Show sh A A az 91 7 ot 1 J A av 14 L ae MV I 1 C F CV ap eldh CHAPTER ill III continued 4 for the first tewo since starting on en this journey nancy forgot her homesickness and was thrilled she drew a breath born of both amaze went and dell delight lit to one whose in cn tire life had been spent either in a crowded city or surrounded by the sheltering green hills of new eng land such limitless space was al most unbelievable for a time she watched athla unfamiliar world slip by too awed for anything save sae exclamations it all seemed won von darful a herd of grazing cattle a clump of cottonwoods cotton wooda woods beside nn an itri irrigating ri ditch a school house set in curious isolation consloe tin its purpose tind lind in the distance patches pat clies of green about some lonely ion lanch ilen even jack wag nag silent too interested perhaps to comment but at IR last t he be said let lets dress nan cy I 1 want to gt get out and anft this air at the next station break fasts at syracuse anyhow and bayt say r think the sun looks brighter here her than it does at home this was no idle guess the sun vaa mas brighter the air more spar kling nancy admitted that she had never breathed such air they cut abort their breakfast in order to have more moments to pace the platform and in no time now said aid jack as they swung reluctant ly aboard the train again well be in colorado I 1 wonder who cousin columbine will send to meet us nance smiled do you remember her first let ter I 1 was to sl quietly ii lu the tha station until called for I 1 so you merel do you suppose they 11 keep us waiting long gee nancel I 1 just cant realize that this long trip Is nearly over neither could nance but all too soon they found themselves wait ing their turn to leave the train nancy standing behind jack in the narrow passage realized suddenly that the hands bands clutching her pock vi acre ere trembling indeed all the fear that hat had gripped her on leaving home was nas back again as she emerged into the sunlight and joined her brother on the platform jak jack smiling a negative to an approaching red cap rescued their bags from a pile of luggage and mo moved moed ed toward th the station a beau station that mode made nance think of nn an english manor to the nest est against nn an unbelievably blue aly toN donnerel snob capped alle pikes s peak seeming so 10 near in the clear atmosphere that tha the gitl she coul I 1 reach out and touch it t ihla place certainly looks civil bed enough I 1 she observed breath lessly as jack dropped the bags an stood looking about in scare i of the expected escort civilized her brother langhei ant it did you think aoud oud see bee mud indians of course its it a civil laed but for the love lobe ol 01 0 mike alike nance look there I 1 I 1 nance looked an indian squaw T was as coming dmn toward a rd them her shoulders covered by a striped shawl shani I 1 a wee ee blackened black ebed papoose strapped to hr h r back said jack J ll k aish as she disappeared around a corner that relic of old times must have been ordered for our especial bene fit I 1 t suppose they carried their kids like that in these days hut but she h hd had d on silk stockings jak ah annl high cipf lad slippers clippers I 1 they looked so incongruous with ith nil all the rest of her well chath that 11 be something to nolte homo home about 1 I vonder it if we ought to go inside do you knott knon I 1 I 1 feel sort of nervous iner vors I 1 wi wish wih h wh whoever oeNers a coming for us would come and gt get it over w ith 1 iota r ot a stay rl bt hero here ams it 15 airs air a so mj veloda do you suppose they often get such days in winter atch out slat jack loN lowered ered hla his voice I 1 catch onto the old dame in tho the firtman s shirt 11 nancy smiled eyes following h her er bi birther others a A white haired woman mom an lind hid just emerged from the station she he wore a broad brimmed blick black hat much like ilke a mans man s while her long black cape being unfastened reve revealed alkil a noddy blouse of flaming red iter her feet were clad in stout black laced boots above which an inch or two of cotton stocking met a darl dark cloth skirt an eccentric feg aure ure taken as a whole and yet 11 nance whispered is as she sha passed them hurriedly I 1 she has an air about her see what bat I 1 mean jack yeah hr hp admitted but I 1 bet shea she a a crank of some sort just the same you know what they call a a character chir acter you d think jack paused the eccentric lady had curved and was approaching rapidly 1 I im ni tool tooling looking ing for two young people by the name of NI son she said bald crisply crl cri nave I 1 round thear the question was as ag unique as the woman but in that moment her somewhat ML mannish nals 11 C countenance was lighted by a contagious smile jack actually grinned while nance responded quickly it looks as if you hai I 1 did cousin columbine send you yoa to meet us A quick L I 1 answered her 1 I clare say youre bunery na ail two bears and so aro arn 1 I come in nd ad ent eat these eastern trains adwa aiwa always s aarle at meal times sti I 1 talking she led ro toward the atimion restaurant and motioned to seats at the counter count pr no use in a collir for a dinner when you can get a hot roast beef sandwich for fifty airty cents do you like