The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-10-27
,e began, when Elizabeth inter

MS rifle gum"
"Not much danger of that" Dale re-
piled. "The Balls have already been
warned about sniping; your father to!n
them that their very name would De
secured off the earth if there was any
snipng. Besides, BY Heck IS act'hs
as advance guard somewhere ahead Oh
U.s."
He continued, "As soon as ca"
build and furnish a little house Out
near the mine, | want you TO marry
me Babe. Will you?"
Elizabeth Littleford seemed not 10
have heard.
twill you, Babe"
She faced him sadly. He saw IN
her hazel eyes the same queer llsht
of tragedy that he had seen there a
day Or two before; and now, as theh
he wondered what it could mean.
"Tell me, Babe"
Her head fell forward. The sunlleh'
found glints of gold in her thick cnest
nut-brown hair. She was sllent 1r
moment; then her voice came dul'y:
"Td better not marry you, Bill Dale'
Dale sat up straight and rigid II
his saddle and stared hard at her Sol
EMMY beautiful profile. He coul
hardly believe that he had heard COZ
rectly. He knew she loved him. 81
had told him that she loved him. Inc
why wouldn't she marry him? II
tried to reason it out, and the atteml
made his brain ache; he was unao
TO reason. He knew only that she W;
all of the future to him, all OF II
world to him, and-that she had I
fused to marry him.
When they were within two mil
Of home, Dale went suddenly viii
and caught her almost rudely by
wrist.
\ Us it Jimmy Fayne?" he demand
H hOtly.
| She gave him a reproachful CLAN
| ona so;d nothing, He flung her ha
] from him angrlly.
Dale did not speak again until tn
\ had entered the broad valley that "
A home to him. Somehow he felt III
i now, The great wave Of anger
4 passed.
81 guess YOU are too good for m
he said. There was weakness IN
vo;ce and it was the first weakn
che had ever known in him.
"Will you always think Of me
tho finest and most beautiful Won
he in the world?" she asked.
an always"
"1t,s the best I can hope for" n
INJURED Elizabeth.
Try "What do you mean?
TO "It's the best l can hope for, NJ
pu' beth repeated as though she were
va ing to herself.
'a'l They rode on in silence
ges -
ing There was no sleep for Bill Dale
night. The sweetness of his lie
sels had all been taken away by BABE
ore- tleford's refusal to marry him.
say became bitter toward her again.
ne had been exceedingly unfair TO
The while she really loved him. she
lieu going to marry Jimmy Fayne pe'
for be had so much money. She wa
lded grateful to him: it was through
tate that she was being educated,
d, lifted out of her uncouth and i
atri- ate self and set on higher socla
rom Intellectual plane. All he had
cad, heard of the so.called unfathol
fully mystery of womankind he nov
! his ljeved, and more. All this OF g
Drce, was unworthy. But Bill Dale W
jury tpnselv human, and to be hum
'ords TO be unworthy.
case II turned cold that night. A
t his nefore noon of the next day, BY
stenned into the Moreland Goa
ment pany's office.
)ale's Dale looked YEARLY up from
'ou,u tered desk.
arely W am very much obliged to y
n the shooting Adam Ball, By"
been ITS hi, Bill, amt til"
'p'e'. "What?"
some Hook leaned over and rest
Or De. knotty hands on the muzzle Of
y p , eyitable rifle.
Bal "Whateyer it is you're al
cow about, O course. Babe Littlef'
an IN went back to yore home tow
rick mornin', Bill. Sort o quare' ! I
at you never went with her
ade a the switch. Sort O quare,
he de- she never rid over on the llttle
ed the instid O walkin. But mebbe
etired' afeard o gittin' her fine city G
} than smutted up. Say, Bill, old
tn Lit visit I may drap dead in my !,
,. eff you don't look like a o,u
in and Ieod. 1t hat to be h.
lustere wouldn't grieve about it. :
Babe?"
We you Dale rose and glared at BY
, I'm going to have the trt
elo , ~ now get that. Did you' or a IL.
aro - kill Adam Ball to save me"
By Heck realized that he wo
eathery TO DC vei' Nv pin Dale.
<. The ques'l'h NV 49, off longer
cheered would no. oe pu' u 81
if Tom SO by heeh .s,. n,,nuto
ing the may arap ueou n,,nr with
Is until into a cross.esea WIGHT
Ills and tail ana p'hh e.s : ,,ond ton
eminent may take INC anu $50 roa.hot
en- their etarnities a-s.l.n =, mo On,
zig hills coated pitchlolN0 ~ wi,