The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-03-07

from view by an immense hat
Catching sight OF the girl on Tho
wall. the young man excused himself
10 his companion and rode forward
Lcapng lightly from the saddle and
with unmistakable pleasure cleaning
in his dark eyes. he hurried toward
Hope
i did not know you were home. he
said the pressure tightening on her
hand, or should have called We
have been very busy with new deal,
else might have heard trust you
will pardon my unneighborliness and
let US make amends
Certainly. Mr.. Lnwood," she re
Piled
Her strange. unnatural tone caused
the man TO study her face closely
There were traces OF tears on her
checks and her eyes were FED
Hope, he spoke very tenderly---
you are In trouble. What is the mat.
teri Tell me. and | am sure | can
help you"
He tried to take the girls hand
again, but she drew II quickly away
Rising, she said with averted face.
Mother is Ill, MIR. Linwood must go
to her. Please excuse me. Your
friend Is waiting for you." she remind.
ed him, and walked swiftly toward the
house.
| Rex Linwood gaxed after the girl he
had known since early childhood Why
was she 80 reversed. so changed to-
ward him? II used to be Rex" now
II was the formal "Mr. Linwood." I'm
able TO solve this new problem. he
rode back to Mrs. Cary and accom-
panied her to the station.
On his return to the mine. and after
due elaboration, he resolved to go
over to the Marshall ranch that very
night and force an explanation from
Hope. That young lady finding her
mother asleep and her father watch
ing near by, went back to the old cor
raj to think. Much as she disliked
him, would 1t not be better, after all,
to accept Mr.. Barden and make her
parents happy in the retention Of the
ranch? She could. perhaps. school
herself to endure life with him.
Sick at heart with the thought, she
began mechanically to pick up some
broken bits Of rock. Suddenly she be-
came interested In the fragments, and
examined portions of the wall care.
fully,
II wish | had paid more attention
to the study Of geology" she said
aloud. but they look like the speci-
mems Prof. Jordan analysed before the
class. Oh, II only 1t could be! We
could then save the ranch ourselves"
Suddenly she thought of Mr.. Miller,
the assayer up at the Red Knight. He
was kind old man. and had once
been hr teacher In the public schools.
"Mr. Miller will know" she assured |
herself as she mounted her pony and |
took the mountain trail. She was hop
ing that she would not meet Rex Lin
wood just now, but as she approached
the assayer's office she saw him giving
directions to body Of Mexican work
men.
In moment he was by her side
saying, Il am glad to see you at the
RED Knight, Hope. 1t has been an
age since you have ridden over to the
mine"
Just one year" answered Hope.
An 10 ba In OF
ly, trying to look into the girls eyes
She avoided his direct gaze and
asked, rs Mr.. Miller in the office? /
want to see him on business
Here l am, Hope" called pleas
ant faced, elderly man from the door
Il am glad to find you at home re-
turned the girl, permitting Rex to as
sist her to alight.
During the next half hour as the old
was examining the specimens,
by adroit questioning he drew from
the girl the cause of her present trou-
BILE and anxiety to In some way get
hold of money. But when she rode
back to the ranch, there was only
feeble hope stirring in her breast. for
Mr.. Miller had said II would have to
see the wall and the place where the
rock was taken from, before holding
out any real encouragement. Just one
Or two specimens are no proof"
Il was foolish to think OF It," she
replied 1T will come TO nothing, and I
N spite of my determination to the !
| have advertised our trou.
Die. and to no good purpose I
That night Rex Linwood rode over :
o the ranch, as he had previously de !
ermined. AS the two stood under the |
starlight he said to Hope, why are !
'ou SO changed? Have ! done any.
hing to annoy your t
Il am thinking of the future; must I
hink OF H. have never known cares c
Until now. and am not quite prepared a
o meet them, | fear" a
Nor need you be. Hope | love you. II
Be my wife and let me look out for b
our future"
What of Mrs. Cary?" she asked D
Did you think cared for her? I've =
ever cared for any one except you,
Jnna hat I thought .at, mara tyor,