Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-02-15
CHAPTER xII.-continued.


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. s.s...
Billy Louise had a wise little brain
for all she idealized. life and her sur.
roundings out Of all proportion to real
ity. She told herself that II she mar
ried Ward with her doubts alive her
misery would be far greater than if
she gave him up, except as a 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.
If he were rustler she would shield
him and save him, if that were possi-
bic. 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 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
squeaked the door shut behind him
Billy Louise gave him a glance and
dropped her head back on the red
cushion. Hello, Johnp' 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.
"Hellol You got back, hey? She's
purity cold again. Seems like it's gein'
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?2 bet you freeze" He
went over and stood with his back to
The fire, his leathery brown hands
,lasped behind him, his face still IN
decided as to the most suitable emotion
% reveal "Well, how you like town,
hey? No good, guess. You got plen-
v trouble now. Phoebe and me, we
tick by you long as you want US to-"
81 know you will, John" Billy
louise bit her lips against sudden
impulse to tears. 1t was not Ward
,ut the crude sympathy of this old
lalfbreed was more to her than all
he expensive flowers that had been
tackled upon NOMINEES coffin.
She picked up the two letters she
ad written Ward, brushed OF the dust
nd eyed them hesitatingly. 1t GER q
ainly was queer that Ward had not G
dden down for some word from her c
he hesitated, then threw the thin let Z
IT into the fire. Its message was no n
niger of urgent, poignant need. Billy s
ouise drew q long breath when the e
REF laden lines crumbled quickly and
ent flying up the wide throat of the Il
Kinney. The other letter she pinched Il
stween her thumbs and fingers She h
niled a little to herself. Ward wou.u 4
re to get that. She had swift vision t.
him standing over there by the win is
wv and reading it with those swift. n
uttling glances. She remembered l
w she had begun it-"Brave Bucka- B
o'-and her cheeks turned pink. He al
ould have it when he came. Some
ing had kept him away. He would fiji
me just as soon as he could. She tn
d the letter back upon the mantel sc
d set a china COW on 1t to keep it nc
fe there. Then she turned brightly or
d began to set the table for Phoebe so
d John and herself and came near re
ting a fourth place for Ward she be
IS so sure he would come as soon as kn
could. Mommie used to say that gu
you set place for a person that
son would come and eat with you tir
spirit if not in reality. en-
'hoebe glanced at her pityingly when aft
saw her hesitating with the fourth his
tie in her hands. Phoebe thought ale
t Billy Louise had unconsciously rid
ught it for mommie. Phoebe did
know that love is stronger even fro
n grief, for at that moment Billy pul
Use was not thinking OF monmie ant