Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-09-13

| courtesy. l want them to play their
| parts seriously, naturally, as If they
had lived no other way. My guests
expect to have fun. Let us meet them
with fun. Now what do you say"
Stillwell rose, his great bulk tower
ing, his huge face beaming.
"Wal, l say it's the most amazin'
fine idee ever heerd in my life"
Indeed, am glad you like it," went
| on Madeline. Come to me again,
Stillwell, after you have spoken to
the boys. But, now that / have sug-
gested it, am a little afraid, You
know what cowboy fun is. Perhaps"
Don't you go back on that idee,"
interrupted Stillwell. He was assur-
ing and bland, but his hurry to con-
vince Madeline betrayed him. leave
the boys to me. Why, don't they all
swear by you, same as the Mexicans
| do to the Virgin? They won't disgrace
you, Miss Majesty They'll be simply
immense. It'll beat any show you ever
| SEEN"
II believe 1t WILL" replied Madeline.
/
My guests will arrive on May ninth.
Meanwhile let US get Her Majesty's
Rancho in shape for this INVASION"
|
| On the afternoon of the ninth of
May, perhaps half an hour after Made
line had received telephone message
from Link Stevens announcing the ar
rival Of her guests at Ell Cajon, Flor
ence called her out upon the porch.
Stillwell was there with his face wrin-
| killed. by his wonderful smile and his
eagle eyes riveted upon the distant
valley. Far away, perhaps twenty
miles, a thin streak of white dust rose
from the valley floor and slanted sky
! ward.
'Look''. said Florence, excitedly.
"What is that?" asked Madeline.
Link Stevens and the automobile 7"
"Oh no! Why, it's only few min
utes since he telephoned saying the
party had just arrived
"Take look with the glasses" said
Florence.
One glance through the powerful
| binoculars convinced Madeline that
| Florence was right. And another
glance at Stillwell told her that he was
speechless with delight. oval, as Nels
says, I wouldn't be in that there OF
tomobile right now for a million
pesos" he remarked.
"Why? Is Stevens driving fast?"
| Good Lord Fast? Miss Majesty,
there hain't ever been anythin' except
a streak of lightnin' run so fast in this
country / reckon I'd like to be hyar
when Link drives up, but l want to be
with the boys down by the hunks. It'll
be some fun to see Nels an Monty
when Link comes flynn along"
81 wish AL had stayed to meet them,'
said Madeline.
Her brother had rather hurried a
| shipment Of cattle to California; and
it was Madeline's supposition that he
had welcomed the opportunity to alb
sent himself from the ranch.
II am sorry he wouldn't stay" re-
piled Florence. "But AIS all business
now. And he's doing finely. It's just
| us well, PERHAPS.
Surely. That was my pride speak
ing. would like to have all my fam
| lily and all my old friends see what
man AL has become. Well, Link Stew
ems is running like the wind. The car
will be here before we know it. Flor
ence, we've only few moments to
dress. But first want to order many
and various and exceedingly cold re-
freshments for that approaching
party"
Less than half-hour later Madeline
went again to the porch and found
Florence there.
ooh, you look just lovelyl' ex
claimed Florence, impulsively, as she
gazed wide-eyed up at Madeline. "And
somehow so different"
Madeline smiled little sadly. Per-
haps when she had put on that ex-
Quisite white gown something had
| come to her of the manner which be-
fitted the wearing of it. She could not
resist the desire to look fair once more
i'll the eyes of these hypercritical
friends. The sad smile had been for
the days that were gone. For she
knew that what society had once been
pleased to call her beauty had trebled
since it had last been seen in a draw
ing-room. Madeline wore no Jewels,
but at her waist she had pinned two
great crimson roses. Against the dead
white they had the life and fire and
redness of the desert
Links hit the old roundup TRAIL"
said Florence, "and oh, isn't he riding
that carl"
With Florence, as with most of the
cowboys, the car was never driven,
but ridden.
A white spot with a long trail of
dust showed low down in the valley.
1t was now headed almost straight for
the ranch. Madeline watched it grow
ing larger moment by moment, and
her pleasurable emotion grew accord
ingly. Then the rapid beat of horses
| hOofS pauSpd her t0 firm