The Dolores star., 1918-03-15
CHAPTER xn-cesslss.a.


CHAPTER xis-centlsusd.
-e-
Blllv Louise's faith had compromised
osfnifely with her doubts of him.
Guilty or innocent, she would Be his
friend always. That was the condition
her faith had laid down challengingiy
before her doubts But unless he were
innocent and proved Il TO her she
would never marry him. NO matter
bow much she loved him. That was
the concession her faith had made %
her doubts.
Billy Louise had q wise little brain
for IN she idealized life and her sur.
roundinss out Of IN proportion to real
ity. She told herself that n she mar
Tied Ward with her doubts alive her
misery would be far greater than II
abe eavs him mp. except a. q friend
OF course hef ideals stepped In there
with an impracticable compromise.
She brought back the Ward Warren Of
her '.pretendr life She dreamed Of
him a. q mutely ador!ng friend who
stood and worshiped her from afar
and because Of his sins could mot Cross
the line Of friendship.
Is be were q rustler she would shield
him and save him, II that were possi-
BIZ He would love her always-Billy
Louise could not conceive Of Ward
transferring his affections to another
leas exacting woman-and he would
bo grateful Cor her Friendship. She
could build long. lovely scenes where
friendllness was put to the front brave
". while love hid behind the mask and
only peeped out through the eyes now
and then. She did not, OF course, plan
an this In sober reason; she Just
dreamed It with her eyes open.
00me one came upon the doorstep
and stood there for q moment, stamp
ing snow OF 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 be was coming now because
she needed him and he wanted her
It was only John Pringle, heavy bod
led, heavy minded, who came In and
oQpeaked the door shut behind him.
Bully Louise gave him Q glance and
dropped her head back on the red
cushion. Hello. Johnr' she greeted
e,oelessly.
John grinned, embarrassed between
his pleasure at seeing Billy Louise and
his pity for her trouble. His white
teeth showed q little under his scraggy,
breath-frosted mustache.
sHello! You got back. heyf She's
purty cold again. Seems like It's goin'
storm some more" He pulled on his
mittens and tugged at the ice dangling
at the corners Of his lips. "You come
On stage, heyf I bet you freeze" He
went over and stood with BIZ back to
the nre, his leathery brown hands
clasped behind him, his face still I'M
decided % to the most suitable emotion
to reveal. 'swell, how you like town.
heyf No good, guess. You got plen-
ty trouble now. Phoebe and me, We
stick BY you long % you want ~ to-
II know you win, John" Billy
Louise bit her lips against sudden
impulse to tears. 1t was not Ward.
but the crude sympathy Of this old
halfbreed was mere to her than all
the expensive flowers that had been
stacked upon mosnmie's coffin.
She picked up the two letters she
had written Ward, brushed OF the dust
and eyed them hesitatingly. It 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. Its message was no
longer Of urgent. poignant need. Billy
Louise drew q long breath when the
grief laden lines crumbled quickly and
went flying mp the wide throat Of the
chimney. The other letter she pinched
between her thumbs and fingers She
smiled q little to herself. Ward would
like to get that. She had swift vision
OF him standing over there by the win
dow and reading It with those swift.
shnttlfng glances. She remembered
how she had begun it-"Brave Bucka-
rOo''-and her cheeks turned pink. He
should have It when he came. Some
thing had kept him away. He would
como Just as soon as he could. She
laid the letter back upon the mantel
and Get china COW on It to keep It
safe there. Then she turned brightly
and John and herself and came near
sstting fourth place for Ward, she
was 30 sure be would come as soon as
hs could. Mommie used to say that
n you Get q place for a person that
person would come and eat with you
IN spirit IL 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 1t for mommie Phoebe did
not know that love Is stronger even
than grief, for ut that moment Billy
Louise was mot thinking Of mcmmie
at an.
CHAPTER XIII.
osvsn Lean Kline.
I'll uu~.