The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-01-02

the old rancher. mot wishin' him any
harm, or you, neither. We was JUS
tnlkin' 1t over an your father thinks
he's p enough for the road again.
Amt ever goin' to be like 1t used to be
after he's gone. an you"
We be sorry to 60" said the doc
tor. That's what I've been saying all
day, and thinking, too. II misfortunes
can be lucky, ours was n OF that
kind. ] don't know when I've enjoyed
4 holiday SO much. What do you say,
girl?" he asked. as he rested an arm
on her round, firm shoulder and looked
with fatherly fondness into the fine
brown of her face.
1--WE never known anything like it,"
she answered. Its wonderful. It's
life" Then with a sudden little scream
she exclaimed: "Oh. daddy, why can't
you sell your practice and buy a
ranch? Wouldn't that be wonderful"
"Your mother might not see 1t that
way" he replied and her eyes fell.
Yes, that was the obstacle. She
would have to 60 back to the city and
talk by rule, and dress by rule, and
behave by rule. and be correct.
ITS been a good Time" the doctor
continued. when they had commenced
supper, -but I've already overstayed
my holiday. l feel i can travel now,
and my leg will be pretty strong by
the time / am back east. If Dave will
oblige us by going to town tomorrow
and bringing back some n who can
drive a car, we will be able to start
the following morning. / will just take
the car to town, and either sell 1t there
or ship it."
The following morning found Dave
early on the trail. leading a saddled
horse by his side. The hours were
leaden for the girl all that day and,
looking into the future. she saw the
specter Of her life Swallowed down the
years by nm unutterable loneliness.
How could she ever drop 1t all-all
this wild freedom. this boundless
health, this great outdoors, this life,
life-how could she drop 1t all and 60
back into the little circle where con-
ventiOn fenced out the tiniest alien
streamlet, although the circle itself
might lie deep In mire7 And how
| would she give up this boy who had
grown SO imperceptibly but SO init
mately into the very soul of her being
give him up with all his strength and
virility and. yes. and ~coarseness, If you
will. hut sincerity, too-an essential
man. as God made HMM exchange
for a machine-made counterfeit with
the stamp of Society? Deeply did she
ponder these questions, and as the day
wore on she found herself possessed
OF n steadily growing determination
that she would not follow the beaten
trail, let the by-paths lead where they
might.
Darkness, save for white moon,
had settled over the foothills when the
boy returned with another young man,
The stranger ate q ravenOus supper,
but was not too occupied to essay con
versation with Irene. He chose to call
her cook.
"Swell pancakes. cook" was his
opening remark. Gan you find an.
other for yours trulyf'
She reflled his plate without an.
swer.
'Used TO know q girl mighty like
you" he went on. "Waitress In the
Royal Edward. Geel but she was
swelll A pippin! Classf Say. she
had 'em ali guessing. Had me guessing
myself for . while. But just for a
WHILE" He voiced these remarks with
an air Of intense self-approval more
offensive than the words.
Irene felt the color rise about hel
neck and cheeks and run like an over
flowing stream into her ears and about
her hair. II was evident that, for q
second time. Dave had chosen to say
nothing to strangers about her pres
ence at the ranch. Her father and Mr.
Elden yer In Dawes roonn !; Dave had
stopped eating. and she saw the veins
rising In his clenched fists. But the
challenge was To her. and she would
accept It; she felt no need Of his pro
lection. !.
sFill your stomach" she said. pass
ing more pancakes: '.your head II
hopeless"
He attempted 4 laugh. but the meal
was finished il silence. The stranger
III . cigarette and Irene went to the
d0or with Dave.
sCome for ! walk" he whispered
sWTqA~ hn.ane mrn <fnnd ~ Late wa1k
.sIt's our last chance
She ran Tor her sweater and rejoined
him N ! moment. They walked IN
silence down 4 path through the fra
grant trees, but Dave turned from time
70 time to catch = glimpse Of her face
white and ilne ~ ivory In the sof,
Hight. He had much to say, but he was
tOneue-tled under the spell Of hel
beauty.
II