Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-09-06

West. When the crucial hour arrived
she found that the West had no
claimed her yet. These old frtendl
had warmed cold ties.
II turned out. however. that there
need be no hurry about making tbs
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 beer
very profitable, that he had a PROPOSE
ton for Madeline from a large cattle
company. and, particularly, that he
wanted TO marry Florence o o after
his arrival home and would bring q
minister from Douglas for that pur-
pose.
Madeline went 30 far. however, as
10 promise Helen and her friends that
she would go East soon, at 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 hooking light as she said: Maj
esty, 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 size remembered
Helen's words and looks with some
thing almost amounting to a shock.
Any mention of Stewart, any thought
of him. dlspleased her.
"What did Helen meanT' unused
Madeline. And she pondered. That
mocking light In Helen's eyes had
been simply an ireHieal CLINT a Gym
ical CLEAN from that worldly expert
ence so suspicious and tolerant In Its
wisdom. The sweet gravity of Helen's
look had been a deeper and more sub
tie thing. Madeline wanted 10 under
stand IL. TO divine In 1t a new rela-
ton between Helen and herself, some
thing fine and s~Isteriy that might lead
to love. The thought. however, re
volvlng around a strange suggestion
of Stewart. was poisoned at Its incep-
ton, and she dismissed 1t.
Upon the drive In to the ranch, as
she vas passing the lower lake. she
saw Stewart walking lIstlessly along
the shore. When he became aware
OF the approach of the car he sudden
Iy awakened from his almless saunter-
Ing and disappeared quickly in the
shade of the %shrubbery. This was not
by any means the first time Madeline
had seen him avoid a possible meeting
with her. Somehow the act had
panied her. though afrordIng her a
relief She did not want to meet him
face to face.
II was annoying for her to guess
that Stillwell had something to say In
Stewards defense. The old cattleman
was evidently distressed. Several
times he had tried to open a converse
ton with Madeline relating to Stew
art she had evaded him until the last
time, when his persistence had brought
a cold and final refusal to hear an
other word about the foreman. Stll-
well had been crushed.
AS days passed Stewart remained at
the ranch without his old f~aithfulness
to his work. Madeline was not moved
to a kinder frame of mind to see him
wandering dejectedly around. 1t hurt
her. and because 1t hurt her she grew
all the harder.
A telegram from Douglas, heralding
the coming of Alfred and a minister,
put an end TO Madeline's broodlng. and
she shared something OF Florence
excitement. The cowboys
as eager and gossipy as girls.
It was arranged to have the wedding
ceremony performed in Madeline's
great hall-chamber, and the dinner in
he cool, fiower-scented patio.
Alfred and his minister arrived at
he ranch In the big white car. They
appeared considerably wind-blown. In
act. the minister was breathless, al
most sightless, and certainly hatless.
used as he was to wind and
'peed, remarked that he did not won
Ter at Nels' aversion to riding a fleet
ng c~annon-ball. The imperturbable
link took off his cap and goggles and,
consulting his watch. made his usual
.lpologetic report to Madeline, depIor-
ng the fact that a teamster and q few
tray cattle on the road had held him
to the manan time Of only a
nile' a minute.
Arrangements for the wedding
Alfred's delighted approval
When he had learned all Florence and
dadellne would tell him he expressed
desire to have the cowboys attend
md then he went on to talk about
,alIfornla, where he was going TO take
on a short trip.
On the following day Alfred and
'lorence were married. Florence's
and several friends from El
'aJon we're present, besides Madeline,
tiilweils and his men. IL WIS Alfred's
xprsss wish that Hfewart attend the 1
CEREMONY. Madeline was smtt.<h
,hen she noticed ths painfully Cup {.
ressed excitement OF the cowboynI y
or them ! wedding fhnkt Fave bsen ?
n unusual ard impressive svsnf. alAs .