The circle banner., 1918-03-08

/ 'buse me. And I" Her lips twitched
| little. II think you can qualify"
They came to the gate, and Billy
Louise freed her hand from his clasp
and dismounted, since it was wire
gate and could not be opened on horse
back. She closed it after him, looked
to her cinch, frightened 1t little, pat
ted Rather on the neck, caught the
horn with one hand and the stirrup
with the other, and went up quite like
man, while Ward watched her in
tently.
"Tn sooth, know not why you are
SO sa-ad,'" murmured Billy Louise
when she swung alongside in the trail.
Ward caught her hand again and did
not let go; so they rode hand in hand
down the narrow valley.
II was wondering" he hesitated.
drawing in corner Of his lip, biting
1t, and letting 1t go. "Wilhemina, If
old Lady Fortune takes a notion to
give me another kick or two, just when
life looks so good to me-"
"Why, we'll kick back just as hard
as she dses," threatened Billy Louise
courageously. "Don't let happiness get
on your nerves, Ward
"If / wasn't crippled, 1t wouldn't
But when a mans down and out, he
thinks lot. The last three days, I've
lived a whole lifetime, lady-girl. Every
thing seems to be coming my way, all
at once. And I'm afraid; what IL I
can't make good? If can't make you
squeezed her fingers so
that Billy Louise had to grit her teeth
to keep from interrupting 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 We'll 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
-hy. She hasn't anybody, Ward, but
is. And she's changed so-got so old |
just in the last few days. / never
Knew a person could change so much
n such little while. She's just let go
Ill holds and kind Of sagged down,
mentally and physically. Well have to
axe care of her, Ward, as long as she
ives. That's why I'm taking you there
so we can look after her. She won't
cave the Cove. II was hoping" she
dded shyly, "that we could sit In
ront of our own fireplace, Ward, and
ave nice cozy evenings; but-well,
here always seems to be something
or me to do for somebody, Ward"
"Oh, you Wilhemina ~ Ward slipped
is arm around her, to the disgust of
.attler and Blue, and made shift to
iss her twice. "Long as you live,
QUILL always be doing something for
that's the way you're made.
nd nobody's been doing things for i
ou; but If the Lord lets me live, that's {
Ding to be my job from now on" 1
He said q great deal more, Of ,
purse. They mad nearly fifteen miles t
, go, and they rode at walk and {
ian and a maid can say good deal s
I such time. But don't think they S
ould like to have it all repeated. S
heir thoughts ranged far back over
le past and far into the future, and
ung close to the miracle of love that
i'd brought them together. There is e
,e thing which Billy Louise, even in O
,r most self-revealing mood, did not Z
IL Ward, and that is her doubts of t.
m. Never once did he dream that t
Ie had suspected him and wrung her fl
,art because Of her suspicions-and II
that / think she was wise and kind. ii
They found Seabeck and Floyd Car lds