done
In respect to bis investment, which was
to sell the ranch to q neighborins
ranchman. her heart fell at the idea Of
leaving. The last night she spent at
the ranch was one Of regret. She was
going to sleep thinking Of her sers-
nader when again that melodious voice
came up from under the wtnee>w.
The next day the father and daugh-
ter rode twenty miles to tho train, and
soon after boarding 1t Mr.. Warm
brought man to his daughter and m
trodnced him ~ the purchaser ot his
ranch. He was about thirty years Of
age and evidently gentleman. It soon
appeared that be was one Of thoss
young men who, having inherited
means. prefer fres life to one Of con
hnement and 60 In for ranching. He
was going east TO raise funds to nay
for the property be had bought fruo
Mr.. Warren.
The ranchman Travelled all the wsy 70
the Atlantic coast with the Warrsas
and upon arrival became. for The tine
be remained In the east. 4 frsquent
visitor at their home. When b. I'D
converted some securities b. owned
Into money be paid for the ranch -
had bought, received deed for II ard,
the transaction being closed, asksd Mr..
Warren for his daughters hand. He
was referred to Josephine. was accept-
ed. and she informed her father that
her lance would remain In tie east tn
the wedding. which was fixed for an
early date.