The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-10-10
CHAPTER VI-Continued

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Ought to be In my breast pocket. ;
thrustlng his hand inside his pea-coar
MY eye II amt forgot that tele
grant," he abruptly exclaimed. 1.-THE
station-master at Sawyer Falls gave
1t to me when he handed out the mail
1t clean went out of my mind. It's for
that chap Heath who's stayin' over at
The Widder's.'n
Hadn't you been wool-gatherIn' YOU
| might a given 1t to Sylvia to take
back with her. She was here onfv
little while ago." Silas Nlckerson said.
II know IT.
"S'pose was to take 1t over" Elisha
Winslow suggested eagerly. I'm willin'
to-"
"Fur's that goes, can carry It,"
Capt. Phlneas Taylor piped.
Now, there's no use In all you fell
lers volunteering Eleazer Crocker as
serted. I'm goin'.. straight over to Mar
cia's, as II happens. soons I've ct my
dinner, an I'll take the telegram"
With an air OF authority, he held
ont his hand.
The crowd fell back.
Early afternoon found Marcia alone
IN the Homestead sitting room Sylvia
had gone up the beach. Stanley Heath
was asleep; and at last the delicious
interval Of solitude which the woman
coveted was here.
The basket at her elbow overlooked
with mendlng, but she had not yet
taken up her needle.
She could not work. Try as she
would, her mind wandered off into
byways too fascinating to be resisted
-byWays which no matter how re-
mote their windIngs, invariably led her
back to Stanley Heath.
In retrospect she lived over again
every incident, every word, every look
that had passed between them. until
she came to the barrier of the I'M
known which her fancy bridged with
intricate rainbow-hued imaginings.
She twisted possible explanations this
way and that and would contented,y
have continued the pastime had not
Eleazer Croker knocked at the door.
Eleazer could not have chosen
more inopportune moment to drag her
back to earth,
With frown and deep sigh, Mar
ella went reluctantly t. LET him In.
wal, now amt 1t nice to find yon
by yourself!" was his greeting. 1.-THE
kitchen looks coy as can be. Where
was you settln'?"
Il was In the front room. but per-
haps we better drop down here so
can listen in case Mr.. Heath should
call"
Anywhere you say. Wherever you
are suits me-"
III just run In and put the screen
round the fire and get my mending."
Marcia replied a trlhe uneasily. an
be right back" i
Left to himself, Eleazer smiled a
smile of satisfaction.
The Kitchen was warm Marcia was
alone and apparently not busy. Could
circumstances be more propitious? For
tune certainly was with him. Today.
this very afternoon. he would take his
future In his hands and put to her
the question he had so often deter
mined to put
When Marcia came back, he was
primed and ready to begin his decara-
ton.
"Weather's been fine amt itY' he
started out.
Marcia took up her sewing.
DO you think so?' questioned she,
raising her brows. Seems to me we've
had lots Of rain and fog"
wal, yes, now you mention Ii do |
recall few thick days. Still, spring
is comm"
I'D like to shingle the south ell this
spring" announced Marcia, giving a
dsconccrtingly practical twist to the |
conversation How many shingles do
you suppose 1t would take?"
Eleazer frowned The dialogue was
not proceeding along the lines he had
mapped out
I'D have to reckon that out. It's a
good notion, though to make the ell |
tight. That's what the birds are dom. |
They're gettln' their nests built an /
kinder nickln' out their mates"
u did mol realize you were so much
In birds, Eleazer." Marcia
exclaimed. Il have a fine bird book
/ must lend you. It's In the other
room. I'll fetch It."
Springing up. she disappeared.
"Drat IT." murmured Eleazer Gould
anything be more exasperatln'7 An
a. J. n @