The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-08-20
CHAPTER Ix-contlnued.

he explained. Hes visltin' out at the
ranch, an he hefts about the same as
me. Put In one Of them Hereford
shirts an a collar"
Y.D. tuckeA the package surrepti-
tiously in hIn room and awaited the
day of Zen's marriage with mingled
emotions.
Zen, yielding to Transley's impor-
tunities, had at last said that 1t should
be Christmas day. The wedding would
be In the house, with the leading
ranchers and farmers of the district
as invited guests, and the general I'M
Outstanding was to be given out that
the countryside as a whole would be
welcome. All could not be taken care
that the hay was to be cleared out Of
one of the barns and the floor put in
shape for dancing. Open house would
be held in the barn and in the bunk
house, where substantial refreshments
would be served to all and sundry.
Christmas day dawned with a sea
sonable nip to the air. but the sun
rose warm and bright. As the hour
approached Zen found herself pos
sessed Of calmness which she
deemed worthy of Y.D.'s daughter.
She had elected to be unattended as
she had no very special girl friend.
and that seemed the simplest way out
of the problem Of selecting someone
for this honor. She was, however.
amply assisted with her dressing, and
the color of her fine cheeks burned
deeper with the compliments to which
she listened with modest appreciation
At quarter to the hour 1t was dis
covered that Y.D. had not yet dressed
for the occasion. He was. In fact,
engaged with Landson In making a
tentative arrangement for the dis
tribution of next years hay. Zen had
been so insistent upon an invitation
being sent to Mr. and Mrs Landson.
that Y. D.. although fearing snub
for his pains, at last conceded the
point. He had done his neighbor
rather less than justice, and now he
and Landson, with the assistance of
a well-filled stone jug, were burying
the Ratchet In a corner of the bunk
house.
Dang this dressin'," Y.D. remon-
strated when a message demanding
instant action reached him. Land
son. hear me now. / wouldn't take a
million dollars for that girl, y IN
derstand-and I wouldn't trade a
NANCY cayuse for another"
So, grumbling he found HIS way to
his room and began wrestle with
his store" clothes. Before the fight
was over he was being reminded
through the door that he wasn't rop-
ing a steer. and everybody was wait
ing. At the last moment he discov-
cred that he had neglected to buy
shoes. There was nothing for il but
his long ranch boots. so on they went
He sought Zen In her room. "Will 1
do In thisr' he asked. feeling very
sheepish.
Zen could have laughed. or she
could have cried. but she did neither.
to her father this experience was a
positive ordeal So she just slipped
her arm through his and whispered:
"Of course you'll do. you silly old |
dufrer," and tripped down the stairs |
by the side of his ponderous steps.
After the ceremony the elder people |
sat down to dinner in the house. and |
the others in the bunk-house. Zen |
was radiant and calm: Transley hand |
,ome. delighted. self-possessed. His
good luck was the subject of many
comment, both inside and out Of the
Did house He accepted 1t at its full |
value, and yet as one who has right !
10 expect that luck will play him some
iavors.
Suddenly there was rush from
outside. and Zen found herself being
.arried bodily away. The young
people had decided that the dancing
.ould wait no longer. so half dozen
,ustlers had been deputed to kidnap
he bride am carry her to the barn.
where the fiddles were already srrurn-
ming. Zen insisted that the first dance
must belong to Transley. but after
hat she danced with the young ranch
RS and cowboys with strict impartial
ty. And even as she danced she found
lerself wondering IL. among all this
of the countryside. that
ne upon whom her thoughts had
urned so much should be missing.
The found herself watching the door.
surely II would have been only de-
ent respect to her-surely he might
ave helped TO whirl her joyously
way into the new life in which the
asst had to be forgotten. How
,uch better that they should part
hat way. than with the memories they
adj
But Dennison Grant did not appear.
he preferred TO keep his
,emorles.
When al last the night had worn
hin and II was time for the bridal
ouple TO leave II they were to- catch
he morning train In town. and thay