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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire, by 
+Margaret Vandercook
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire
+
+Author: Margaret Vandercook
+
+Illustrator: Wilson V. Chambers
+
+Release Date: August 30, 2011 [EBook #37271]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS--THEIR HEART'S DESIRE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                     THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES
+
+            The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire
+
+                     BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK
+
+
+    ILLUSTRATED BY
+    WILSON V. CHAMBERS
+
+    THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY
+    PHILADELPHIA
+
+    Copyright, 1920, by
+    THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: BEFORE LEAVING, SHE EXPLAINED TO THE OLD HALF-INDIAN
+WOMAN THAT SHE WOULD NOT RETURN UNTIL DINNER TIME]
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+    I. THE BRANCH OF THE TREE                     9
+
+   II. THE YOUNGER SET                           20
+
+  III. OLD PASTIMES                              32
+
+   IV. A FORMER ACQUAINTANCE                     47
+
+    V. JEAN, OLIVE AND FRIEDA                    58
+
+   VI. JEAN AND RALPH MERRITT                    75
+
+  VII. THE TEA PARTY                             91
+
+ VIII. AN INTERVIEW                             104
+
+   IX. A YEAR LATER                             117
+
+    X. A MAIDEN SPEECH                          129
+
+   XI. THE PROPOSALS                            140
+
+  XII. A DECISION                               152
+
+ XIII. THE CAMPAIGN                             169
+
+  XIV. IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT                178
+
+   XV. CONSEQUENCES                             192
+
+  XVI. THE ELECTION                             204
+
+ XVII. THE HEART'S DESIRE                       217
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+    BEFORE LEAVING SHE EXPLAINED THAT SHE
+    WOULD NOT RETURN BEFORE DINNER TIME      _Frontispiece_
+
+    WITH A SINGLE SWIFT MOTION SHE LIFTED
+    LITTLE PEACE INTO THE SADDLE                          72
+
+    JACK REINED IN HER HORSE AND SAT STILL,
+    SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE SKY                          149
+
+    NOT A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS BUT OF EVIL-SMELLING
+    WEEDS AND TIED WITH A RAG INSTEAD
+    OF A RIBBON                                          186
+
+
+
+
+The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE BRANCH OF THE TREE
+
+
+Across a wide prairie a man and woman were riding side by side at an
+hour approaching twilight on a September afternoon. Moving slowly they
+appeared to be studying the landscape.
+
+Toward the west the sky was banked with gold and rose and purple clouds,
+while the earth revealed the same colors in the yellow sand of the
+desert spaces, the wide fields of purple clover, and the second blooming
+of the prairie roses.
+
+"Strange to have you living at the old Rainbow ranch again, Jack, and
+yet under the circumstances perhaps the most natural thing in the world!
+Long ago when I was a young fellow I learned that when human beings are
+hurt they follow the instincts of the homing birds who seek the nest.
+You have always loved the old ranch better than any place in the world,
+more than the other girls ever loved it, so with the news of your
+husband's death I knew you would return from England and bring your son
+with you, Lady Kent, once Jacqueline Ralston of the Rainbow ranch.
+Somehow I never have learned to think of you, Jack, by your title of
+Lady Kent."
+
+"No, Jim, and why should you?" the girl answered. "I never learned to
+think of myself in that fashion. I am going to confide something to you,
+Jim Colter. I always have confided my secrets to you since I was a
+little girl. I never learned during the years of my married life in
+England to feel that I was anything but a stranger there. Yet for my
+husband's sake I did my best to like England and try to make English
+people like me. I was never specially successful. I presume I am
+hopelessly an American and, what may be worse, hopelessly western. At
+present I feel that I wish to spend all the rest of my life in Wyoming.
+But one is not often allowed to do what one wishes. This morning I
+received letters from England, all of them asking when I intended to
+return and settle down as Dowager Lady Kent at Kent House, to bring up
+little Jimmie in a manner becoming a future British Lord. The worst of
+it is I don't want to go back and I don't want to bring up my son as an
+aristocrat. My husband was an Englishman, but I am an American and have
+never believed in titles. Frank had no title when I married him. I want
+little Jimmie to be half an American anyhow and wholly a democrat. What
+must I do, Jim Colter, stay here on the ranch with my own people and
+lead the life I love, or go to England and spend half my time amid the
+conventional society existence I loathe, and the other half playing Lady
+Bountiful to the poor people of a small village?"
+
+Jacqueline Ralston, who _was_ Lady Kent, regardless of her own protest,
+now reined in her horse, and rising in her saddle let her glance sweep
+the wide horizon.
+
+In the wide, gray eyes, in the low, level brow, in the full, generous
+lips and abundant vitality one might have recognized the pioneer spirit,
+infrequent in human beings, but more infrequent in women than in men.
+Yet this Jacqueline Ralston Kent, one of the original four "Ranch Girls
+of the Rainbow Lodge," possessed. All her life she had loved personal
+freedom, wide spaces, a simple, every-day, outdoor existence without
+formality. She felt a natural intimacy with the people who attracted her
+without consideration for their social position. Yet in so contrary a
+fashion does fate deal with us that Jack had spent the greater part of
+her married life under exactly opposite conditions.
