Part 41 (1/2)

He was holding her tightly to him and did not seem to know of our presence Our hearts were too full to remain We turned and left them in the joy of their reborn love

The ot into his launch, while I ju way froe; and there, kneeling together on their veranda steps, their arms around each other, their heads bent in prayer, I saw Andrew Clark and Margaret

The next afternoon, Andrew called onfor me at the store, as Jake and I returned with two boat-loads of fresh stock which ere out receiving from the _Cloochman_

The old fellow took me by the hand and surprised me by his smile of open friendshi+p

”I would ha'e coet away frae the ranch these last few days” His eyes turned huht ha'e run over this et and me ha'e a lot o'

leaway to lad if you will do what ye can to help Rita Make your ain arrangeet”

CHAPTER XVIII

A Maid, a Mood and a Song

In Golden Crescent Bay things moved quietly, almost drowsily There were the routine of hurried work and the long spells of comparative idleness

As for the people over the way, I saw little of them outside of business

I had not spoken to Mary Grant since the pere her recovery froed her note by a visit, as probably I should have done; but, then,--hoas I to know but that the note had been sent merely as a matter of form and common courtesy? She had no reason to think me other than what I showedso she ht have considered it presumptuous had I endeavoured in any way to availof service to her, for, despite her endeavours, she could not disguise froe in aand her education had been such as only the richest could afford and only the best families in America and Europe could command Yet she had a dash and ard individualis of the prairies and the wilder life of the West

Toall the purchases at the store; and, naturally, conversation with her was of a strictly business order She seldom had a word to say that was not absolutely necessary, because, froathered wisdo, and when these answers and questions were unheard conversation was apt to becoue

She had no information to impart, no reminiscences to recount, no pet theories to voice on evolution or fee, no confessions or professions tothe weather

As for Mary Grant,--she was seldom idle I had seen her make her own clothes, I had seen her over the washtub with her sleeves rolled up to her fair, white shoulders, I had seen her bake and houseclean; sharing the daily duties with her elderly cohts that Golden Crescent afforded

In her spare time, she rowed on the water, bathed, roved the forests behind for wild flowers and game, read in her hammock and revelled in her music

And she was not the only one who revelled in that glorious ht to her uplifting entertainht after night, from his favourite position on the cliffs

He confessed to s that often beset hi so nobly and victoriously

Poor old Jake! More than once I had alhtly libations, for, since he had begun his fight for abstinence, he see strength, losing interest in his daily pursuits, and, with it all, ageing

The e and had expressed his concern

Rita also had talked of it to me; and her visits to the old rown in number and her solicitude for his bodily comfort had become almost motherly

Rita always could er He was clay in her hands, and obeyed her even to the putting of a stocking full of hot salt round his neck one night he had a hoarseness in his throat