The Monticellonian., 1918-04-19
CHAPTER xII.-Continued.

-9-
 Billy Louise's faith had compromised definitely with her doubts of him. Guilty or innocent, she would be his friend always. That was the condition her 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 how much she loved him. That was the concession her faith had made to her doubts.
 Billy Louise had a wise little brain for all she idealiZed life and her sur roundfngs out of all proportion to real fty. 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 mutely adering friend who stood and worshiped her from afar and because of his sins could not cross the line of friendship.
 If he were a rustler she would shield him and save him, if that were possi- ble. 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 friendliness was put to the front brave ly, while love hid behind the mask and only peeped out through the eyes now and then. She did not, of course, plan all this in sober reason; she just dreamed 1t with her eyes open.
 Some one came upon the doorstep and stood there for a moment, stamp ing 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
 It was only John Pringle, heavy bod fed, heavy minded, who came in and saueaked the door shut behind him Billy Louise gave him glance and dropped Ter head back on the red cushion Hello, John" she greeted toneles3ly.
 JohSl grinned, embarrassed between his pleasure at seeing Billy Louise and his pity for her trouble. His white teeth showed little under his scraggy, breath-frosted mustache.
 Hello! You got back, hey? She's purty 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 on stage. hey? I bet you freeze" He went over and stood with his back to the fire, his leathery brown hands clasped behind him, his face still un- decided as to the most suitable emotion to 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 yeu watit s':so'' -
 q know you will, John." Billy Louise bit her lips against a sudden impulse to tears. It was not Ward but the crude sympathy of this old halfbreed was more to her than all the expensive flowers that had been stacked upon mommie's coffin.
 She picked up the two letters she had written Ward, brushed of the dust and eyed them hesitatingly. It cer- tainlv 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 longer of urgent, poignant need. Billy Louise drew 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 smiled little 10 herself. Ward would like to get that. She had a 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 her cheeks turned pink. He 6hould 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 and set china cow on it to keep 1t safe there. Then she turned brightly and began to set the table for Phoebe and John and herself and came near setting a fourth place for Ward she was so sure he would come as soon as he could Mommie used to say that if you set a place for a person that person would come and eat with you in spirit if not in reality.
 Phoebe glanced at her pityingly when she saw her hesitating with the fourth plate in her hands. Phoebe thought that Billy Louise had unconsciously brought it for mommie. Phoebe did not know that love is stronger even -rnan grief, for at that moment Billy Louise was not thinking of momlnie at all.
 CHAPTER KILL