The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-12-12
CHAPTER IX-Continued
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Smith-Beresford caught sight Of her
as she rode forward, and came to
meet her.
sits been q thousand years since
1 saw you." he protested, smiling up
at the girl. 1.-The day has turned a
lot brighter. Won't you alightr
II want to see Mr.. O'Hara."
He helped her from the saddle and
they moved together toward the house
Barbara waited ON the porch while he
went In to get his partner.
When O'Hara Joined her the girl
moved with him. as though uncon-
sciously. toward the hitch rack. It
was like her to begin without devious
explanation.
''Tve just left David Ingram. He's
ready to make peace on any reason
able terms" she said.
He looked quickly ut her. A Grim
son stain streamed through her cheeks.
II sent him note by that Mexican
Garcia" she went on. II asked him
to meet me. We've talked it all over.
He'll do whatever's right"
I'm spite Of Quantreil's attackw
eyes. / can't 60 to Father yet. I'm
not ready to explain everything. win
you meet Mr.. Ingram and then take
his message to Father?"
sOf course will" He felt as
though the bottom had dropped out Of
his heart. There was more to this
than she had told him. In her soft
and shining eyes was the light of a
dear dream come true.
1--WE had q talk" she said, al
most in murmur. dropping her long
lashes.
Before he spoke again he made sure
that none of the emotion which surged
In him would show in his voice.
"When am to meet him-and
where?" he asked.
She gave him directions.
Neither of them referred to what
was in both their minds. his love for
her and hers for another man. They
discussed the peace terms between
Steelman and Ingram. He saddled a
horse and rode with her until the path
forked. Before they separated she
had one last word to say to him, and
she said it with her hand on his coat
sleeve.
II want peace more than anything
else In the world. Garrett. You will
! do yore best. won't your
His brown eyes rested on hers as
he promised. "rll do my best, Bar
bara." Perhaps his smile was little
wistful as he added: ~ want you to
have what you want more than any
thing else In the world"
"Would you want me to have It II
you thought it wasn't best for me?"
she asked.
'No, but I wouldn't want to stand
In the way Of your having it."
He thought many times later of that
last remark of Barbara. Had she
some prescience in her mind of short
lived happiness. some intuition that
her love craft was likely to be wrecked
By stormy seas? In the light of sub.
seQuent events he came to think so.
The peace negotiations, now that
ingram had made up his mind to them,
Turned out to be absolutely simple.
Confronted by this new situation, a
foe willing to make concessions, Yves
Steelman made a mental right-about-
face. he did not want to be outdone
In generosity. Therefore he met his
foe at least half way.
Within four months of the date of
the treaty Wesley Steelman had to
swallow bitter pill. He stood up be-
side his only daughter. the child he
idollzed. and saw her married to
David Ingram. One aspect of the mat
ter troubled Barbara. She had
thought 1t would be a great blow to
bis pride. but she saw it was his love
that was hit. He grieved because he