The Dolores star., 1918-03-08


Phoebe Put that letter on the maAAs0
over ths fireplace the day after Christ-
mas.
Billy Louise refrained from expect
ing any reply until after New Years:
then she began to look for Q letter.
and when the days passed and brought
her no word her moods changed often
ef than the weather.
Wards literary efforts along about
that time consisted Of cutting notches
I'm the window sill beside his bunk.
On the day when the stage driver
gave Billy Louise's letter to Phoebe
Ward cut deeper, wider notch. think.
ing that day was Christmas. Under
the notch he scratched . word with
the point of his knife. 1t had four
letters, and it told eloQuently of the
state Of mind be was In.
The letter gathered dust upon the
mantel down at the Wolverine. When
the p0stmark was more than two
weeks old another letter came, and
Phoebe laid 1t on the first one with
fingers that trembled Q little. Phoebe
had letter Of her own that day. Both
were thin. and the addresses were more
scrawly than usual Phoebe's Indian
instinct warned her that something
was amiss.
This was Wards letter:
Oh. God. Ward. mommie's dead She
died last night. ! thought she was asleep
till the nurse came in at O'Clock. I'm
all alone and I don't know what to do I
wish you could come, but II you don't get
this right away. I'll see you at the ranch.
I'm coming home ss soon as can. Oh,
Ward hate life and sIny4 sxfry,hins; 1.S,,sr
Please Ward. stay at the ranch till I
come. want to see you. I feel a. II
you're the only friend I've got left, now
mommie's gone. She looked 30 peaceful
when they took her away-and so strange.
as II didn't know her at all-and there
is such. an awful gap in my Hfe-maybe
you'll Understand. You always do.
The day that letter was written
Ward drew a plan Of the house he
meant to build some day. with a wide
porch on the front, where q hammock
would swing comfortably.
He had no presentiment of Billy's
need OF him, which was just as we'll,
since he was absolutely powerless to
help her.
Billy Louise, having arrived unex-
pectedly on the stage, pulled OF her
fur lined mittens and put her chilled
hands before the swapping blaze in the
fireplace. Her eyes were tired and
sunken, and her mouth dropped pitt.
fully at the corners, but aside from
that she did not seem much changed
from the girl who had left the ranch
two months and more before.
"In take a cup Of tea, Phoebe, but
I'm not a bit hungry" she said. II
ate just before left town. How have
you been, PhoebeT
ave been fine. We been so sorry
for you
"Neyer mind that now, Phoebe. I'd
rather not talk about It. Has anybody
been here latelyT
'Charlie Fox, he come las week
mebby week before las. Marthy, she
got rheumatis In her knee. Charlie,
he say she been pretty bad one night
I guess she's better now. I toll wash
for her II he brings me clo'es, but he
says he wash them clo'es hisself. I
guess Charlie pretty good to that old
lady. He's awful p'lite, that Teller Is"
"Yes, he is. I'll go up and see her
when get rested little. feel tired
to death somehow. Has Ward been
around lately"
I Ward, he amt been here for long
time. guess mebbe it's been six
weeks 1 amt seen him. Las time he
was here he wrote that letter. He
amt come no more"
Billy Louise in the last few months
had tried to picture herself alone, with
mommie gone. Her imagination was