The Winslow mail., 1923-08-24


she found that the West had not
| claimed her yet. These old friends
had warmed cold ties.
1t turned out, however, that there
| need be no hurry about making the
| decision. Madeline would have well
coined any excuse to prOcrastinate;
but, as 1t happened, letter from AL
fred made her departure out Of the
question for the present. He wrote
| that his trip to California had been
very profitable, that he had PROPOSE
| ton for Madeline from large cattle
company, and, particularly, that he
wanted to marry Florence soon after
his arrival home and would bring
minister from Douglas for that pur-
pose.
Madeline went so far however, as
to 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 mocking 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
it 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 a shock.
Any mention of Stewart, any thought
Of him, displeased her.
"What did Helen meanY mused
Madeline. And she pondered. That
mocking light in Helen's eyes had
been simply an ironical CLINT, Gym
ical CLEAN from that worldly expert
ence so suspicious and tolerant In its
wisdom. The sweet gravity Of Helen's
look had been deeper and more sub
tie thing Madeline wanted to under
stand it, to divine in it new rela-
ton between Helen and herself some
thing fine and sisterly that might lead
to love. The thought, however, re
volving around a strange suggestion
of Stewart, was poisoned at It's incep-
ton, ana Sne dismissed 1t.
Upon the drive In to the ranch, as
she was passing the lower lake, she
saw Stewart walking listlessly along
the shore. When he became aware
Of the approach of the car he sudden
fy awakened from his aimless 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 possible meeting
with her. Somehow the act had
panied her. though affording her a
relief. She did not want to meet him
| face to face.
1t was annoying for her to guess
that StillweE had something to say in
| Stewards defense The old cattleman
was evidently distressed. Several
times he had tried to open conversa-
tion 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. Still
we'll had been crushed.
AS days passed Stewart remained at
| the ranch without his old faithfulness
to his work. Madeline was not moved
to kinder frame of mind to see him
wandering dejectedly around. 1t hurt
her. and because it hurt her she grew
all the harder.
A telegram from Douglas, heralding
the coming of Alfred and minister,
put an end to Madeline's brooding, and
she shared something Of Florence
| Kingsley's excitement. The cowboys
were as eager and gossipy as girls,
1t was arranged to have the wedding
ceremony performed in. Madeline's
great hall-chamber, and the dinner in
the cool, flower-scented patio.
Alfred and his minister arrived at
the ranch in the big white car. They
appeared considerably wind-blown. In
fact, the minister was breathless, al
most sightless, and certainly hatless.
Alfred, used as he was to wind and
speed, remarked that he did not won
der at Nels' aversion to riding a fleet
ing cannon-ball. The imperturbable
Link took off his cap and goggles and,
consulting his watch, made his usual
apologetic report to Madeline, deplor-
ing the fact that teamster and few
stray cattle on the road had held him
down to the manana time of only a
mile minute.
Arrangements for the wedding
brought Alfred's delighted approval
When he had learned all Florence and
! Madeline would tell him he expressed
desire to have the cowboys attend !;
and then he went on to talk about
California, where he was going to take
Florence on a short trip.
On the following day Alfred and
Florence were married. Florence's
sister and several friends from FL
Cajon were present besides Madeline,
Stillwell, and his men. 1t was Alfred S
express wish that Stewart attend the
ceremony. Madeline was amused
when she noticed the painfully sup