+
+"For my part I don't dare advise you, Jack, I so want you to stay on at
+the Rainbow lodge, more than I wish anything else in the world at
+present. With Ruth gone, I don't see how I shall ever get on with my
+four new little Rainbow ranch girls without you to help mother them. Yet
+I had pretty much the same experience once before! Odd how circumstances
+repeat themselves! You must first do what you think best for Jimmie.
+What does the boy himself wish to do, stay here at the ranch and learn
+to be a ranchman under my training, or go back to Kent House?"
+
+Laughing Jack shook her head, crowned with gold brown hair; she was
+without a hat, after her old custom.
+
+"You know the answer to that question as well as I do, Jim. Jimmie
+adores the ranch. He is named for you, and you have done everything in
+your power to make him love it. Then I must have implanted my own
+affection for the freedom of our western life in my little son. Jimmie
+insists that he wants nothing better in the future than to stay on here
+and run the ranch and the mine when you and I have grown too old to be
+troubled with such responsibilities. He is only eight years old at
+present and so we need not feel laid on the shelf at once."
+
+"No, but I am not young as I was, Jack, hair is turning pretty gray
+these days," Jim Colter answered. "I have never mentioned this to the
+boy, but I have wanted the same thing he does. I would like Jimmie to
+live here and perhaps marry one of my four girls and keep the old ranch
+in the family through another generation or so. Sentiment of course, yet
+so far Jimmie is the only son on the horizon! Here I am with four
+daughters, Jean and Ralph Merritt with two, Olive and Captain MacDonnell
+with no children, and Frieda's and Professor Russell's little girl so
+frail that it is hard to count on any future for her."
+
+At this Jack's expression clouded. A moment later she again arose in her
+saddle, this time pointing toward the eastern portion of the Rainbow
+ranch. To the west and north lay the gold mine discovered years before,
+though no longer yielding a supply of gold as in its early days.
+
+The mine had never interested either Jacqueline Ralston or Jim Colter as
+it had the other members of the family. They had been horse and cattle
+raisers before a mine was ever dreamed of, and it was the rearing of the
+livestock for which Jim and Jack cared intensely to this day.
+
+Riding through the ranch, every half hour or so they had passed a herd
+of cattle browsing amid the purple alfalfa grass, seen the sleek brown
+cows standing with their young calves close beside them. Less often they
+had run across a small drove of horses and young colts, as horses were
+no longer so good an investment as in the old days. Yet the present
+Rainbow ranch owners would prefer to have lost money than be without
+them, the horses having always received Jack's especial affection and
+attention as a girl and upon her occasional visits home to the ranch
+after her English marriage.
+
+"Can that be a herd of horses or cattle stampeding there toward the
+east, Jim? We are too far off to see distinctly; suppose we ride in that
+direction," Jack said unexpectedly.
+
+Wasting no time in words Jim Colter nodded. The following moment both
+horses, their noses pointing eastward, were galloping across the open
+prairie fields and away from the road.
+
+Experienced ranchmen, he and his companion appreciated that the cloud of
+dust and the grouping of dark bodies advancing toward them with unusual
+rapidity represented trouble of some kind. At this time of the year it
+seemed scarcely possible that a wolf had stolen from the pack and
+frightened one of the herds. Yet there was no accounting for the tricks
+of nature. Moreover, frequently a number of horses or cattle suffered
+from group fear, the one transmitting the fright to the other without
+apparent reason.
+
+Half a mile away the drove of young horses, which Jim Colter had finally
+located with his field glasses, turned and swerved south.
+
+Almost as swiftly the two riders moved off in the same direction,
+hoping they might be able to divide the frightened animals and drive
+them apart.
+
+A quarter of a mile farther along, riding at no great distance from each
+other, Jim Colter heard an exclamation from his companion, so sudden, so
+terrified and so unexpected that he reined his own horse sharply until
+for an instant it stood trembling on its hind legs, its slender nose
+snuffing the soft air.
+
+"Tell me, Jim, is that Jimmie's pony ahead of us? The saddle is on the
+pony, but no one is riding. Jimmie can't have ridden over here alone? He
+can't be anywhere near-by?"
+
+Yet even as the question was being asked, the man and woman saw and,
+seeing, understood.
+
+The pony which Jack had spied with the bridle dangling over its head was
+moving from place to place nibbling at the most luxurious patches of
+clover. Beyond, and closer to the trampling herd of panic-stricken
+animals, lay a small figure, outstretched on the ground and probably
+until this moment asleep.
+
+Whether he now heard the oncoming horses or the cries of his mother and
+guardian, in any case, awakening, he jumped to his feet and the same
+instant turned, beheld, and understood his own danger. In a few moments,
+seconds perhaps, the frightened animals would be upon him, trampling,
+snorting, unconscious of his presence in their frenzy.
+
+As the boy ran across the field toward his pony, he had the
+consciousness that the two persons for whom he cared most in the world
+were coming toward him to save him from harm. Yet he also appreciated
+this would not be possible, as they could not reach him in time.
