Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-12-28
CHAPTER II-continued.

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Then the chores aren't done, sup
pose" Billy Louise went over anc
took a lantern down from Its nail
turning up the wick so that she could
light it with the candle go up t.
the fire and thaw out" she invited the
man. Wen have supper in a few
minutes"
Instead he reached out and took the
lantern from her as soon as she had
lighted 1t. "You go to the fire your
self" he said. IN 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
to on the trail, but she saw his mouth
and the little smile that hid just back
of his lips. She smiled back without
knowing it. 'Tll have to go along,
anyway. There are cows to milk, and
you 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 he piled full the
managers. 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-
cept 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.
Il 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 Inward Warren
I've got claim over ON Mill creek"
Billy Louise gave a little gasp and
poured two spoonfuls OF
sugar in her tea, although she hated 1t
sweetened-
I've got to tell you why even Mt the
price of depression Long ago.. when
Billy Louise was twelve or 80 and
lived largely In a dream world Of her
OWN, she had one day CHANGED upon a |
paragraph in a paper that had come |
from town wrapped around a package |
IF matches. 1t was all about Ward |
Warren. The name caught her fancy,
md the text of the paragraph seized |
lpon her imagination. Until school
illed her mind with other things she /
lad built adventures without end In /
which Ward Warren was the central
igure. Sometimes, when she rode in
he hills, Ward Warren abducted her
md led her into strange places. where
he tried to SILVER In honest dread
jften and often, however, Ward War
en- was fugitive who came TO her
or help. Then she would take him to
cave and hide him, perhaps, or she
would mount her horse and lead him
y devious ways to safety, and upon
ONE hilltop from which she could
oint out the route he must follow she
Tould bid him q touching adieu and
eseech him in the impossible Ian
uage of some old romancer to go and
lad a blameless life.
"Jase has got all gone feelings now,
iommie," Billy Louise remarked irrel-
vanity during brief pause and re-
lpsed into silence again. She knew
nat was good for at least FIVE minutes
straight monologue with her mother
/ that talking mood She finished her
upper while Warren listened abstract
lily to complete biography Of the /.
Icilkes and earned all about Marthy's :
lergy and Eases shiftlessness.
Ward Warrenr' Billy Louise was :
lying TO herself. Ward Warrenl !
here couldn't possibly be two Ward .
Tarrens; it's such en- odd name !
rellr
Then she went mentally over that a
lragraph. She wished she did not K
member every single word OF 1t, but V
lie did. And she was afraid to look h
him after that. and she wanted 70 $
eadfully. She felt as though be be- a
nged to her. Why, he was her old II
aymate! And she had saved his life $,
lndreds of times at immense risk to 4
rs, and be had ALWAYS been her de- "