ilke roast beef in my opinion theres nothing better belter do you want ft ant coffee they say its had tsi far poo peo plo pie but ivo ino drunk it every day for more than fifty years and am still able to get about struck dumb by this breezy individual lack jack stifled a smile and gave hla his slate a disconcerting nudge their escort had hung her cape on a nearby hook and was waa a noticeable figure in her broad felt hat and scarlet middy people looked at her mildly amused but there was nobility la in her weather beaten countenance and her smile was winning lunch was quickly served and there being no privacy at the coun ter was vas consumed in silence save for a few questions regarding their journey As the train pulled away from the sl both boy and girl turned to watch vatch it a guoth regretful twinge as if some good friend were deserting thern them and as nance resumed her bet meal their corn com panion asked sorry to see the train depart without youl 1 I suppose I 1 arn am replied the girl and added at this unexpected in sight ot of her mood you see it makes me feel as if the last bridge behind us was burning eveia things so different from BIassi chu belts and not knowing consla columbine at all 1 I in silly enough to be a little nervous I 1 the woman smiled one of her nice smiles lou needia need it be I 1 don dont t think find columbine nelson hard to ilae with have aou OTI known her long asked jack hoping to secure a bit of light on the tha character of this unseen re lathe all my life she was as boin in pine ridge a seventy odd ears ago in a coveted wagon I 1 know said nance its it s one of our family stories that and how she happened to br bi named I 1 Is it indeed Inde edl I 1 the woman tipped thelt theli waitress un itress and glanced up quickly I 1 oh there you are mark alark V I 1 ane ine lunch room was vias almost empty now and as she slipped from the high stool nance saw a young fel low in a sombrero Bom som biero bibb velch he re moved as he be caught sight of their companion Lomp anlon jack stole an amused glance at nanci a glance she had bad no trouble in interpreting Interpret irig it said as plainly 7 a as it if lied he d spoken I 1 later the forbidden boy friend I 1 tike care als I 1 it was vins jacks glance not the sud su d den of this unexpected bouth auth alch which made mada her color rise and the girl sas as furious her brother this la Is mark adam i ft ho Is to arlie us up explained the lady mark these thee young folks are nancy 11 and 13 d jack nelson inhere hero are your trunks trunk jack I 1 presume youve both brought luggage and w heres matthew mirk the young man smiled stio showing NIng strong white teeth and a crinkle f humor around the eyes glad to know you lie ile stretched out a welcoming comIng hand I 1 flats out side ide on the truck too bashful to come in and meet the er lady that a it if ns as jack produced the checks you 11 find the car parked back of the station be there as soon as I 1 licup help matt with tile the bal baggage abage mark a a good boy observed tl th r new acquaintance as the driver st sti de away avay lie ile and Ms his brother came down to the creamery today they run a dairy ranch so I 1 roped them in to arhe us na and get your trunks there a bett better r driver in pine ridge ludge than marl mark adams nancy so youve you ve no call to feel nervous coing up tile the pass hero we are ahey I 1 hey hail biad left the station and neve crossing a broad parking space youre you re to ride with mark jack you tou boys must got get acquainted and I 1 want ant a chance to get acquainted quain ted iab with your sister jack grinned as he helped them to their places nancy said eald as ai slie she sat eat down best boelle ie the eccentric lady whom she was waa beginning to like irn im ro men ensely sely its ita queer but it I feel acquainted quain ted with you already and do sou realize we ne dont even know your name the dmd fule fm e limmor humorously the truth la Is I 1 never nener tell my name it if I 1 can avoid it that a the only grudge I 1 ve got against my boy parents I 1 ve always wondered it if their brains ly by tile tho altitude when they inflicted inflict id such euch a misnomer on a helpless infant my bly name you nice young things Is columbine Nel eselson I 1 if their unconventional relative aad set a bomb and blown ue 11 e old touring car into R rill llon bits she houlda t hae bae created more surprise jack paused one toot foot on the running board and stared at tier her while nancy gasped I 1 but but you can cant it be bet I 1 why cousan co lum lumkines bines a feeble old lady over st bt venty I 1 I 1 over seventy III admit alleged their companion her eyes twinkling but not so feeble ns she led you to bellee stol staring atme at me jack if it a the nil middy addy blouse just have to g get et waed to it A middy a a lifesaver la in a place like pine ridge where here theres no diess maher I 1 welcomed them with joy whir they came into fashion years ago end and I 1 shall continue contin ve to wear them fashion or no fa fashion chion as long as they can be bought by mall the red ones are for gala eala occasions like tho the Pr present sent usually I 1 wear blue ikeie comes our driver will you kindly testify that ray name Is nelson mark there young folks biks seem to be unbelieving 11 mark adam