+
+But Jimmie Kent was not to make the whole effort alone. As he ran he
+called his pony's name.
+
+"Whitestar! Whitestar!" The boy's tones remained firm and commanding.
+
+Whitestar had observed her own danger. The pony's head went up, showing
+the mark upon her pretty nose which had given her the name. A single
+time she pawed the earth in front of her, appearing about to rush _away_
+without her master, and then she cantered toward the boy.
+
+The oncoming drove of terrified animals was now only a few yards away.
+
+"Don't lose courage, Jack, he is your son, remember! He will win out,"
+Jim Colter shouted, his own horse scarcely appearing to touch the earth
+as it ran.
+
+"Drive straight toward them, Jimmie, don't try to cross their path," Jim
+called, his voice sounding unfamiliar to his own ears.
+
+Yet either the boy heard or recognized his one chance.
+
+Without hesitation the little figure lying close to his saddle was
+riding straight toward the center of the drove of twenty or thirty
+frightened animals. The leader, a few feet in advance of the others,
+apparently ran in a direct line with the boy.
+
+Her eyes never turning for an instant from the little figure, now not
+thirty yards away, Jack understood what must take place. Should the
+leader come on without swerving Jimmie would be unseated, his pony
+struck down and the other horses would pass over them both. But, should
+Jimmie possess the courage or, greater than courage, the strength of
+will to force the horse in advance of the drove to swerve either toward
+the right or left, the others would follow.
+
+A moment later and Jack's arms were about her son.
+
+"You've turned the trick, Jimmie," Jim Colter was saying roughly. "But
+it is the front yard of the Rainbow lodge for you for the next week. How
+dared you ride over the ranch alone when I have told you it was
+forbidden? Now you and your mother get home as soon as you can and send
+whatever men you come across in this direction. I suppose the horses
+will have tired themselves out after a few more miles of running, but it
+is just as well to see they are quieted down."
+
+So Jim Colter rode away in one direction and Jimmie and his mother in
+the other toward the Rainbow lodge.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE YOUNGER SET
+
+
+The front yard of the Rainbow lodge appeared an extremely small
+playground for a boy accustomed to covering many miles of the broad
+ranch and the adjoining country in the course of each day. Yet as Jim
+Colter's word was law on the Rainbow ranch Jimmie Kent had no thought of
+breaking parole.
+
+He glanced up at the double rows of tall cottonwood trees which led from
+the lodge to the gate. Almost impossibly difficult trees to climb
+because of their tall, smooth trunks and the branches so high overhead!
+A warm September day and Rainbow creek not half a mile away! Jimmie
+taxed his imagination until he could well-nigh feel himself swimming
+about in the cool freshness of the little stream, deeper than usual at
+the present time because of the abundant September rains. When one's
+swim ended, not far away were his mother, his Aunt Jean and her husband
+Ralph Merritt, a clever mining engineer. The family was to meet this
+afternoon to discuss the possibility of sinking a new shaft into the old
+Rainbow mine with the hope of striking a new lode.
+
+Moreover, Jim Colter (and Jimmie and the big man were so intimate as to
+use each other's first names) was attending to the branding of a herd of
+calves at one of the ranch houses. Any one, or all, of these
+entertainments might have been his, except for an unfortunate impulse to
+investigate the Rainbow ranch alone a few afternoons before.
+
+A week of the front yard of the lodge appeared an interminable time to
+Jimmie Kent, yet even a week would pass in time. And one had better be
+half a prisoner at the old ranch than free in any other part of the
+world.
+
+Six weeks before having arrived at the ranch after a long journey from
+England, at present this was Jimmie Kent's earnest conviction. Was there
+anywhere else in the world such a wide sweep of country, such plains and
+prairies and desert sands covered with sage brush and cacti? In the
+prairies there were wolves and deer and bear. Since his arrival at the
+ranch Jimmie believed he had heard one night the call of a wolf, the
+leader of the pack, and coyotes he had seen with his own eyes, sniffing
+about the edge of the woods not far from Rainbow creek. Jim Colter had
+suggested that the buffalo were not all destroyed, but might be found
+roaming in certain western portions of the state, now inhabited only by
+wandering Indian tribes. He had hinted at mountain lions as not wholly a
+figment of a boy's dreams, but as realities, creatures Jim Colter had
+beheld with his own eyes long years before, when the west was the west
+indeed.
+
+Yet here he was, Jimmie Kent, late of Kent House, Kent county, England,
+suddenly transformed into an American boy, but shut up within an acre of
+ground for a week and, moreover, face to face with the tragic
+possibility that within a month or more he might be forced to return to
+England. He had nothing against England except that it was too small for
+a boy's energies and hopelessly devoid of wild animals outside the
+London Zoo.
+
+India of course was a possession of the British Empire, and South
+Africa, but Jimmie felt that probably for a number of years he might not
+be permitted to explore these regions. So why the present discussion?
