Winston of the Prairie

ked in it contentedly after their drive through the bitter night. Those who came from the homesteads lying farthest out had risked

e, and it was not until Dane, the big middle-aged bachelor, had spoken very plainly, that he consented to

said in answer to one invitation, "I have never been frost-bitten, sir, and I stand the cold well, but one or two of the lads are

Understand that in itself I care very little for dress, but it is only by holding fast to every traditional nicet

tionally, though the smooth black fabric clung about him more tightly than it had once been intended to do. His sister stood, with the stamp of a not wholly vanished beauty still clinging to her gentle face, talking to one or two matrons from outlying farms, and his niece by a little table turning over Eastern photographs with a few young girls. She, too, wore black in deference to the Colonel's taste, which was sombe

weather-bronzed faces, picturesque in embroidered deerskin or velvet lounge jackets, were scattered about the room, and all were waiting for the eight o'clock dinner, which replaced the usual prairie supper at Silver

Colonel Barrington. "You are silent, sir, a

n truth to him. "The fact is, I am growing old," he said, and then added, with what was onl

's glance in his niece's direction, as he said, "

feel--a little tired--and am commencing to think we should have been better prepared for the struggle had we worked a trifle ha

before, and could guess his anxieties, was a little touched as he noticed his attempt at sprightliness. As it happened, o

right spirit,

required. Thank God we have not rated the dollar too high, but it is possible we

deal, sir," Da

too late to begin again. In the usual course of nature I must lay down my charge presently, and that is why I

a liberty--you still consider the one appare

I fear there is not a redeeming f

oor, and, though this was a most unusual spectacle on the prairie

e, Miss Barrin

tomed to the light, moved forward with a quiet deliberation that was characterized neither by graceful ease nor the restraint of embarrassment. His face was almost the color of a Blackfeet's, his eyes steady and gray, but those of the men who watched him were turned the next moment upon the Colonel's sister, who rose to r

an intangible something that seemed to emanate from her gracious serenity compelled his homage. Then as she smiled at him and held out her hand, he was for a moment sensible of an almost overwhelming confusion. It passed as

ou for a welcome that does not

a trifle less marked in his eyes. "It is in the blood," he

ng time since you have seen Lance, Maud, and, though I knew his mother well, I am less fortu

d whether he had ever seen anybody so comely or less inclined to be companionable, it was borne in upon him that any speech of the kind would be distinctly out of place. Accordingly, and because there was no hand held out in this case, he contented hi

an old woman's compa

intention of trespassing on your hospitality," he said. "I purposed going on to

either dutiful nor friendly. I should have fancied you would

deep breath, for he had made the plunge and felt that the wors

ing of an orde

is eyes she had not expected to see. "It was, and I feel guilty because I was horri

was a just perceptible tightening of the hand upon his ar

to compel her good opinion. Then he found himself seated near the head of the long table, with Maud Barrington on his other hand, and had an uncomfortable feeling that most of the faces were turned somewhat frequently in his direction. It is also possible that he would have betrayed himself, had

cant civility, turned towards him as she said, "I am afraid our conversation will not appeal to you. P

as a topic is not quite new to me. In fact, I know almo

warrants or Winnipeg mar

g them into a wagon, while my speculations usually consisted in committing it to the prairie soil, in the hope of reaping forty bushels to the acre and then endeavoring to

by Courthorne which brought discredit on one or two men connected with the affairs of a grain elevator. It was evident that Miss Barrington had a

charitable to believe

rdly under her clear brown eyes, that would, he fancied

rd anything," she said. "Were you not a

s; but I am warned," he said. "Excuses are, after all, not worth much

different stamp of man from the type she had been used to, and, being a woman, the romance t

ong your talents, and should have fancied yo

ickered in Winston's eyes. "Are not all s

rd sardonic speeches of the kind before, and felt inclined to won

erhaps I laid myself open to the thrust; but have you any ri

nd, a lonely toiler, and now was constrained to personate a man known to be almost dangerously skillful with his tongue. At first sight the task appeared almost insuperably difficult, but Winston was a clever man, and felt all the thrill of one playing a risky game just then. Perhaps it was due to excitement that a readiness he had never

ding large stocks, and I can see no prospect of anything but a steady fall

dence. No money can be made at present by farming, but I see no reason why we should not endeavor to cut

d softly, "That is exactly what one of the

that such a measure would not be advisable or fitting, Mr. Courthorne. You, howev

n the contrary, I

ile a blunderer would have endeavored to

that I have tried my hand at farm

rrington dryly, as he ro

lone, and looked down upon her gravely. "One discovers that frankness is usually best," h

f dissolute living there. The man's gaze was curiously steady, his skin clear and brown, and his sinewy form suggested a capacity for, and she almost fancied an acquaintance with, physical toil. Yet he had alrea

any moment if I

ll with, and the first of them, your aunt, has, I fancy, already decided to give me a fair

not find it easy to get on with Colonel Barrington. His code i

ave at least a right to toleration. That leaves only you. Th

, pleased Maud Barrington. It was free from vanity,

could decide better in another six months. Now it is perhaps fortunate

gesture of dismay to e

hist is my uncle's hobby and he i

nwardly. "And I a

" and again a faint trace of a

said. "I had few opportunities of

our places," said Maud Barri

. "I should explain that we never allow stakes of any kind at Silverdale," he said.

eyes as the game proceeded, and once or twice he appeared to check an excl

ridden a long way," he said,

ry, sir. It was scarcely fair to my partner.

e cards. "We will," he said, "hav

Winston lost his head in h

ough somebody had struck him in the face, and, as soon a

tay here a day or two. Your

. "I think I am wise.

ke Mr. Courthorne home with you," she said. "I would have kept him here, but he is ev

ying farm. It was furnished simply, but there were signs of taste, and the farmer who occupied it

to sell wheat in face of th

on't like unpleasantness, but I can al

lonel can be nasty, and he has no grea

e a difference at Silverdale, but I would consider it a fr

ington than there would have been. Barrington, who is fond of the girl, was trustee for the pr

Miss Barrington of

aid Dane. "Did

. "I never quite realized it before.

a facer. We are all more or less frie

you believe in the apparent improbability of such a man as I am in the opinion of the folks at Silverdale getting tired of a w

And, if I have my way, the first man who flings a stone will be sorry for it. Still, I don't think any of them

's a long while since I've talked so much," he sai

ll sat smoking thoughtfully beside the stove. "We want a man with nerve and brains,"

nd sister in Silverdale Grange. "And the man threw that trick away, when it was a

n, but Miss Barrington smiled at her

"Can you ask--after that! Besides, he twice willfully perverted fa

And yet, because I was watching him,

fessional gambler

"My dear, give him a little time. I have seen many men an

s spots?" asked Colonel Ba

lanced at him as she said quie