Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-07-26
CHAPTER xli.-contlnued.

friend always. That was the condition
her falth had laid down c~hAllengingly
before her doubts. Blu unless he were
innocent and proved II 60 her she
would marry him, no matter
how much she loved him. That was
the concession her faith had made TO
her doubts.
Billy Louise had n wise little brain
for all she ideallzed life and her sur
roundings out OF all proportion to real
ity. She told herself that n she mar
ried Ward with her doubts alive her
misery would be far greater han "
she gave him up. except as n friend.
or course her ideals stepped In there
with an imprncticnble compromise.
She brought back the Ward Warren of
her pretend" life. she dreamed OF
him NJ a mutely adoring friend who
stood and worshlped her from afar
and because OF his sins could not cross
the line OF friendship.
II he were a rustler she would shield
him and save him. II that were possi-
BILE. lie would love her a~lways-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 scene where
friendllness 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 II with her eyes open.
HArna am mama stnap tho AnnRoNan
and stood there for a moment. stamp
ing snow Oh his feet. Billy Louise
caught her breath and waited, her eyes
yelled with her lashes and shining ex-
pectnntly. 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
II 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. Johnl" she greeted
tonelessly.
John grtnned, embarrassed between
his pleasure at seeing Billy Louise and
his pity for her trouble. HIS white
teeth showed a little under his scraggy,
breath-frosted mustache.
"Hellol You got back, heyf She's
purity cold again. Seems like it's goin'
storm some more" He pulled OF his
mittens and tugged at the ice dangling
at the corners OF his lips. you come
on stage, hey1 / bet you freeze" He
went over and stood with his back TO
tho ire, his leathery brown hands
clasped behind him, his face still un-
decided az 10 the most suitable emotion
to reveal. "well, how you like town.
heyf No good. l guess. You got plen-
" trouble now. Phoebe and me, we
stick by you long as you want Us to-"
IL know you will, John" Billy
Louise bit her lips against a sudden
impulse 20 tears. IL was not Ward.
but the crude sympathy OF this old
halfbreed was more to her than all
the expensive flowers that had been
stacked upon mOmmie's coffin.
She picked up the two letters she
had written Ward, brushed on the dust
and eyed them hesitatingly. II Ger.
talnly was queer that Ward had not
ridden down for some word from her.
She hesitated, then threw the thin let
ter into the nre. Its message was no
longer Of urgent, poignant need. Billy
Louise drew a long breath when the
grief laden lines crumbled quickly and
went flying Mp the wide throat OF the
chimney. The other letter she pinched
between her thumbs and fingers. She
smiled a little 10 herself. Ward would
like 10 get that She had II swift vision
OF him standing over there by the win
dow and reading II with those swift,
shutting g%lances. She remembered
how she had begun Il Brave Bucka-
roO"-and ner cheeks turned pink. lie
should have II when be came. Some.
thing had kept him away, He would
some Just ms soon as he could. She
laid tho letter back upon the mantel
and set a china COW ON II to keep II
safe there. Then she turned brightly
and begaa 90 set the table for Phoebe
aud John and herself and came near
setting a fourth place for Ward. she
was SO sure he would come as soon az
he could MOmmie used TO say that
n you set a place Tor a person that
person would come aud eat with you
In spirit II not in reality.
Phoebe glanced at her pltyingly when
she saw her hesitating with the fourth
plato la her hands. Phoebe thought
that BILLY Louise had unconsciously
brought n for mommie. Phoebe did
not know thar love Is stronger even
than grief, for at that moment Blny
Louise wRs nd, thinking OF monnnle
az all