+If he and his mother both desired to remain at the Rainbow ranch at
+least for a number of years, they ought to be able to decide for
+themselves. Nevertheless his mother had explained that she must continue
+to think the situation over and to ask the advice of her family.
+To-night the grown-up members of the family were even to dine together
+for this purpose.
+
+Discovering a cottonwood tree not far from the gate, Jimmie now climbed
+up and seated himself upon one of the lower branches. Here he was
+enabled to have a wide outlook.
+
+Behind him was the Rainbow lodge where he and his mother were living at
+the present time. So often Jimmie Kent had been told its history! Here
+his mother with her sister, Frieda Ralston, and her cousin Jean Bruce,
+had lived when the three of them were little girls and under the
+guardianship of Jim Colter, the manager of their father's ranch after
+his death. Later the fourth ranch girl had found refuge with them,
+escaping from an Indian woman in whose charge she had been for so many
+years that her early childhood was enshrouded in mystery.
+
+From his present viewpoint Jimmie Kent was able to observe two figures
+not at a great distance away. They were Captain MacDonnell and his wife,
+who had been Olive to the other ranch girls until the discovery of her
+parentage.
+
+Captain MacDonnell, injured in the great war, later had developed his
+talent as an artist. Jimmie possessed the ordinary small boy's attitude
+toward pictures, nevertheless he had something to say in favor of
+Captain MacDonnell's, since _his_ reputation had been acquired through
+his painting of western scenes.
+
+At the present moment he was sketching a mustang pony, which one of the
+ranch boys was leading back and forth in an effort to persuade the pony
+to remain within the range of the artist's vision. Jimmie would have
+enjoyed changing places with the other boy. In spite of Captain Bryan
+MacDonnell's lameness he had an especial understanding and love of the
+outdoors, to such an extent that he and his wife were spending a year or
+more at the Rainbow ranch, living in a tent, regardless of the fact that
+at the great house built after the discovery of the Rainbow mine there
+was room for any number of guests.
+
+Jimmie now glanced over toward the splendid mansion which had been
+christened "Rainbow Castle" by Frieda Ralston years before. His Aunt
+Frieda and her distinguished if eccentric husband, Professor Henry
+Tilford Russell and their one little girl were at present visitors at
+Rainbow Castle, having arrived only a day or so before.
+
+Jimmie was no more interested in relatives as relatives than most small
+boys. Yet had his preference been asked he would have said freely that
+he liked best his Aunt Jean and his uncle Ralph Merritt, possibly
+because a famous engineer who had been not only the engineer of the
+Rainbow mine but of several other mines would appeal to any masculine
+imagination. Then possessing no sons of her own and greatly desiring
+one, his Aunt Jean was particularly kind to him.
+
+At this moment Jimmie became especially grateful to fate for his exalted
+position in the tree top. Advancing toward him he beheld his seven girl
+cousins.
+
+"Eight cousins!" Some one was always muttering this tiresome
+exclamation, as if there was any special point in it. Personally Jimmie
+considered the one drawback to his residence in the United States was
+the possession of such an affliction. Not that he disliked the seven
+girls; two or three of them were fairly agreeable. One could not dislike
+the little girl, who was scarcely more than a baby, and whose name was
+Peace, she was so pretty and so gentle. She had been called Peace though
+named for her mother, because no one wished to repeat the name Frieda
+during the war.
+
+The seven cousins and two nurses were now entering the yard of the
+Rainbow lodge and Jimmie Kent wondered if he preferred not to be
+discovered. He guessed their errand: they intended gathering violets
+from the violet beds on either side of the house, planted years before
+by Frieda Ralston in an effort to increase the family fortunes, and now
+famous throughout the neighborhood.
+
+In advance were the four daughters of Jim Colter, whom he described as
+the four new Rainbow Ranch girls and whose names were also Jacqueline,
+Jean, Olive, and Frieda, although called Lina, Jeannette, Olivia, and
+Eda, to distinguish them from the original "Ranch Girls of the Rainbow
+Lodge." The three visitors with the maids were following.
+
+An instant Jimmie considered whether it might not be a good idea to
+allow Jeannette Colter to observe his present elevation. She was the one
+of the seven girls he most disliked. A few months his elder, she boasted
+that she could ride and run and climb equally well with the new English
+boy visitor. She could learn to shoot equally well if her father offered
+her an equal opportunity.
+
+The truth was that if Jimmie considered he disliked Jeannette, she
+cordially hated him. Before Jimmie's coming she had been her father's
+constant companion, riding with him about the ranch as Jacqueline
+Ralston had done in the years past. But three times of late had her
+father left her at home with her sisters, saying that he wanted to ride
+alone with Jimmie in order better to make his acquaintance.
+
+Now Jimmie felt a reasonable pride in the fact that Jeannette would not
+be able to occupy such a position as his present one without assistance.
+
+"Hello," he called down. The other girls waved and returned his
+greeting, but Jeannette Colter laughed.
+
+"Up a tree, aren't you, in more ways than one, Jimmie Kent! I am sorry
+you cannot leave the front yard for a week," which was not kind or
+truthful in Jeannette, who was especially pleased by Jimmie's captivity
+since it restored her to her father's uninterrupted companionship.
