Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-08-24

| water barrel.
Bedding, this is river water, ant
muddy at that" said Dick. 'IorC
knows I'm not kicking. But Nv,
dreamed some of our cool running
spring, and 1 want a drink from it,"
"Never again, son. The springs
gone, faded, sunk. dry as dust"
Dry" Gale slowly Strengthened
"We've had rains. The rivers full
The spring out to be overlooking
What's wrong? Why is it dry?"
"Dlck, seeing you're interested,
may as well tell you that big charge
of nitroglycerin choked my spring"
"Nitroglycerln? ?" echoed Gale. Then
he gave quick start. my minds
been on home, Nell. my family But
all the same felt something was
wrong here with the ranch. with you,
with Nell Bedding, that ditch
there is dry. The roses are dead. The
little green in that grass has come
with the rains. What's happened
The raneh's run down. Now 1 look
around l see a change"
"Some change, yes" replied Bedding,
bitterly. "Listen, SON."
Briefly, but mot the less forclbly
for that, Bedding related his story
of the operations of the Chases.
With deep voice that had many a
break and tremor he told Gale how
Nell had been bounded by Radford
Chase, how her mother had been
driven by Ben Chase-the whole sad
story.
$50 that's the troubled Poor little
girl!' murmured Gale, brokenly. 81
felt something was wrong. Nell wasn't
natural, like her old self"
ut was hard on Nell," said Bedding,
simply. But It'll be better now you're
here Dick, l know the girl She'll re-
fuse to marry you and you'll have
hard job to break her down, as hard
as the one you just rode in off of. 1
think 1 know you, too, or l wouldn't
be saying"
"For Gods sake, you don't believe
what Chase saidT queried Gale, In
passionate haste. Its lie 1 swear
it's lie. 1 know it's lie. And I've
got to tell Nell this minute. Come on
In with me. I want you, Bedding. Oh,
why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Bedding felt himself dragged by an
iron arm into the sitting room. out into
the patio, and across that to where Nell
sat in her door At sight of them she
gave little cry, dropped for an In
slant, then raised pale. still face,
with eyes beginning to darken.
Dearest, 1 know now why you are
not wearing my mothers ring said
Gale, steadily and low-voiced
'Dick, am not worthy" she re
Piled and held out trembling hand
with the ring lying in the palm.
Swift as light Gale caught her hand
and slipped the ring back upon the
third finger.
Nell Look at me. 1t is your en-
gagement ring. Listen. l don't
believe this-this thing that's been tor
turing you. know It's lie l am
absolutely sure your mother will prove
Il lie She must have suffered once
perhaps there was a sad errOr-but the
thing you fear Is not true. But, hear
me, dearest; even IL It was true II
wouldn't make the slightest difference
to me. | want you all the more to be
my wlfe-to let me make you forget
to-"
She rose swiftly with the passionate
abandon of a woman stirred to her
depths, and she kissed him.
"Oh, Dick, you're good-so good
You'll never know-just what those
words mean to me. They've saved me
Il think"
"Then, dearest, it's all right?" Dick
Questioned, eagerly. you will keep |
FOUR promise? You will marry meT
The glow, the light faded out of her
ace, and now the blue eyes were al
most black. She dropped and shook
Ter head.
They had forgotten Bedding, who
tepped back into the shade.
81 love you with my whole heart and
oul. I'd die for you," whispered Nell,
With clenchlng handS. but WONT
Iisgrace you. Dick, you give not one
hought to your family. Would they
eceive me as your wlfe?"
''They surely would" replied Gale,
teadily.
"NOl oh mop
you're wrong. Nell. Pm glad you
aid that. You give me chance to
rove something. I'll go this minute
nd tell them all. I'll be back here in
ess than"
'Dick, you will not tell her-your
cried Nell, with her eyes
"You win not7 Oh, l can't
ear It'll She's so proudi And, Dick,
love her Don't tell herl Please,
lease don'tl She'll be going soon. She
eedn't ever know-about me. Please
ont goi"
Nell, I'm sorry. hate to hurt you.
tut you're wrong You can't see things
learly. This is your happiness I'm
ghting for. And it's my life. >