laughed as he into th the e drivers seat I 1 it Is unless she got cot married when I 1 dropped her at tile ourt curt house two hours back he stated 1 I saw that cop colp give you an admiring glance alss mss columbine admiring ill I 1 columbine nelson sniffed contemptuously I 1 its note likely lie he was thinking there s that old freak come down from pine ridge again stop at the cash and cairy for a box of canned stuff mark alark I 1 and then head for home or matthew will get there first and not know where to put te fie lug gage I 1 cant aurora tell him they had bad turned into a street that faced the mountain from which nancy cad c ad hardly take her ea cei es not aurora tubbs I 1 cousin columbine was asas saying I 1 ashes so BO flustered at the idea of having company that like as not shed elied lime liae him put those trunks in the bith room we have a bathroom nancy which no doubt you 11 be ba rel leed leeI to hear I 1 went to the extravagance la in 1914 just juit before the great war ar started over in europe I 1 rem remember ember the date because I 1 was christening the tub ii when hen the news came ar aal I 1 aurora her sister married a german otto Wel up at crip pie creek and as good a fellow as aa ever Ili cl cam ru ruil bing ng upstairs m with ill the paper she actually actu illy pounded on the door and shouted miss Colum columbines binel miss don t bother to wash tile the germans hae ha e started fighting do yoi yo sup pose our otto will have to go lails brought a laugh and mark 8 said aid dryly 1 I t know wed med eer had a christening in line addge miss columbine too bad that party was interrupted by a war warl I 1 I 1 it x aan t retorted the old lady 1 II 11 I called back kep still au an rora I 1 ahls his la Is tile the first tub hath ive had since my mother washed me in a tin disi pan with only a covered mo mon n for p privacy teacy and I 1 cut it short if the naolo german army was as on the lais n here comes matthew now slow donn I 1 in go ing to stop him I 1 she signaled wildly and a truck drew up basile best ie anem though it seemed to nancy that both vehicle and the dilver did so with ance the latter started to remove his hat found he had bad none on and blushed the truck emit ted a sort of groan if you reach home first mat thew just sit and alt it till wo 0 get there ordered alls columbine you tou enn tell aurora I 1 sal sala to give gire you a blice of chocolate cho colato cui cati and this la Is as good a at t e as any to make mahe you acquainted with my cousins nancy and jack nelbon don t drive recklessly up the pass and lose those trunks 0 er the edge will ill you I 1 1 dare say able and I 1 don dnn t trust your driving as I 1 do mark S I 1 desm I 1 desm responded matthew genously pleased to meet yoa adu be careful miss bliss columbine lie ile reached for Ms his hat bat again found it still missing blushed red der and started the truck with such a jolt that empty vilak cans careened I 1 THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING Inu ruined ined financially by the ha stock market eras crash jarnes jarne nelson doston boton merchant brec the nw to hla his house household hoM nance hla his daughter nineteen teen li is on aho th versa er ol of he her introduction to society A short hort time before an elderly cousin of 0 nelson a Colum columbine line had written sur suggesting gesting nance come coma to hr bar at pine fine ruis colo as a paid companion rhe otter offer had bad been regarded reg ardal as ai a joke ole jak ja k nancys nancyan seventeen year old brother urges urge he her to accept cousin Colum columbines binem proposition proportion thus thu relieving their rather father of 0 a certain burden buranen and nd offering ott ering to go BO with her to 0 o cht he be will not feel too lonely the girl does doea not like the idea but agree that jack write to cousin columbine and nd they will awall awa ll her answer columbine wires wire welcome to both ot of them end nd delte aown onie mIr misgivings gIvIngs it to I 1 arranged trane bd the two shall go eo drunkenly in im the tha rear such cora fusion amused his bis brother and a quiet laugh escaped from nancy she said ilias really bashful isa t hev he korn that way responded in columbine antil and so BO good looking lookin gill I 1 nance ahey had stopped at a trunk ete big rial dal end and their driver turned hla his lead hend t little to say over hla his der the rho fanilu beauty nance 4 restrain n R giggle and add jack laughed outright but COU cousta 1 columbine rc remarked marLed accaro ly I 1 it if you expect me or anybody in pine ridge to contradict you oung man be d disappointed in my day it wasn t considered modest to fish for or compliments the green light is a on hoy boy why dont jou ou got get along 1 too roo crushed to move inove ho he told her and proceeded to start the en glue gine as 03 quietly as its ita allowed 1 I 11 park somewhere tome where on a side aide street WAS miss columbine theres no space to in front of the cash and carry but III walk over oner and get your VO ur box its only halt half a block lagar to stretch hla his legs lega jack offered ars assistance istance and na as the boys boya aff the old lady remarked critically jacks thin ign t be grown too ast most Il filkel kel and been cooped up in school A yer year in the open will |