+
+At the close of the day, having finished his solitary dinner--his mother
+was dining at the big house--Jimmie came out on the veranda of the lodge
+and went to bed in the big porch hammock where he often spent the night.
+
+Several hours later, half awakened by the return of his mother and Jim
+Colter from the family dinner party, but too drowsy to speak,
+nevertheless Jimmie overheard his mother announce in a tone of relief:
+
+"Well, Jim, thank goodness I have been able to make up my mind at last!
+Indecision, you know, always has annoyed me more than anything else in
+the world. So it is to be the Rainbow ranch and my own country for as
+many years as I can arrange it. And may they be as many years as you
+need me, Jim."
+
+His friend's reply made Jimmie Kent smile and settle himself more
+comfortably in his hammock bed. The reply gave one a pleasant sense of
+permanency.
+
+"Then if you never leave the United States until I cease to need you,
+Jack, you won't go away until I am removed to broader fields than the
+Rainbow ranch. But do you think you will be happy, that is the main
+thing? What will you do with yourself? These are restless days for most
+women and you have more energy than any woman I have ever known. Want a
+career, Jacqueline Ralston Kent? Are you staying in your own country
+because you wish to be a famous woman some day and the United States
+offers the best opportunity?"
+
+"Suppose we sit down a while, Jim," Jack answered. "You are not sleepy,
+are you? It is too lovely a night!"
+
+Walking over to the hammock, Jack pulled up a warm covering over her son
+and as he smiled up at her, whispered,
+
+"We won't disturb you, will we, Jimmie?" and Jimmie only shook his head,
+not wishing to speak, yet enjoying the distant sound of the two voices
+he loved best.
+
+A moment later Jim Colter and Jack were sitting together upon one of the
+front steps of the Rainbow lodge as they had sat together so many times
+in years past, always preferring to be in some spot where there were no
+walls closed about them but where there was a wide view of sky and
+land.
+
+"Don't laugh, Jim, but I don't know, yet laugh a little if you like, as
+it may be good for me. Yes, I have sometimes thought since Frank's death
+that I should like a career of my own, besides just being Jimmie's
+mother, proud as I am of that honor. Inside the secret corners of my
+mind the thought has influenced me a little in my desire to remain at
+home."
+
+"But what is the great career to be?" Jim Colter answered smiling, and
+yet with a sufficient interest in his tone to take away any lack of
+sympathy that might have been conveyed by his amusement. "You aren't
+going to turn poet, or painter, or actress, Jack, after displaying no
+fondness for the arts in all these years?"
+
+"No, Jim Colter, and no talents either," Jack returned. "I appreciate
+your veiled sarcasm. No, the good fairies who bestow the artistic gifts
+were not present at my birthday. What do you think I might be able to
+do, Jim? Tell me."
+
+There was a short silence and then the man answered:
+
+"Help me manage the Rainbow ranch, Jack, or a larger ranch if you like."
+
+Jack shook her head.
+
+"No, Jim, you have managed the ranch successfully without me and though
+I may bore you by interfering now and then, to help you when you do not
+need help will not be the thing I am after. Would you hate it if I
+should take an interest in politics? It is an exciting world these days
+and after all Wyoming was the first state to give the vote to women! I
+wonder if I am still an American citizen. In marrying an Englishman I
+know I became a British subject while my husband was alive, but now he
+is dead and I have returned to my own country, the point is, what am I,
+Jim? A woman without a country?"
+
+"Jack, I don't know. However, I should dislike your entering political
+life, but suppose you are old enough to decide for yourself." Jim Colter
+laughed. "You always did decide for yourself in the end, Jack, even when
+you were pretty young. But you will marry again some day! Suppose we ask
+an old friend of yours, Peter Stevens, whether at present you are an
+American citizen or a British subject? Stevens has become one of the
+distinguished young lawyers in the state, or in the west for that
+matter. But look out for him, Jack, he is an old bachelor and a woman
+hater. Now it must be nearly midnight. Good-night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+OLD PASTIMES
+
+
+One Saturday afternoon several days later Jacqueline Kent, escaping from
+her family, rode alone down to the great ranch house a mile or more from
+the Rainbow lodge. She had not had an opportunity to visit the ranch
+house since her arrival at her former home. Yet as a young girl she
+always had enjoyed slipping off to the big ranch house unaccompanied by
+the other Ranch Girls and usually without Jim Colter's knowledge or
+consent. In the ranch house lived the ranchmen, or the cowboys who
+looked after the livestock on the great place.
+
+To-day as Jack rode up to the house only three or four of the ranchmen
+were visible and they were standing on the rough log porch smoking and
+talking to one another.
+
+But the four sombreros were immediately lifted, and one of the men came
+forward.
+
+"Glad to see you, Lady Kent. Is there any order you wish to give, or any
+message? Sorry the greater number of the fellows are not here at
+present. This is Saturday afternoon, you see, and a half holiday. They
+are off entertaining themselves, but we'll have the laugh on them when
+we tell them that we have had a visit from you."
