Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-09-12

IL
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 thara
need be no hurry about making the
decision. Madeline would have well
coined any excuse to procrastinate.
but, as it happened, a letter from All.
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 a PROPOSE
ton for Madeline from a large cattle
company, and, particularly, that he
wanted to marry Florence soon after
his arrival home and would bring a
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 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
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 mean?" unused
Madeline. And she pondered. That
hooking light in Helen's eyes had
been simply an ironical CLINT, a Gym
zeal 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 to under
stand it, to divine in 1t a 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 it's incep-
ton, and she dismissed it.
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
ly 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
relief. She did not want to meet him
face to face.
1t 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
well had been crushed.
AS days passed Stewart remained at
the ranch without his old faitnfulness
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, ower-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 GREATNESS; 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
apologize 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 a minute.
Arrangements for the wedding
brought Alfred's delighted approval.
When he had learned all Florence and
Madeline would tell him he expressed
a desire to have the cowboys attend;
and then he went on to talk about
California, wheresh 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 I'll
Cajon were present, besides Madeline,
Stillwell, and his men. 1t was Alfred's
express wish that Stewart attena the
CaI