The Arvada enterprise., 1923-09-13

~&% XII q
'''ehss BY @a.es~ and e.etNsrs~ &
wanted to have fixed In mind her fu.
ture relation to the ranch and the
west. When the crucial hour arrived
she found that the West had NOT
claimed her yet These old friends
had warmed cold ties.
1t turned out, however, that tbere
need be no hurry about making the
decision. Madeline would have vel.
coined any excuse to procrastInate
but, as 1t happened. a letter from AL.
fred made her departure out of the
question for the present. He wrote
'hat his trip to California had been
very profitable, that he had a proposi.
tion for Madeline from a large cattle
company. and. particularly, that he
wanted to marry Florence soon after
his arrival home and would bring q
minister from Douglas for that pur-
pose.
Madeline went 30 far, however, as
to promise Helen and her friends that
she would go East soon, ut the very
latest by Thanksgiving. With that
promise they were reluctantly content
to say goodby to the ranch and to her.
Helen's eyes had a sweet, grave,
yet mocking light as she said: Maj.
eHty. bring Stewart with you when you
come. He'll be the rage"
Madeline treated the remark with
the same merry lightness with which
1t was received by the others; but
after the train had pulled out and she
was on her way home she remembered
Helen's words and looks with some
thing almost amounting to shock.
Any mention Of Stewart. any thought
Of him. displeased her.
"What did Helen meanf' unused
Madeline. And she pondered. That
mocking light In Helen's eyes had
been simply an ironlcal CLINT, Gym
ical CLEAN from that worldly expert
ence 30 suspicious and tolerant in It's
wisdom. The sweet gravity Of Helen's
look had been a deeper and more sub
tie thing. Madeline wanted to under
stand 1t. to divine in 1t new rela-
ton between Helen and herself. some
thing fine and sisterly that might lead
to love. The thought, however. re-
volving around . strange suggestion
Of Stewart. was poisoned at Its inceIl
ton. and she dismissed It.
Upon the drive In to the ranch. a.
she was passing the lower lake. she
saw Stewart walking listlessly along
the shorA When he became aware
At the approach Of the car he sudden
~ awakened from his almless saunter-
ing and disappeared quickly In the
shade ef the shrubbery. This was not
BY any means the frst time Madeline
had seen him avoid . possible meeting
with her. Somehow the act had
pained her. though affording her Q
relief. She did not want 70 meet him
face to face.
Il was annoying for her to guess
that StillwelI had something to say In
Stewards defsase. The old cattleman
was evidently distressed. Several
times he had tried to open . converse
tion with Madeline relating to Stew
art; she had evaded him until the last
time, when his persistence had brought
cold and final refusal to hear an.
other word about the foreman. Still
well had been crushed.
As days passed Stewart remained at
the ranch without his old faithfulness
to his work. Madeline was not moved
to 4 kinder frame Of mind to see him
wandering dejecteily around. 1t hurt
her, and because II hurt her she grew
all the harder.
A telegram from Douglas, heralding
the coming OF Alfred and q minister.
nut an end to Madeline's brooding. and
she shared something Of Florence
Kingsiey's excitement. The cowboys
were as eager and Rosslpy as girls
II was arranged to have the wedding
ceremony performed In Madslines
great hall.chamber. and the dinner In
the cool, hower.scented patio.
Alfred and his minister arrived ai
the ranch In the big white car. They
appeared considerably wlnd.blown. In
fact, the minister was breathless. al.
most sightless. and certainly hatless.
Alfred, used az he was TO wind and
speed. remarked that he did not won
der at Nels' aversion to riding 4 fleet.
ink cannon-ball. The imperturbsble
Link took of his cap and goggles and.
consulting his watch. made his usual
apologetic report to Madeline. deplor.
Ing the fact that q tenmster md few
stray cattle on the rond hnd held him
down to the mamma time Of only
mile q minute.
Arrangements for the wedding
brought Alfred's delighted approval.
When he had learned all Florence and
Madeline would tell him he expressed
n desire to have the cowboys attend:
and then he went on 10 talk about
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