The Monticellonian., 1918-03-22


 heillous as well; u droop of her mouth also when she was off her guard: sad, tired little droop that told of the weight of responsibility and worry she was carrying.
 Ward observed both the minute he saw her on the trail He had come across country on the chance that she might be riding out that way, and lie had come upon her unawares while she and Blue were staring out over the desert from the height they had attain ed i'll the hills
 To, Billr' he said when he was quite close and held himself ready to meet whatever mood she might pre- sent
 She turned her head quickly and looked at him, and the hurt look was still in her eyes; the droop still show ed at her lips. And Ward knew they had been there before she saw him.
 "Wha's molla. Bill?" he asked in the tone that was calculated to invite all unbnfdening of her troubles.
 "0h, nothing i'll particular. Nom mics been awfally sick and I'm al- ways worried when I'm away from the ranch for fear shell have another spell while I'm gone The doctor said she might have any time Were you head ed for our place? If you are, come on. l was just starting back I don't dare be away any longer" If that were a real unburdening Ward was an unrea- sonable young man. Billy Louise look ed at him again. and this time her eyes were clear and friendly.
 Ward was not satisfied, for all the surface seemed smooth enough. He was too sensitive not to feel differ ence and he was too innocent of any wrongdong or thinking to guess what was the matter Guilt is good barom- eter Of personal atmosphere, and Ward had none of it. The worst of him she had known for more than year He had told her himself. and she had heal ed the hurt-almest-of the past by her firm belief in him and by her friend ship. Could you expect Ward to guess that she had seen her faith i'll him die a violent death no longer than two weeks ago? Such a possibility never occurred to him.
 For all that he felt there was diff ference somewhere. He carried back with him a fit of the blues which seem ed to have attacked him without cause or pretext. since he had not quarreled with Billy Louise and had been warm ly welcomed by "mommies Poor mom- mic was looking white and frail, and her temples were too distinctly veined with purple. Ward told himself that it was no wonder his Nyilhemina acted strained and unnatural. He meant to work harder than ever and get his stake so that he could go and make her give him the right to take care of her.
 He began to figure the cost of com mHting his homestead right away, so that he would not have to hold it down" for another three years Maybe she would not want to bring her moth CT so far off the main road In that ease he would go down and put that Wolverine place in shape He had no squeamishness about living on her ranch instead of his own if she want ed it that way. He meant to be bet ter "hooked up" financially than she was and have more cattle when he put the gold ring on her finger. Then he would do whatever she wanted him to do. and he would not have to cruelty his pride doing it.
 You see, they could not have quar- reled since Ward carried castles as well as the blues Ill fact, their part ing had given Ward an uneven pulse for mile, for Billy Louise had gone with him as usual as far as the corral when he started home. And when Ward had picked up his reins and turn ed to put his toe in the stirrup Billy Louise had come close-to his very shoulder Ward had turned his face toward her and Billy Louise-Billy Louise had impulsively taken his head between her two hands, had looked deep into his eyes and then had kissed him wistfully on the lips Then she