The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-04-28


overlook what you did because you
were not wholly accountable, and be-
cause there must be no trouble be-
tween Alfred and you. May I rely on
You to keep silence and to seal the
lips Of that priest? You viii spare
me further distress. will you not,
please?"
His h0arse reply was incoherent, but
she needed only to see his working
face to know his remorse and graft
tude.
Madeline went back to her room;
and presently Florence came fori her,
and directly they were sitting at break
fast Madeline Hammond's impress
sion Of her brothers friend had to be
reconstructed in. the morning light.
She felt wholesome, frank, sweet
nature. She liked the slow southern
drawl. And she was puzzled to know
whether Florence Kingsley was pretty
or striking or unusual. She had a
youthful glow and flush, the clear tan
Of outdoors, face that lacked the
soft curves and lines Of eastern
women, and her eyes were light gray.
like crystal, steady, almost piercing,
and her hair was beautiful bright
waving mass. - -
A sharp knock on the parlor door
interrupted conversation. F1orence's
sister went to open it. She returned
presently and said -
TITS Gene. He's been dawdlin' out
there on the front porch, and he
knocked to let us know Miss Ham.
mond's brother Is comm"
Florence hurried into the parlor,
followed by Madeline The door stood
open, and disclosed Stewart sitting on
the porch steps. From down the road
came clatter Of hoofs. Madeline
looked out over Florence's shoulder
and saw a cloud of dust approaching
and in it she distinguished outlines
Of horses and riders. A warmth spread
over her, little Jingle Of gladness,
and the feeling recalled her girlish
love for her brother. What would
he be like after long years?
of dusty, wiry horses paving the
gravel and tossing lean heads. Her
swift glance ran over the 1.-THE horse
men, trying to pick out the one who
was her brother. But she could not.
Her glance, however, caught the same
rough dress and hard aspect that char
acterized the cowboy Stewart Then
one rider threw his reins, leaped
from the saddle, and came bounding
up the porch steps. Florence met him
at the door.
Hello, Flo. Where is she?" he
over her shoulder to espy Madeline.
He actually jumped at her. She
hardly knew the tall form and the
bronzed face but the warm fash Of
blue eyes was familiar. AS for him,
he had no doubt of his sister, it ap-
peared, for with broken welcome he
threw his arms around her, then held
her off and looked searchingly at her
SWELL, sister," he began, when
Florence turned hurriedly from the
door and interrupted him.
"Al, think you'd better stop the
wrangling out there" \
He stared at her, appeared suddenly
to hear the loud voices from the
street, and then, releasing Madeline,
he said:
"By George! forgot, Flo. There
is little business to see to. Keep my
sister in here, please, and don't be
fused up, now" 49,.
He went out on the porch and called
to his men:
"Shut off your wind, Jacki And
you, too, Blaze! I didn't want you
fellows to come here. But as you
would come, you've got to shut up.
This is my business"
Whereupon he turned to Stewart,
who was sitting on the fence.
Hello, Stewart" he said.
It was greeting; but there was
that in the voice which alarmed
Madeline.
Stewart leisurely got up and lei
surely advanced to the porch.
"Hello, Hammond!" he drawled. -.
Drunk again last night?"
SWELL, If you want to know, and IL
It's any Of your mix, yes, was
pretty drunk" replied Stewart. -.
It was a kind of cool speech that
showed the cowboy in control Of him.
self and master Of the situation-not
an easy speech to follow up with un-
due inquisitiveness There was a
short silence. ~. 49,. ...
% 1t, Stewart" said the speaker,
presently, "here's the situation: It's
all over town that~you met my sister
hast night at the station and-and
insulted her. Gene, you've been on the
wrong trail for some time, drinking
and all that You're going to the bad
But Bill thinks, and I think, you're
still q man. We never knew you to
lie. Now what have you to say for
yourself?" - z~..s.... -
Nobody is insinuating that I am
liar?" drawled Stewart.
"No." x zSry --.s.s,z i
"Well, I'm glad to hear that. You
see, AL, I was pretty drunk last night,
but not drunk enough to forget the
least thing I did. found Miss Ham
mond waiting alone at the station.
She wore veil, but knew she was
a lady. OF course. imagine, now that
II think Of 1t, that Miss Hammond
found my gallantry rather startling,
and
At this point Madeline, answering to