The Raymer enterprise., 1923-08-09

ment only because everybody was TOO
busily appeasIng appetite.
For q few days the prevailing fea.
lures Of camp life for Madellne's
guests were sleep and rest. The men
were more visibly affected BY the
mountain air than the women.
This languorous spell disappeared
presently. and then the days were full
of life and action. Necessarily. Of
course. Madeline and her guests were
now thrown much In company with
the cowboys. And the party grew to
bs like one big family.
Madeline found the situation one Of
keen and double interest for her. II
before she had cared to study her
cowboys. particularly Stewart, now,
with the contrasts afforded BY her
guests. she felt BY turns she was
amused and mysti6ed and perplexed
and saddened. and then again subtly
pleased.
From the thought Of Stewart, and
the watchfulnen growing out Of II.
she discovered more about him. He
was not happy; he often paced up and
down the grove at night; he absented
himself from camp sometimes during
the afternoon when Nels and Nick
and Monty were there; he was always
watching the trails as II he expected
to see some one come riding up. He
alone Of the cowboys did not indulge
In the fun and talk around the camp
nre. He remained preoccupied and sad.
and was always looking away Into dis
tance. Madeline had q strange sense
Of his guardianship over her; and, re-
membering Don Carlos, she imagined
he worried a good deal over his
charge, and. indeed. over the safety
Of all the party.
A favorite lounging spot Of Made
lines was a shaded niche under the
lee Of crags facing the east. Here In
the shade Of afternoon, she and Edith
would often lounge under low.
branched tree. Seldom they talked
much. for II was afternoon and dreamy
with the strange spell Of this noun
tain fastness. There was smoky haze
In the valleys. q feecy cloul resting
over the peaks, a sailing eagle In the
blue sky, silence that was the un-
broken silence Of the wild heights,
and q soft wind laden with incense Of
pine.
One afternoon, however, Edith ap-
peared prone to talk seriously.
"See here. Majesty Hammond. do you
intend to spend the rest Of your life
In this wilderness?" she asked, bluntly.
Madeline was silent.
"Oh, II Is glorious! Don't misunder-
stand me. dear" went on Edith, earn.
estly, a. she laid her hand on Made
lines. ''This trip has been q revela-
ton to me. did not tell you, Majesty,
that l was III when l arrived. Now
I'm well. So WE'LL Look at Helen.
too. Why. she was a ghost when We
got here. Now she II brown and strong
and beautiful. II It were for nothing
else than this wonderful gift Of health
would love the West. But have
come to love 1t for other things-evsn
spiritual things. Majesty. ! have been
studying you. ! see and feel what thiz
life has made Of you. When I came !
wondered at your strength. your viril.
ity, your serenity, your happiness. And
was stunned. / wondered At the
causes Of your change. Now I know.
You were sick OF idleness. sick Of use
lessness. II not of society-sick Of the
horrible noises and smells and contacts
one can no longer escape In the cities
I am sick Of all that. too, and could
tell you many women Of our kind who
suffer In a like manner. You have
done what many Of US want to do, but
have not the courage. You have left
1t. am not blind to the splendid diff
ference you have made In your life.
think would have discovered. even II
your brother had not told me, what
good you have done to the Mexicans
and cattlemen Of your range. Then
you have work to do. That is much the
secret Of your happiness. Is 1t mott
Tell me. Tell me something Of what /,
means to your"
Work. Of course, has much to dc
with any ones happiness" replied
Madeline. mo one can be happy who
has no work. As regards myself-fol
the rest ! can hardly tell you. l have
never tried to put 1t In words. Frank
ly. believe. II / had not had money
that l could not have found such con
tentment here. That IL not In any
sense q judgment against the West
But II had been poor l could no,
have bought and maintained my ranch
Stillwell tells me there are many
larger ranches than mine, but none
Just like It. Then I am almost pay
Ing my expenses out Of my business
Think Of thatl My income. instead Of
being wasted, Il mostly saved. / thinl
IL hope l am useful. OF course my
ranch and range are real. my cowboyi
are typical. II were to tell you how
I feel about them 1t would simply b. q
story Of how Madeline Hammond sesl
the West. They are true to the West
It is who am strange, and what
feel for them may be strange, too
Edith, hold to your own Impressions