The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-11-08

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with unmistakable pleasure cleaning
In his dark eyes. he hurried towarc
Hope.
Il did not know you were home" hs
said. the pressure tightening on her
hand, "or I should have called We
have been very busy with a new deal
else | might have heard trust you
will pardon my unneighborliness and
let US make amends"
Certainly. Mr., Lnwood." she 70
piled.
Her strange, unnatural tone caused
the man to study her face closely.
There were traces OF tears on her
cheeks and her eyes were red
Hope. spoke very tenderly--
you are In trouble. What is the mat.
ter? Tell me. and | am sure ! can
help YOU"
He tried to take the girls hand
again, but she drew 1t quickly away.
Rising. she said with averted face.
Mother Is III. Mr.. Linwood must 60
to her. Please excuse me. Your
friend is waiting for you.' she remind.
ed him, and walked swiftly toward the
house.
Rex Linwood gazed after the girl he
had known since early childhood. Why
was she 80 reversed. so changed to-
ward him! 1t used to be Rex" now
it was the formal "Mr. Linwood" I'm
able TO solve this new problem. he
rode back to Mrs. Cary and accom-
panied her to the station.
On his return to the mine, and after
due elaboration, he resolved to go
over to the Marshall ranch that very
night and force an explanation from
Hope. That young lady finding her
mother asleep and her father watch
ing near by. went back to the old cor
raj to think. Much as she disliked
him, would 1t not be better, after all,
to accept Mr.. Barden and make her
parents happy in the retention of the
ranch? She could. perhaps, school
herself to endure life with him.
Sick at heart with the thought, she
began mechanically to pick up some
broken bits of rock Suddenly she be-
came interested in the fragments, and
examined portions of the wall care
fully.
Il wish | had paid more attention
to the study of geology" she said
aloud, but they look like the speci-
mems Prof Jordan analysed before the
class. Oh, If only it could be! We
could then save the ranch ourselves
Suddenly she thought of Mr.. Miller,
the assayer up at the Red Knight. He
was a kind old man. and had once
been her teacher In the public schools.
"Mr. Miller will know" she assured
herself, as she mounted her pony and
took the mountain trail. She was hop
ing that she would not meet Rex Lin
wood just now. but as she approached
the assayer's Office she saw him giving
directions to body Of Mexican work
men.
In a moment he was by her side
saying, II am glad to see you at the
Red knight, Hope. 1t has been an
age since you have ridden over to the
NINE"
Just one year." answered Hope.
AN age to me-" he insisted. serious.
ly. trying to look into the girls eyes.
She avoided his direct gaze and
asked, rs Mr.. Miller In the Office?
want to see him on business"
Here l am, Hope" called pleas
ant faced, elderly man from the door.
II am glad to find you at home" re-
turned the girl. permitting Rex to as
sist her to alight.
During the next half hour as the old
assayer was examining the specimens,
by adroit questioning he drew from
the girl the cause of her present trou-
BILE and anxiety to In some way get
hold Of money. But when she rode
back to the ranch, there was only a
feeble hope stirring in her breast, for
Mr.. Miller had said: II would have to
see the wall and the place where the
rock was taken from, before holding
out any real encouragement. Just one
or two specimens are no proof"
81 was foolish to think Of It," she
replied. 1T will come to nothing, and
in spite of my determination to the
contrary. l have advertised our trou-
BILE, and to no good purpose"
That night Rex Linwood rode over
to the ranch, as he had previously de-
termined. AS the two stood under the
starlight he said to Hope. why are
you so changed? Have l done any
thing to annoy your
Il am thinking of the future: must |
think of 1t. | have never known cares
until now. and | am not quite prepared
to meet them, fe9r."
Nor need you be, Hope. | love you.
Be my wife and let me look out for |
your future"
What OF Mrs. Cary?" she asked.
did you think cared for her? I've I
never cared for any one except you.
Hope. but thought you we're prom
ised to Barden. He almost the same /
as told me so; that is why I've been
silent"
"He has been trying to make me |