Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-08-16
of Western Stars

, noblemen. The hard thing La TO dis
cover IT, All his hideous person. al
his actions and speech. are masks o.
his real nature. Neis is a Joy. q sim
pie, sweet, kindly. quiet man whom
some woman should have loved. What
would love have meant to him de
told me that no woman ever loved him
except his mother, and he lost her
when he was ten. Every man ought to
be loyed-especially such a man al
Nels. Somehow his gun record does
not impress me. | never could believe
he killed a man. Then take your fore
man, Stewart. He Is a cowboy, his
work and life the same as the others.
But he has education and most Of the
make a gentleman. Stewart is q
strange fellow. just ike this strange
country. He's a man. Majesty, and I
admire him. SO. you see. my impress
sions are developing with my stay out
here. ! like the country, | like the men.
One reason ! want 10 go home soon
Is because am discontinued enough
at home now, without falling In love
with the West, for. of course, Majesty.
| would. | could not live out here.
And that brings me TO my point. Adj
hitting all the beauty and charm and
wholesomeness and good OF his won
derfuI country, still 1t is no place for
you, Madeline Hammond. You have
your position, your wealth. your name.
your family. You must marry. You
must have children. You must moi
give up all that for a quixotie life In .
wilderness"
II am convinced, Edith, that / shah
live here all the rest OF my life"
"Oh, Majesty hate to preach this
way. But | promised YOU metherIL
would talk to you. And the truth Is I
hate-I hate what I'm saying. / envy
you your courage and wisdom. | know
You have refused to marry Boyd Har-
vey. | could see that ln his face. /
believe you will refuse Castleton.
Whom VIII you marry?- what chance
is there for a woman of your position
TO mary out here? What In the world
will become of your"
'Quien sabef' replied Madeline,
with a smile that was almost sad.
Not so many hours after his con
versation with Edith Madeline sat with
Boyd Harvey upon the grassy promon-
tory overlooking the west, and she
listened one again to his suave court
ship.
Suddenly she turned to him and
said, Boyd. If | married you would
YOU be willing-glad to spend the rest
of your life here in the West?"
Majesty" he exclaimed. There
was amaze in the voice usually so even
and well modulated-amaze In the
handsome face usually so Indifferent.
Her question had startled him. She
him look down the iron-gray cliffs,
the barren slopes and eedared
beyond the cactus-covered foot
hills to the grim and CHASTITY desert.
lust then, with its red wells of sunIit
iust-clouds, It's lllimitable waste OF
and upheaved earth, IL was a
spectacle.
NO." he replied, with a Jingle of
In his cheek.
Madeline said no more, nor did he
speak. She was spared the pain Of re-
him, and she imagined he would
never ask her again. There was both
'elief and regret In the conviction.
1t was impossible not to like Boyd
Harvey. He was handsome, young,
ich, well born. pleasant, cultivated
he was all that made a gentleman of
us class. He was considered a very
desirable and eligible young man. ,
admitted all this.
Then she thought Of things that
perhaps exclusively her own
TRANCE ideas. Boyd Harvey's white
kin did not tan even In this south
sun and wind. His hands :
vere whittier than her own. and as soft. 4
hey were a proof that he never
His frame was tall, graceful. 9
II did not bear evidence OF
He had never INDUCED In
sport more strenuous than yachting. 9
lie hated effort and activity. He rode :
orseback very little. disliked any but
motoring. spent much time =
Newport and Europe, never walked !,
hen he could help 1t. and had no am. G
miles IT were to pass the days
leasantly. IL he ever bad any sons t
hey would be like him. only a genera
on more toward the inevitable extInc- q
of his race. K
Madeline returned to camp In just =
mood to make a sharp, deciding =
II happened-fatefuily, per
apsEshat The first man she saw was
Stewart was a combination y,
I fire. strength, and action. These at
'ibutes seemed TO cling about him.
here WAS something vital and com
cling In his presence. In him Made n,
ne saw the strength of his forefa- .,
'ers unimpaired. The life In him was :,
arvelously significant n
Madeline Hammond compared the
an of the East with the man of the
est and that comparison was the VI
st parting regret for her old stand ia