The Prescott daily news., 1918-04-25


 quire living income while my vogue lasts"
 You're rather a wilderness lover, aren't you" Hazel commented. q don't think you'd love 1t as dearly if you were buried alive in it."
 "That would all depend on the cir cumstances," Vesta replied. "One es- capes many disheartening things in a country that is still comparatively primitive. The continual grind of keeping ones end up in town gets terribly wearisome. I'm always glad to go to the woods, and sorry when I have to leave. But I suppose it's large ly in ones point of view"
 They chatted of sundry matters for few minutes.
 By the way, is there any truth in the statement that this Free Gold row has created trouble between you and your husband?" Vesta asked abruptly. "I dare say it's quite an impertinent question, and you'd be well within your rights to tell me it's none of my business. But I should like to con- found some of these petty tattlers. I haven't been home forty-eight hours {; yet I've heard tongues wagging. hoope there's nothing in 1t. I warned Mir. Wagstaff against Paul."
 Warned him? Why?" Hazel neg lected the question entirely The blunt ness of it took her by surprise. Frank speech was not a characteristic of VeSta Lorimer's set.
 The girl shrugged her shoulders.
 He is my brother. but that doesn't veil my eyes" she said coolly. Paul Is too crooked to lie straight In bed. I'm glad Mir. Wagstaff brought the tot Of them up with round turn-which he seems to have done. If he had used a club instead of his fists it would have been only their deserts: l suppose the fuss quite upset you?"
 Tt did" Hazel admitted grudgingly. Ut did more than upset me"
 Il thought as much" Vesta said slowly. Ut made you inflict an lnde- served hurt on d man who should have had better treatment at your handJ ; not only because he loves you, but be- cause he is one of the few men who deserve the best that you or any won. an can give"
 You've said quite enough" Hazel cried. If you have any more insults, please get rid of them elsewhere. think you are"
 "Oh. I don't care what you think of me" the girl interrupted recklessly. If I did l wouldn't be here. I'd hide behind the conventional rules of the game and let you blunder along. But I can't. Pm n0: gifted with your blind egotism. Whatever you are, that Bill of yours loves you, and if you care anything for him, you should be with him. I would. if were lucky enough to stand in your shoes. I'd go with him down into hell itself gladly if he wanted me to-"
 "Oh!" Hazel gasped. Are you clean mad?"
 Shocked to death, aren't your Vesta fleered. You can't understand can you? I love him-yes. I'm not ashamed to own 1t. I'm no sentiment tal prude to throw up my hands in hor- TOT at a perfectly natural emotion. But he Is not for me. I dare say couldn't give him an added heartbeat if tried. And have little too much pride-strange as it may seem to you to try, so long as he is chained hand and foot to your chariot. But you're making him suffer. And l care enough to want him 10 live all his days hap pily. He Is man, and there are so few of them, real men. If you can make him happy. I'd compel you to dc so, if had the power. You couldn't understand that kind of love. Oh, l could choke you for your stupid dis loyalty. I could do almost anything that would spur you to action. l can't mood he is in. There are so few of his kind, the patient, strong, loyal. square dealing men, with woman's tender ness and lions courage. Any woman should be proud and glad to be his mate, to mother his children. And you"
 She threw out her hands with sud- den, despairing gesture. The blue eyes grew misty, and she hid her face in her palms. Before that passionate outburst Hazel sat dumbly amazed. staring, uncertain. In second Vesta lifted her head defiantly
 "I had no notion of breaking out like this when l came up," she said quiet ly. q was going to be very adroit. intended to give you q friendly boost along the right road, if I could. But it has all been bnbbling inside me for