The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-03-21

can't make good7 IF I can't make you
happy"-he squeezed her fingers so
that Billy Louise had to grit her teeth
TO keep from i~nterrupting him-"or If
anything should happen to you-Lord"
you've got nerves, buckaroo. You've
been shut up there alone so long you
see things all distorted. We're going
to be happy, because we1l be together,
and we've so much to do and so much
to think Of. You must realize, Ward,
that we've got three places to take care
Of. and you and me and poor old Mar
thy. She hasn't anybody, Ward, but
us. And she's changed so-got so old
just in the last few days. i never
knew a person could change so much
in such a little while. She's just let go
all holds and kind Of sagged down,
mentally and physically. Wen have to
take care Of her, Ward. as long as she
lives. That's why I'm taking you there
SC we can look after her. She won't
leave the Cove. II vas hoping" she
added shyly, 'that we could sit In
front of our W fireplace, Ward, and
nave nice cozy evenings; but-well,
there always seems TO be something
for me to do for somebody. Ward"
ooh, you Wilhemina !" Ward slipped
his arm around her, to the disgust Of
Rather and Blue, and made shift to
kiss her twice. "Long as you live,
you'll always be doing something for
somebody that's the way you're made.
And nobody's been doing things for
you but if the Lord lets me live, that's
going to be my job from nov on"
He said a great deal more, OF
course. They had nearly fifteen miles
to go, and they rode at a walk and a
man and a maid can say a good deal
at such a time. But l don't think they
would like to have it all repeated.
Their thoughts ranged far back over
the past and far into the future, and
chung close to the miracle of love that
had brought them together. There is
one thing which Billy Louise, even in
her most s~elf-revealing mood, did not
tell Ward, and that is her doubts of
him. Never once did he dream that
she had suspected him and wrung her
heart because of her suspicions-and
in that / think she was wise and kind.
They found Seabeck and Floyd Car
son and another cowboy at the Cove.
just preparing to leave. Marthy, ii
t~ranspired, had sent for them because
she wanted to make her will, so that
Billy Louise would have the Cove when
Marthy was done with 1t. Billy Louise
cried a little and argued a good deal.
but Marthy had not lost all her stub
bornness, and the will stood I'M
changed.
Billy Louise and Ward were married
just as soon as Ward was able to make
the trip to the co~unty-seat, which was
just as soon as he could walk comfort
ably with q cane.
They stayed the winter in the Cove,
and a part Of the spring. Then they
buried grim, gray old Marthy up on the
side hill neal Jase, where she had
asked them to lay her work-worn body
when she was gone.
They were very busy and very happy
and pretty prosperous with their three
ranches. They never heard of Charlie
Fox again, or of Buck ~Olney-and they
never wanted to.
If you should some time ride through
a certain portion of Idaho, you may
find the tiny valley of the Wolverine
and the decaying cabins which prove
how impossible it is for a couple to
live in three places at once. If you
should be so fortunate as to meet Billy
Louise, she might take you through
the canon and point out to you her
cave 1t is possible that she might also
show you the washout which always
made her and Ward laugh when they
passed it. And If you ride up over the
hill and along the upland and down
another hill, you cannot fail to find the
entrance to the Cove; and perhaps you
will like to ride down the gorge and
see the little Eden hidden away there.
And if you should meet them, give my
regards to Billy Louise and Ward
who never calls himself a football
these days.
(THE END.) :