The Oakes times., 1917-01-04


intentional disrespect shown her would
call forth the anathemas II not the
bows of the others.
Shortly after supper my hostess said
to me:
well, partl, since you've come all
the way out here to talk business with
me suppose we get away from these
galoots and have a powwow."
She led the way out Oh to the veran-
dah, threw herself into a hommock.
lit a cigarette and said:
"Fire away!'
had prepared an exposition of the
condition of the property and began
ut the beginning. but had not proceed
ed far before she stopped me.
"See here, pard," she said in mix
ture Of Scotch and cowboy dialect,
I'm no shot at business. l could ma
hit barn door that away. My IA
ther and your father run this ranch
together 80 long as my father lived,
since when your father dealt the cards.
You say your father left the manage
ment to you. What can do but the
same thing? I'll ma interfere with ye."
This ended our business talk. and 1t
was not very long before broached
another subject. I asked Miss Helen
IL she intended to live on the ranch
for the future as in the past.
"You bet your bottom dollar DON'T"
she said. Then her face took on
troubled expression as she continues
"But what can do? Where can l go?
I'm ma At to associate with girls who
have been brought up as girls. I'm
nothin' but cowboy"-the adjective
preceding the word cowboy is omitted
"Girls Of my age would turn the cold
shoulder to me. All I'm ft for Is to
hobnob with punchers."
My father had been her adviser and
had submitted plans for her bringing
up, but had not insisted on any of
them. Now she was beginning to re-
alize the necessity for getting educated
and polished, and found no difficulty
In persuading her to assent to a plan
proposed. 1t was simply to take her
east with me and place her at boarding
school,
I remained several weeks on the
ranch studying the estate to which I
had fallen Joint heir with Helen Mac
Alister. Then we started east togeth.
er. and at the end Of the journey she
became an inmate of school the prin-
cipal of which I Informed Of her an
tecedents and received the lady's prom.
lse that she would treat Helen accord.
tngly.
There was no money income to our
joint estate. so paid Miss MacAlis.
ters expenses from any funds that !
happened to have on hand, keeping an
account Of the expenditures. She ask
ed no questions as to where the money
came from, nor did she ever inquire as
to the condition Of her property. She
wrote me frequently, at first address
ing me as "Dear pard," but soon the
new influences changed all this. and
was addressed properly. The principa
Of the school considered her my ward
and sent me reports of her progress, as
suring me that she was getting on IA
mously. One of the most difficult Of
her former habits to eradicate was thai
Of using profane language. since 1t was
liable to come out under impulse.
Helen MacAlister remained at tn,
academy two years, when arranged
for her transfer to a finishing school
where she remained another year. Dur
ing her schooldays never saw her
She complained that left her "for
lorn." she having no one but me to bt
interested in. At the end of the third
year Of her studies I arranged that she
should visit lady whom had inter
ested in her, and then for the first time
in three years called on her.
found a beautiful woman of TWEEN
ty, in whom not a trace of the ranct
remained. Since l was the only per
son in the world with whom she hai
the slightest connection she was nat
urally much moved at meeting me. In
deed, It seemed difficult for her to re
strain herself from throwing her arms
about me.
Meanwhile l had been getting oul
property into shape. The herds hat
| 6AVWA AAOW AuuulCuS " IuOuSuuOS
and tho necessary sales of cattle pro
duced large income. The most rea
sonable plan for me with one who
though not legally, had really become
my ward, was. If she was so disposed
to marry her.
Her reception of my proposal con
vinced me that former habits are liable
to crop out under strong emotion. My
declaration was preceded by matter
Of fact statement of our connected
business interests and the fact that
was her only protector. From this
dropped into vein more akin to my
feelings and ended by telling her that
loved her and asked her to be my
wife.
"You bet!' she exclaimed, and threw
herself into my arms.
certainly had no objection to this
disposition of her, but it did not seem
to me very honorable thing for me
to take girl who had seen no men, a