New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-04-12
CHAPTER XII.-Continued.

s.
Billy l.ouiSe'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 lin. That was
the concession her faith had made to
her doubts.
for all she idealiZed life and her sur
roundings ont of all proportion to real
ity. She told herself that If she mar
ricd Ward with her doubts alive her
misery would be far greater than II
she gave him up, except as d friend,
or course her ideals stepped in there
with an impractiCublc compromise
She brought back the Ward Warren Of
lc7 ''pretend' life She dreamed of
linn as a mutely adoring friend who
,tood and worshiped her from afar
and -ause of his sins could not cross
the line of friendship.
II he We're a rustler she would shield
him and save him, if that We're posi-
bic. lie would love her alwayS-B Billy
Louise could not conceive of Ward
transferring his affections to another
less oXactiug oma and he would
be grateful for her friendship She
could build long, lovely scenes where
friendliness was put to the front brave
~. while love hid behind the mask and
only pecpcd 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 of his feet. Billy Louise
caught her breath and waited. her eyes
yelled with her lashes and shining cX-
yectnntly. 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
fed. heavy minded. who came in and
edueaked the door shut behind him
billy Louise gave him II 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 a little under his scraggy,
brentl-frosted mustachc.
Hello. You got back, hey? She's
purity cold again. Seems like it's goin
storm some more" He pulled of his
mittens and tugged at the ice dangling
at the corners of his lips. You come
on stage, hey? | bet you freeze" He
went over and stood with his back to
the fire, his %leathery brown hands
clasped behind him. his face still I'M
decided as to the most suitable emotion
to reveal. "Well, how you like town,
hey: No good, | guess. You got plen-
~ 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 mommie'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 hesitatcd, then threw the thin let.
ter into the fire. Its message vas no
longer 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
smiled a 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 il with those swift,
shutting g%lances. She remembered
how she had begun it-"Brave Bucka-
rOo'-and ner cheeks turned pink. He
should have it when he came. SoEie-
thing had kept him away. He would
come Just as soOn as he could. She
laio the letter back upon the mantel
hr.i set a china cow on il to keep IL
tafr there. Then she turned brightly
aud began to set the talIe for Phoebe
uud John and herself AID came near
setting a fourth place for Ward. she
Was so sure he would come as soon as
lie could. Momn.ie used to say that
+ you set a place for "A person that
nrrson would come and eat with you
IN spirit if not in reality.
Phoebe plarcpd ar har pityipply uhan
the saw her t~rSitat!ng with the fourth
plate in hcr hands. Phoebe thought
that Billy Louise had unconsciously
brought t FOR mommie. Phoebe did
not knew that love Is stronger even
than grief, for at that moment Billy
Louise was not thinking II mominie
at al.