Evening star., 1928-10-10


reasoning in such loud voice
that the song of his heart could not
prevail.
Jean coming. An orchid nurtured in
city conservatory! 1t was madness
to expect hothouse flower to take root
and bloom on the range with cactus and
sagebrush! True, Cragg was riot of
beauty in the Summer with its mari
posa lilies, columbine, foxglove, bluebells,
dobe lilies, cactus, Indian paintbrush-
John ran them over in his mind trying
to convince himself that they, too were
delicate beauties. If they could thrive
and bloom on Cragg, might not jean
Sitting in the rustic chair on the We
randa that swept the whole east front
of the loghouse he had built with his
own hands, the man of the open spaces
studied the question, trying with the
whole soul of him to be fair to The girl
he had loved from babyhood.
"I will come as soon as you have the
hut ready. my caveman," Jean had
laughed tremulously when Private John
Boyd had been ordered to the open
spaces by the specialist; but John,
knowing more about the open spaces
than the child of the city could guess,
resolved that he would not ask her to
share the hardships that were ahead of
him. Not until he had her conservatory
ready would he transplant his orchid.
Dispirited the man got up and entered
the living room. 1t had possibilities.
He had seen to that when building. 1t
was spacious. Directly opposite the
front door was great fireplace made
of rock and on the mantel the gay ship
Pinta flaunted her Sails-this, too, Pri-
vate John Boyds own handiwork, while
convaleScing near the sea. There was
a window on each side of the front door,
which faced the east, There were two
windows on the north, and a group of
four easement windows on the south,
which overlooked JeWeled Butte. Jean
would worship the beautiful butte, John
thought, standing there at the case
ment windows, whence he could see the
green carpet of trailing juniper and
kinnikinick, which in the Fall would
be jeweled with the blue and red ber-
ries
But the furnishings! A rustic table,
rough-hewn settle, rougher hewn chairs,
cot Madness. the head shouted. John
came back to the easement windows
and viewed the great cottonwoods that
surrounded the house-an argument for
the heart. John loved trees.
From the living room John went to
study the kitchen-from brides view
point. The built-in cupboards could be
painted ivory and the breakfast nook
made some gay, dashing hue.
His critical eyes travelled to the big,
roorny shining range. Imagine pre-
senting kitchen range to a woman and
expecting her to love you for it!' the
man groaned.
John sank down overcome with doubt
and. leaning his elbows on the built-in
table in the breakfast nook, looked to
the thorn-apple just outside the WIN
dow. Even the thorn-apple argued for
the head. Glum and unfriendly-but
argued the heart, In another six weeks
it will be in full glory At that the
thorn-apple looked more Sullen and
shock warning fingers toward the great
expanse of sagebrush beyond.
Private John had been trained to bat
tie. He turned his eyes from the thorn
apple to the crimson rambler struggling
to reach the window ledge.
"In another year." he speculated "an
audaciouS rose would look boldly in upon
the young mistress singing as she step
ped" the thorn-apple gave the VIM
dow perfectly vicious slap and the
man arose and went back to the ve-
randa.
Unless you wire me not to-" he re-
read the letter, Il shall come with Ned
TO stay"
1t would be too late to wire. If he
wished Jean hadn't realized that the
folk of the open range got their mail
twice a week only. Another argument
for the head.
"If I'd had another year." John told
himself 81 could have had things bet
ter-bring the water down from the
SPRING"
The honking of old Whit's flivver
brought him to his feet, and when he
saw his orchid with dear old Ned step
ping out, all misgivings were submerged
Darn willful girl I've brought you,"
Ned told him with a wink, land II she |
makes as bossy wife as she does a |
sister-why, God help you, old man, is
all I can say"
John, looking into the brave. merry |
sapphire eyes of the orchid, laughed |
happily.
Six weeks later the thorn-apple was !
in full glory. John, returning from an |
early morning ride among the lambing |
flock, dropped the reins over Whirl- |
winds head and started on run for |
the kitchen. He wanted to kindle the |
fire in the range before the orchid was |
awakened. Just under the thorn-apple |
he stopped and reverently removed his /
hat. The chatelaine of the Castle of !