+
+The Wyoming cowboy spoke with a courtesy and self-possession Jack had
+often seen lacking among more distinguished persons. However, perhaps
+"distinguished" is not the proper adjective, since her present companion
+possessed, stored inside his kit, among the personal treasures in his
+rough, pine-wood chamber a Distinguished Service Medal presented him by
+the United States Government and a Croix de Guerre, the gift of a
+grateful France.
+
+Jack shook her head.
+
+"No, I haven't a message or an order. I merely wanted to see the old
+ranch house and be introduced to the men. But don't call me Lady Kent. I
+am Mrs. Kent; now that I have returned to my own country a title strikes
+me as an absurdity. It is hard enough to remember, these days, that I am
+not Jacqueline Ralston; the ranch is so like it used to be when I was a
+young girl. I am sorry not to find the other men, as I rode over this
+afternoon knowing it was Saturday and hoping I might meet them. May I be
+introduced to the three men who are here, if they don't mind?"
+
+Jack spoke with a mixture of shyness and friendliness entirely natural
+to her, but in the present circumstances, perhaps unusual.
+
+The man to whom she was speaking was John Simmons, one of the assistant
+managers of the Rainbow ranch to whom Jim Colter had introduced her
+shortly after her arrival at her old home.
+
+At a summons from him, the three other men rushed forward as if only
+awaiting the opportunity, and leaning from her horse, holding the bridle
+in her left hand, Jack shook hands cordially with her new acquaintances.
+
+"More sport this, ma'am, than lassoing a wild colt!" one of the cowboys
+drawled, as Jack smiled upon him. His three companions, after first
+shouting with laughter, proceeded to frown upon the young fellow. He was
+only a boy not yet twenty-one, from the Kentucky mountains, who
+nevertheless had served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France
+for eighteen months.
+
+"But are the men practicing lassoing this afternoon? If they are,
+please do take me to see what is going on. Is there to be a contest?"
+Jack inquired. "I used to know something about the business myself, long
+ago when I was a girl. I have even tried using the lasso, although I was
+never a great success according to Jim Colter, who did his best to teach
+me."
+
+"If you'll wait until we get our horses," John Simmons replied.
+
+A few moments later Jack and her four masculine companions were
+galloping toward one of the farther boundaries of the Rainbow ranch.
+
+After half an hour's steady riding they came upon from twenty to thirty
+young ranchmen gathered about an open stretch of country. A third of the
+men were employees of the Rainbow ranch, the others were from
+neighboring places.
+
+The men were grouped together, some of them on horseback, others at
+present afoot. Not far away were a dozen western ponies still unbroken
+either for riding or driving, but captured and brought to this
+particular spot. Firmly tethered to stakes, they were now pawing the
+earth, tossing their pretty heads in the air and kicking and bucking if
+any one approached.
+
+If the men were astonished by the appearance of Jacqueline Kent upon the
+scene, they were sufficiently polite to make no mention of the fact. If
+they exchanged glances of surprise or whispered comments, Jack was too
+little self-conscious and too interested in the spectacle before her and
+what was about to take place to consider her own position.
+
+Apart from the group, facing a broad, flat prairie field were two of the
+ranchmen, a few yards separating them. Over their right arms hung their
+long lariats, coils of rope with a slip noose at the end.
+
+A pony unloosed at a given signal would make a plunge for liberty. Then
+the two men with the lassos would be after him. The pony has a fair
+start in open field, and the race for freedom lies before him.
+
+In her eager interest, scarcely realizing what she was doing, Jack made
+her way to the front line of the group of spectators, the men giving way
+to her partly from amusement and partly from courtesy. The larger number
+of them had no personal acquaintance with her, yet she was well enough
+known by reputation. One of the owners of the famous Rainbow ranch,
+herself a Ranch girl until her marriage to an Englishman, the fact that
+since her husband's death Jacqueline Ralston Kent had returned home with
+the avowed intention of resuming her American citizenship was already
+become a subject for gossip, for approval or disapproval among her
+neighbors.
+
+Staring at her secretly when the chance offered, there was in all
+probability the usual difference of opinion concerning her among the
+onlookers. But with one fact they would all have agreed: Lady Kent, or
+Mrs. Kent, as she was said to prefer being called, looked younger than
+any one who had heard her history could have thought possible.
+
+In truth, this afternoon, in her usual informal fashion, Jack was
+wearing an old corduroy riding habit which she had left behind her at
+the Rainbow lodge several years before upon the occasion of her previous
+visit home. It was of dust color, plainly made with a long, close
+fitting coat and divided skirt. Her riding boots and gloves, however,
+were of the softest and most beautiful English manufacture; her hat of
+brown felt, with a broad brim.
+
+This afternoon Jack's cheeks were a deep rose color, her eyes were
+glowing, her full red lips were parted from excitement and pleasure as
+she watched.
+
+Away toward the outermost bounds rushed the little untamed colt, his
+pursuers close on his track. Then a long rope swung through the air,
+coil on coil unloosed, rose beautiful as bubbles afloat, with the noose
+ready to capture and bring the pony to a standstill.
