Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-05-10

the light was deceptive down there In
the shadows. When that first doubt
was nodded and she had breathed into
Ii the breath Of life go hat IL stood
sdurdily before her she took heart and
created reasons. a whole company of
them. to tell her why she ought to give
Ward the benefit Of the doubt. She
remembered what Charlie Fox had said
about circumstantial evidence. She
would not make the mistake he had
made.
SO she spent other days and long.
wakeful nights. And since 1t seemed
impossible to bring her faith to life
again just as 1t had been, with the
glamor Of romance and the sweetness
Of pity and the strength Of her own in
nOcence to make ii a beautiful faith
indeed. she used all her innocence and
all her pity and a little Of romance and
created something even sweeter than
her untried faith had been. She had a
new element to strengthen 1t. She
knew that she loved Ward. She had
learned that from the hurt 1t had given
her to lose her faith III him.
That was the record Of the inner
Billy Louise which no one ever saw.
The Billy Louise which her little world
knew went her way unchanged except
in small details that escaped the no
tice Of those nearest her. A look in
her eyes for n thing; a hurt, ques-
tioning look that was sometimes re-
belliOus as we'll; a drOop of her mouth
also when she was off her guard: a 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 he
had come upon her unawares while
she and Blue were staring out over the
desert from the height they had attain
ed In the hills.
"'LO, 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, BillY" he asked in the
tone that was calculated to invite an
unburdening Of her troubles.
"Oh. nothing In particular! Nom
mics been awfully sick, and I'm al
ways worried when I'm away from the
ranch for fear she'll have another spell
while I'm gone. The doctor said she
might have any time. Were you head
ed for our place? II you are, come on.
l was just starting back. I don't dare
be away any longer" If that were q
real unburdening Ward was an unrea-
sonable young nan 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 a differ
ence, and he was too innocent Of any
wrongdoing or thinking to guess what
was the matter. Guilt is a good barOm-
eter of personal atmosphere, and Ward
had none of it. The worst of him she
had known for more than a year. He
had told her himself. and she had heal
ed the hurt-almost-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 in him die
a violent death M longer thar two
weeks ago? Such a possibility never
occurred to him.
For all that he felt there was a 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 ''mommie." Poor NOM
mic was looking white and frail, and
her temples We're too distinctly veined
with purple. Ward told himself that it
was no wonder his Wilhemina acted
strained and unnatural. He meant to
work harder han 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
muting his homestead right away, so
that he would not have to hold 1t
down for another three years. Maybe
she would not want to bring her moth
er so far off the main road. In that
case 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
he 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 1t.
You see, they could not have quar-
relied. since Ward carried castles as
well as the blues. In fact. their part
ing had given Ward an uneven pulse
for a 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