The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-01-25
CHAPTER Xll.-contlnded.


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 1t 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 wise little brain
for ali she idealized life and her sur
roundings out of all proportion to real
ity. 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 n mutely adoring friend who
stood and worshlped her from afar
and because of his sins could not cross
:he line of friendship.
If he were a rustler she would shield
him and save him. If that were possi-
BILE. 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
fricndliness 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 it 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
1t was only John Pringle, heavy bod
led heavy minded, who came in and
saueaked the door shut behind him.
Billy Louise gave him a glance and
dropped her head back on the red
cushion Hello, John" she greeted
tonelessly.
John 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
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
Oh stage. hey? l 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 you want US to-"
II know you will, John" Billy
Louise bit her lips against a sudden
impulse to tears. 1t 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 mopmie's coffin.
She picked up the two letters she
had written Ward, brushed of 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
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 piuched
between her thumbs and fingers. She
smiled little to 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 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
end set china cow on it to keep it
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
nc could. Mommie used to say that
II you set a place for 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
than grief, for at that moment Billy
Louise was not thinking Of mom1nie
at all.
HHADTER VII