+
+The first man is unsuccessful and the bystanders raise a shout of
+derision. This changes to applause when the second man slips his noose
+easily over the pony and gently draws it until the four protesting feet
+are held fast.
+
+Then the pony is brought back, again tied to its stake and a second
+contest begins anew.
+
+There was no cruelty in this sport, only a test of courage and skill,
+since sooner or later the wild ponies must be captured and tamed and
+taught to do their portion of the world's work.
+
+Had she forgotten how exhilarating, how thrilling the lassoing was? Jack
+felt her heart pounding, her blood coursing more swiftly in her veins as
+she half stood in her saddle waving her applause at each victory.
+
+"I suppose I should not dare attempt to find if I have altogether lost
+my skill?" she asked of her companion, the assistant manager of the
+Rainbow ranch, who had managed to keep near her all afternoon. "Would it
+bore the men dreadfully to have me take part, do you think? Of course I
+ought not to be willing to disgrace myself before so many people."
+
+As a matter of fact, Jack was talking to herself, arguing with her own
+desire, as well as asking the advice of her companion.
+
+"I don't know. Do you realize that if one is out of practice roping is a
+fairly dangerous sport, Mrs. Kent? I don't think I would undertake it,"
+John Simmons protested.
+
+But Jack found an unexpected ally.
+
+Without her being aware of it, the young Kentuckian whom she had met for
+the first time at the ranch house a short while before, had remained as
+faithful an escort as the assistant manager of the ranch, and a more
+devoted one, since John Simmons regarded the protection of Mrs. Kent
+under the present circumstances as his duty, while with Billy Preston
+there was no question of duty but of pleasure.
+
+"You don't mean you've got the nerve to git into the present game, Mrs.
+Kent?" he queried, his manner perfectly respectful, in spite of the
+oddity of his speech. "I've been ridin' all my days, was pretty nigh
+born on a horse, anyhow used to hang on when I couldn't 'a' been more'n
+two or three years old, 'cause there wasn't no other way of gittin' up
+or down our hills in them days. But this here lassoing game, I'm not on
+to _it_ yet. Seems like it would be kind of worth while to see you go
+after one of them colts and rope her and lead her in same as one of the
+men. I can't come to believe a woman could ever manage it."
+
+"Maybe I could not," Jack answered, but both her interest and vanity
+were stimulated. It was a curious fact that she had so little personal
+vanity in most things, and yet like a boy had a boy's ambition if not a
+boy's vanity with regard to outdoor pastimes.
+
+Disappearing a moment, Billy Preston rode up again soon after with one
+of the other ranchmen, who happened to be in charge of the afternoon's
+contest.
+
+"If you would like to try your hand, Mrs. Kent, and are not afraid of
+getting into trouble, why of course there is no objection. Any one of
+the fellows will be glad of the chance to ride beside you and give you
+the first throw."
+
+Jack laughed, hesitated and weakened. As a matter of fact, she should
+have known better than to make an exhibition of herself before a group
+of strange young men; her instinct, her experience, her judgment, should
+have taught her better. They did whisper their protest, it was Jack's
+fault that she did not heed them, this being her particular failure in
+life that she could not see that things which were not intrinsically
+wrong in themselves were oftentimes wrong when done at the wrong time
+and in the wrong place.
+
+"You don't think I would be too great a bore? Then may I borrow some
+one's horse? My own is not accustomed to the lassoing."
+
+A short time after, actually unconscious of the unconventionality of her
+behavior, Jacqueline Kent with the lariat swung over her arm, before an
+audience of perhaps thirty or more amused and absorbed spectators, was
+awaiting the moment to ride forward.
+
+The soft prairie winds blew against her face, bringing their familiar
+fragrances, the circle of mountains far away on the dim horizons had
+their summits crowned with snow. About her, whinnying and neighing,
+their slender nostrils quivering with interest in the sport, were the
+western horses she had loved almost as she loved people from the time
+she was little more than a baby. As for her audience, Jack really gave
+it scarcely any thought so keyed was she to the business in hand. Had
+she altogether forgotten her past prowess? A moment before she had not
+been entirely truthful, for she had possessed an unusual skill in every
+phase of western riding as a young girl, and especially skilful in what
+she was about to undertake.
+
+Yet at present the rope hung slack on her arm with an odd feeling of
+unfamiliarity. An instant later Jack flung it in the air, saw it coil
+and uncoil, heard the singing noise it made, and then drew it back into
+place, feeling an added confidence.
+
+The following instant she was after the pony, her companion riding a few
+feet behind her, but making no effort with his own lasso.
+
+Jack had asked for no quarter, yet was to be afforded every chance. Once
+her rope rose, sailed forward and then dropped slack to the ground, the
+pony cantering on ahead undisturbed, and uncaptured.
+
+In her accustomed fashion laughing at her own failure, Jack settled more
+firmly to her task, spurring her horse ahead.
+
+A second time her rope shot forward and now the pony crumpled and went
+down upon its forelegs, Jack drawing the lasso and holding it until her
+companion took the rope from her hand.
