The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1931-01-29

her, his cap and a package in his
hands, his face tensely set as he
fought himself into obliviousness of
his rivals presence.
He held out his gift to her.
"My Uncle Hepsibah has just
come from the English colonies,
and he brought me this that |
might in turn give it to YOU. Will
you accept it, ToinetteY
He forgot Paul Tache. Spots of
red came into his cheeks as TOT
nette's surprised eyes greeted him.
She almost smiled, and as if some
thing made her forgetful of her
magnificence and the dignity it i'm
posed, she extended her hand to
receive the package. The manner
in which she accepted his gift sent
the blood racing through his body.
The color deepened in her cheeks,
and, installing this for still greater
evidence of the pleasurable thrill
he had given her, Jeems was sure
she was about to thank him for his
gift, when Paul stood beside them.
Ignoring Jeems, Toinette's cousin
led her away, politely relieving her
of the package as they went. 1t
was then that Toinette turned to
smile at Jeems, in spite of the eyes
she knew were watching her. In
this same moment her escort al
lowed the package to drop surrep-
! titiously from his hand.
This act, inspired by contempt
for the forest boy, and urged by a
meanness of spirit hidden under Il
display of wealth and fine clothes,
swept Jeems' thought from Toi-
nette whose nearness of person, sur
prising beauty, and sweetness of
disposition had almost made him
forget his one reason for being at
Lussan's sale. This weakness in
the armor of his intentions was
sealed when he saw his present fall
to the ground Toinette became in.
stantly immaterial in the path of Il
storm of emotion which caught and
held him fiercely. He saw only one
person where there were two, and
that one was Paul Tache. In a
brain white with heat, and in eyes
blinded to the presence of all iv.
ing forms except that of the youth
who had darkened his mind with
bitterness, TOinette ceased to exist
for him, and when he sprang for
ward to recover the bundle, it was
not with the thought that he was
rescuing it for her, but that it was
to be his reason for glorious war
when the moment was at hand for
him to hurl it in his rivals face.
Detaching themselves from the
shifting groups of which they had
been a part, Toinette and young
Tache strolled to their horses,
knowing that many glances fol
lowed their elegant departure. Civ
ing themselves a brief time in
which to be admired, they saun-
tered into the gardens back of Lus.
sans house.
Jeems was only few steps from
Paul and Toinette when the disap-
peared behind the house. He held
back with a feeling of satisfaction
when he saw the two going down a
path which took them out of sight
of any curious eyes that might
have watched them. Not until the
last flutter of Toinette's skirt was
gone did he proceed with the bust
ness of following them, and then
like an Indian, he slipped noise
lessly along the path and foun(
them standing, somewhat per
picked. at the edge of soggy anC
ill-smelling open space where Lus
san had built his barn and wherein
r his cattle and pigs had gathered
for so long that one was sure of Z
precarious and unpleasant footing
Toinette, her chin tilted, a flash o
Indignation in her eyes as she helt
up her skirt, with both hands, wa
on, the point of loosing her wratl
upon her escort for daring to brin;
her to such place of defilemen
| when Jeems stepped out from {
rim of bushes and confronted them
His face was pale. His slim bod,
was as taut as a bowstring. His
eyes were almost black. He die
,, not see Toinette, scarcely knew
that she was in his world. even al
her anger gave place to an excla
nation of surprise when she saw
; in his hand the package which h,
had given her few minutes be
fore. He approached Paul Tache
and that youth, misinterpreting tn
slowness of his movement and TIN
bloodless pallor of his face as sign
! of embarrassment and fear, sough
! to cover his disgrace in Toinette'
eyes by an explosion of Taught.
! protest at being followed and spie,
, upon in this way Jeems made NJ
reply except to hold out the pack
Z age. Sight of ii choked the word
i. in the others throat. Jeems' 81
! lence and the way in which he con
!, tinued to extend the packag
: brought a deep color into Paul.
face. He and not Jeems was con
: scious of the amazement in Toi
= nettes countenance and of the in
: tensity of her interest in the situa
!, ton. He recovered himself swift
!. and, with a guileful change of man
= ner, held out his hand.
. pardon me-" he apologized. 81
' is good of you to bring the pack
o age-which accidentally dropped.
), Jeems came step nearer.
n "You Iiew he cried, and with
o furious movement he hurled tn
c bundle in Taches face.
q (TO BE CONTINUED.)
. Ingenious Franklin
r We have been Using the mails 70