Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-04-26
CHAPTER xIl.-continued.


g.
Billy Louise's faith had compromised
definitely with her doubts OF him.
Guilty or innocent, she would be his
Friend always. That wan the condition
}ner faith had laid down challengingly
Before her doubts. But unless he were
innocent and proved it to her she
would never marry him, no matter
chow much she loved him. That was
the concession her faith had made to
her doubts
Billy Louise had wise little brain
Cor all she idealized life and her sur.
goundings out of all proportion to real
Gty She told herself that if she mar
ried Ward with her doubts alive her
MISERY would be far greater than if
: she gave him up, except as friend.
&Of course her ideals stepped in there
with an impracticable compromise.
She brought back the Ward Warren of
her pretend" life. She dreamed OF
him as a mutely adoring friend who
stood and worshiped her from afar
and because of his sins could not cross
the line Of friendship.
III he were q ruStler she would shield
him and save him, il that were possi-
ole. He would love her always-Billy
Louise could not conceive Of Ward
transferring his affections to another
less exacting wOman-and he would
be grateful for her friendship. She
could build long, lovely scenes where
sfriendliness was put to the front brave
"a wr,1,s 10 low n hnh hn SIR a
only peeped out through the eyes now
:and then. She did not, OF course, plan
aall this in sober reason; she just
dreamed it with her eyes open.
Some one came upon the doorstep
and stood there for moment, stamp
Eng snow off his feet. Billy Louise
caught her breath and waited, her eyes
yelled with her lashes and shining ex
.pectantly. A little color came into her
cheeks. Ward had been delayed some
how, but he was coming now because
she needed him and he wanted her
1t was only John Pringle, heavy bod
led, heavy minded who came in and
fgqueaked the door shut behind him.
Billy Louise gave him a glance and
dropped her head back on the red
cushion Hello, Johnw she greeted
etonelessly.
John grinned embarrassed between
his pleasure at seeing Billy Louise and
his pity for her trouble. His white
teeth showed little under his scraggy,
Fbreath-frosted mustache.
Hello! You got back, hey? She's
purity cold again. Seems like it's goin
storm some more" He pulled off his
mittens and tugged at the ice dangling
at the corners OF his lips. you come
ION stage. hey? bet you freeze" He
went over and stood with his back to
,the fire. his leathery brown hands
sclasped behind him, his face still un-
decided as to the most suitable emotion
ITO reveal. "Well, how you like town,
hey? No good, guess. You got plen-
-ty trouble now. Phoebe and me, we
stick by you long as you want us to-"
81 know you will, John" Billy
Louise bit her lips against a sudden
iampulse to tears. 1t was not Ward,
but the crude sympathy of this old
Ihalfbreed was more to her than all
tthe expensive flowers that had Deen
stacked upon NOMINEES coffin.
She picked up the two letters she
had written Ward, brushed Off the dust
and eyed them hesitatingly. 1t GER
,tainly was queer that Ward had not
ridden down for some word from her.
she hesitated, then threw the thin let
ter into the fire. It's message was no
Aonger of urgent, poignant need. Billy
Louise drew a long breath when the
grief laden lines crumbled quickly and
went flying up the wide throat OF the
chimney. The other letter she pinched
between her thumbs and fingers She
asmiled a little to herself Ward would
alike to get that. She had swift vision
of him standing over there by the win
dow and reading it with those swift,
shutting glances. She remembered
how she had begun it-"Brave Bucka-
roo"-and ner cheeks turned pink He
should have it when he came. Some
thing had kept him away. He would
come just as soon as he could. She
laid the letter back upon the mantel
land set a china COW on it to keep it
Ssafe there. Then she turned brightly
and began to set the table for Phoebe
and John and herself and came near
setting fourth place for Ward, she
was so sure he would come as soon as
me could Mommie used to say that
:gf you set a place for a person that
person would come and eat with you
an spirit if not in reality.
Phoebe glanced at her pityingly when
she saw her hesitating with the fourth
a1late in Der hands. Phoebe thought
9hat Billy Louise had unconsciously
&orought it for mommie Phoebe did
mot know. that love is stronger even
chan grief, for ST that moment Billy
Louise was not thinking Of momlnie
at al.