The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-08

s,rTs's 0 cattle mans
 s'Ia'iI take it and like it." Asper nrturrd her srufkly. "I want Q cat- fioman here 60 DO to get Seth Dolby and that crew at Blind River over
 their fantrume." NJ
 Doka aniled a contented smile.
 s'I think We-that is that he will
 like the 5ob," she said eweetly.
 Asper laughed outright a nd
 turned away. He was very busy
 getting the work ntratghfened out
 ard ready for a government check
 that would uncover all of Swergin's
 crooledness. AsDer knew that the
 job at Three Rivers was going to
 cost him pretty penny but he was
 ready to pay it and continue the
 work.
 There was a moon again and
 Folly Mountain was bathed in a soft, silver haze. The aspens rustled gently and the spruce mur-
 mured with e sigh that added soft music to the song of million night folks of the insect family. Dona sat on 6 log at the edge of the clearing and watched the last patch of shadow slip fro mthe cliffs high up under the rim of Folly Noun tain.
 MalIoy had been up to see her and had iust left. He had said he was going to see Stan Ball and then he was headed north to take a job as range boss, Dona had felt Q little ache in her heart as she bid him goodby. She had tried to per- suade him to stay and help Stan boss the timber work but he had answered, with a grin that two cowpunchers would be sure to wreck the works.
 Malloy had stayed at camp until Stan was ready to walk. The next day his friend was to be allowed to walk about little and Malloy had suddenly decided to take . job on the north range. He had been good to Dona while Stan was mending and had taken her for many rides into the now peaceful hills. I. Dona settled back and smiled into the night, Malloy was a real friend, one she could call on again | for anything she needed that he 1 might have. Her thoughts were with Stan a second later. She had seen little of him alone. He had been onthe porch and in the office of her father but the main build ing was now a bel1ive of activity and they had not had a chance to be alone.
 she hummed an old tune, Q vest ern ballad she had learned as a girl. Her vocal solo stopped sud- denly and she turned about. Son1e- one had stepped up behind her. "Stan Ball!" she cried as he slid
 to the grass at her feet. You are disobeying doctors orccrs!" 'Malloy told me you were here. He helped me to within 10 feet Of l this enchanted spot, then quit me soft. "I had to come, Dona," he
 rushed on. siddenly unable to keep back his words. I've watched you every day and wanted to talk to you alone but somebody was al- ways around.n He suddenly became self-conscious and hesitated. Dona laid a hand on his arm.
 "Yes, Stan. You wanted to ask me | if you should accept Dads offer." Stan snorted. Her words sud- denly brought him back to his old self. Rising from the grass he caught her by the shoulders and shook her gently. 1T came out here | to tell you that love you and that I want you to be my wife,
 Dona wanted to cry. Instead she l laughed tinsteadily and let him draw her to him. He showed plain | ly that he was well on the way to | recovery as his strong arms drew her close. Hungros his lips found hers, then all was silence except for the humming of the cricketss The moon swung high over Folly Peak and revealed every nook and cranny on the mountain. It dis covered two shadowy forms sitting clasped in each others arms gazing raptly at the grandeur of the night but seeingsnone of it's beauty. (THE END)