Winston of the Prairie

good many acquaintances in the straggling town, where he now and then ran a faro game, though it was some months since he had last been there, and he had ridden a long way t

arlier from the old country, was then rea

ng on here lately?

he boys something to talk about. Still, one of the girls here is going to get married. I'm not sure old man Clouston finds it helps his trade quite as much as

ourthorne yawned. "Who's the

m, and she's by no means communicative about her antecedents; but she's pretty enough for any man, and Potter is greatly stuck on her. He sold out a week or two ago-

, if you had lived out at Willow six years as I have you'd be glad of anythi

ay before at another little town to which, in accordance with directions given, it had been

we hear you're going back east to the Silverdale settlement it's quite likely you won't want

ky runners a guide on the night of Trooper Shannon's death, and as it was dark when, muffled in Winston's furs, he met the men--who were, as it happened, for the most part new adherents, it seemed probable that they had not recognized him or had any reason

anion looked up fr

see a man of your name has died there lately, and he seems to h

it handed Courthorne the paper. "I notice your

f the death of Mr. Geoffrey Courthorne, well known in this vicinity as a politician with Imperialistic views and a benefactor of charitabl

y still for a minute or two, while hi

the latter,

u for showing me the thing, but I'd be still more oblig

to Silverdale. Indeed, Courthorne could not see what other course was open to the rancher, if he wished to preserve his safety. Still, Courthorne was aware that farming, as carried on at Silverdale, was singularly unprofitable, and he had a so

oys who had come in for provisions or their mail, and some of them commenced rallying one of their comrades who sat near the head of the table on his approaching wedding. The latter bore it good-humoredly, and mad

e man at his side laughed when a girl with a tray stopped behind them. She was a very pr

teak? Fried pota

blance brought him a little shock of disgust as well as uneasiness. Gambler and outcast as he was, there was a certain fastidiousness in him, and it did n

he man next to him. "Why don't you beg

rk flush swept into her face and then as suddenly faded out of it, leaving her very pale. She stood gazing at him, and the fingers of one hand quivered on the tra

ss Potter will have to

romised another complication, for he was commencing to realize that since Winston had gone to Silverdale it would be convenient that Courthorne as such should cease to exist. He fancied that should any of the men he was acquainted with happen to come across Winston at Silverdale--which was, however, most unlikely--they might be deceived by the

r two of the plates and laid them ready as the girl moved along the table. She glan

ord with yo

h a little smile that it was one man in particular her gaze rested on; but ne

down the corridor in abou

she had indicated. It led into a little room apparently used as a household store. Here Ailly Blake was standing, while a litter of forks, spoons, and nickeled

almost harshly, "w

I was anxious to see you? I don't think it's necessary t

le, and it was evident that she

mooth tongue and the laugh in your eyes that should warn folks against

t if I wanted you to very m

then straightened herself suddenly a

t me in that dance house I knew all there was to know of you,--and I hoped you might

flush in his face. "Still, you see, I hadn't a dollar then, and what could I do? Any way, that's done

nd noticed the little tremor in her voice as she said, "You ha

reparation. Silence is easy and in our case, I think, advisable. Presumably you are as fond of the wor

respect almost brutal, and the girl wince

aved for you and starved with you cheerfully; but you threw me off,--and, now this man who is big and strong enough to forget what you brought me to has given me a chance to wipe ou

mpted it, and nobody would blame him; but I have, as it happens, no intention of

al cruelty. "Still, perhaps, it's a little rough on the excellent Potter, t

ing--except who you are. That is why I am afraid. If he fo

l of discretion, and it's, perhaps, natural that, now you have given me up, you appear rather more attractive than ever. In fact, I a

lace to pain and bitterness as he concluded,

e him. You are going back to Engl

ear the frontier of Canada. He had discovered that it is usually the last thing one expects or desires that happens, and it was clearly advisable for Lance Courthorne to efface himself very shortly, while the easiest way to do it was to merge his identity with that of the man wh

country, too. I'm going east to-morrow to Silverdale. I wo

r cheek, and there was a little hoarse thrill in

them, and now I'll remember you often when I should forget,--but whatever you send I'll burn. I don't know why

th a little gasp, while her voice gr

was before you came my way--and Potter's kind to me. At least, I can be straight with him, and I

st uncontrollable impulse to stay beside the girl who, he realized, though she recognized his worthlessness, loved him still. That he did not love her, and, perhaps, never had done so, did not count with him. It was

h anything my good wishes go with

illy Blake shrank away from

aid hoarsel

he swung round abruptly without another look at her. When the door dosed

rst," he said. "A little rough

w possessions without forcing facts better left unmentioned upon everybody's attention, since Winston would doubtless object to jeopardize himself to please him, and the land at Silverdale could not in any case be sold without the consent of Colonel Barrington. Winston w

as left me land and property in the very select colony of Silverdale on the Cana

second time his glass was filled

rettiest girl on either sid

etired early and started for the railroad before daylight next morning. He

ll suit me better than Silverdale," he said. "In fact, it's probab