Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-05-31
"Has-Anybody Been Here Lately7"

"Has-Anybody Been Here LateIy7"
upon this very crisis in her life. But
whenever she had tried to think what
it would be like she had always pic
tured Ward beside her, shielding her
from dreary details and tightening her
burden with his whimsical g%entleness.
She had felt sure that Ward would
ride down every week for news of her,
and she had expected to find him there
Billy Louise should come or send for
waiting for her after that last letter.
Whatever could be the matter? Had
he left the country?
Billy Louise's faith had compromised
definitely with her doubts Of him.
Guilty or innocent, she would be his
friend always. That was the condition
her faith had laid down challengingly
before her doubts. But unless he were
innocent and proved it to her she
would never marry him. no matter
how much she loved him. That was
the concession her faith had made to
her doubts.
Dihy LOulSC udu II WISE llltl6 DTdIu
for all she idealized life and her sur.
roundings out of all proportion to real
ity. She told herself that if she mar
ried Ward with her doubts alive her
misery would be far greater than if
she gave him up, except as q friend.
OF course her ideals stepped in there
with an impracticable compromise.
She brought back the Ward Warren Of
her pretend life. She dreamed of
him as a mutely adoring friend who
stood and worshiped her from afar
and because of his sins could not cross
the line of friendship.
If he were a rustler she would shield
him and save him, if that were posi-
bic. He would love her always-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 scenes where
friendliness 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 it with her eyes open.
Some one came upon the doorstep
and stood there for a moment. stamp
ing snow of his feet Billy Louise
caught her breath and waited. her eyes
yelled with her lashes and shining ex-
pectantly. 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
1t was only John Pringle, heavy bod
led, heavy minded, who came in and
squeaked the door shut behind him.
Billy Louise CAV him a glance and
dropped her head back on the red
cushion. Hello, John!' she greeted
~tonelessly.
John grinned, embarrassed between
his pleasure Mt seeing Billy Louise and
his pity for her trouble. His white
teeth showed a little under his scraggy,
breath-frostcd mustache.
Hello! You got back, hey? She's
purity cold again. Seems like It's goin'
storm some more" He pulled on his
mittens and tugged at the Ice dangling
ut the corners of his lips. You come
on stage. hey? bet you freeze" He
went over and stood with his back to
the fire, his leathery brown hands
rlasped behind him, his face still un-
decided as to the most suitable emotion
to reveal. "Well, how you like town,
hey? No good, l guess. You got plen-
ty trouble now. Phoebe and me, we
stick by you long as you want us to-"
II know you will, John" Billy
Louise bit her lips against a sudden
impulse TO tears. 1t 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 mommle's coffin.
She picked up the two letters she
bad written Ward, brushed Off the dust
and eyed them hesitatingly. 1t Ger
tainly was queer that Ward had not
ridden down for some word from her.
She hesitated, then threw the thin let
ter into the fire. Its message was no
longer of urgent. poignant need. Billy
Louise drew a long breath when the
grief laden lines crnmbled quickly and
went flying up the wide throat of the
chimney. The other letter she pinched
between her thumbs and fingers. She
smiled u little to herself. Ward would
like to get that. She had a swift vision
or him standing over there by the win.
dow and reading ii with those swift
shutting glances. She remembered
how she had begun it-"Brave Bucka.
roo"-and her cheeks turned pink. He
should have It when he came. Some
thing had kept him away. He would