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Ellen felt a heavy, stifling pressure within her breast "Y'u're an Isbel Doon't speak of love to me"

"I didn't intend to But your--your hate seeain I can't help it I love you Love at first sight! Jean Isbel and Ellen Jorth! Strange, isn't it?It was all so strange My meetin' you so lonely and unhappy, ood in spite of--"

"Shore it was strange," interrupted Ellen, with scornful laugh She had found her defense In hurting hiood in spite of-- Ha-ha! And I said I'd been kissed before!"

"Yes, in spite of everything," he said

Ellen could not look at him as he loomed over her She felt a wild tumult in her heart All that crowded to her lips for utterance was false

"Yes--kissed before I h at what y'u call love, Jean Isbel"

"Laugh if you want--but believe it eet, honorable--the best in me," he replied, in deep earnestness

"Bah!" cried Ellen, with all the force of her pain and shame and hate

"By Heaven, you ht!" exclaimed Isbel, huskily

"Shore if I wasn't, I'd et on your horse an' go!"

So of colanced up at hied aspect prepared her for some blow

"That's a pretty black horse"

"Yes," replied Ellen, blankly

"Do you like hiive him to you then He'll have less work and kinder treatot soive--" whispered Ellen, slowly stiffening "Yes He's mine," replied Isbel With that he turned to whistle Spades threw up his head, snorted, and started forward at a trot He caot, and if ever Ellen saw the joy of a horse at sight of a beloved master she saw it then Isbel laid a hand on the ani back to Ellen, he went on speaking: "I picked hi well My sister Ann rode hiood deal He was stolen from our pasture day before yesterday I took his trail and tracked hiot to your ranch, where I had to circle till I picked it up again"