+
+Then she turned to ride back to her former place.
+
+Now Jack felt herself blushing warmly and for the first time became
+aware of her conspicuous position.
+
+Her audience was laughing and shouting their surprised applause, hats
+were being waved in the air. There in front of the others and on foot,
+Jack beheld Jim Colter, and only a few times in her life could she
+recall having seen his face reveal such an expression of disapproval.
+
+"Making an exhibition of yourself, Jack?" he asked after she had
+dismounted and stood beside him. Then he turned to one of his own
+ranchmen. "Will you bring Mrs. Kent's horse back to the Rainbow lodge?
+She will drive home with me."
+
+Led away as if she were a disgraced school-girl, Jack suffered a number
+of conflicting emotions--anger, rebellion, embarrassment, and
+repentance and some amusement. Surely the time had arrived when her
+former guardian should recognize that she was a woman and not a child.
+Then Jack appreciated that she should have recognized the fact herself
+and not made an exhibition of herself as Jim had just said.
+
+"You won't tell the family what I have done, will you, please, Jim?"
+Jack asked when they were a safe distance away. "I know I have behaved
+badly and I suppose it does no good to say that I never appreciated the
+fact until I had the first look at your face. I hate to have you angry,
+Jim."
+
+"You will be the talk of the countryside, Jacqueline Kent, and who knows
+where else?" Jim Colter answered. "It's incredible that you did not
+realize this. In less than an hour it will be on every tongue that Lady
+Kent has returned to Wyoming to seek the society of the cowboys and
+ranchmen and to engage in their rough sports, and please remember it
+also will be reported that she seeks their companionship with no other
+women present. Fine beginning, Jack."
+
+"You are pretty hateful, Jim. I thought you used to tell me not to mind
+idle gossip."
+
+"I did, Jack, but not when the gossip was justified by your behavior. As
+for my keeping your recent act a secret from the rest of the family, it
+is not possible. Frieda and Professor Russell, Olive and Captain
+MacDonnell, and your former acquaintance, Peter Stevens, are in the
+motor car waiting for you, unfortunately so near as to be aware of your
+proceedings. We motored over to Laramie this afternoon and asked Stevens
+if he knew what steps you should take in order to resume your American
+citizenship. He was not altogether sure and explained he thought it
+would be wiser to look the question up. As he was free for the evening
+Frieda invited him to motor to the ranch with us and meet you again.
+Finding you had gone down to the ranch house, we went in search of you.
+Ching Lee, who is the present cook at the ranch house, informed me you
+had ridden over here with Simmons, which was in itself sufficiently
+unconventional, Jack, without the unexpected addition I saw when I left
+the motor and came to look for you."
+
+"Good gracious, Frieda will never let me hear the last of this!" Jack
+exclaimed. "It is rather too much to have an old acquaintance like
+Peter Stevens, who never liked or approved of me even in my youth, as
+another witness to my discomfiture. Perhaps you would prefer I return to
+England after all, Jim! Can't you forgive me before I join the others;
+I'll have sufficient disapproval to endure then without yours. I wonder
+if I dare face Frieda. I'll never make a mistake like this again."
+
+But for once Jim Colter refused to yield to Jack's pleading, being more
+deeply disturbed by her action because of its consequent reaction upon
+her than he had been in some time past. Beautiful, young and daring,
+with unusual wealth, perhaps it might be wiser if Jack should marry
+again, hard as it would be for him to give her up a second time.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A FORMER ACQUAINTANCE
+
+
+"I was never so ashamed of any one in my life."
+
+Jack flushed, but, ignoring her sister's speech, extended her hand to
+the young man who was seated in the motor car beside her.
+
+"I am afraid you don't remember me," she began, "it has been a long
+time, and we never knew each other intimately in the past. But it is
+kind of you to have driven over to the ranch."
+
+Then getting into the car, Jack sat down in the vacant place which had
+been saved for her between her sister and their visitor.
+
+"Just the same, I believe I should have known you," Peter Stevens
+returned, looking at her with what Jack considered was certainly not an
+expression of admiration. "Do you think, Mrs. Kent, a fellow is apt to
+forget a girl who could ride and hunt and shoot better than nearly any
+young man in Wyoming? I was a bookworm in those days and have remained
+one, but that did not prevent my jealousy of you."
+
+"Please don't refer to my dreadful outdoor accomplishments," Jack
+murmured, "not after I have gotten myself into such disfavor with my
+family." The little glance, half of appeal, half of humor which she at
+this instant bestowed upon her companion made the muscles of his face
+suddenly relax and his blue eyes less cold, so that Jack caught at least
+a fleeting likeness to the boy she had once known.
+
+As a matter of fact, Peter Stevens, who was still in the early twenties,
+had appeared so much older than she had dreamed possible that Jack would
+not have recognized him without first having been told his name.
+
+Then his face hardened again.
+
+"Well, most of us grow up, Mrs. Kent, but perhaps you are one of the
+persons who do not. I am told you prefer not to use your title in the
+United States."
+
+To Jack's mind, as there was plainly no answer to this speech with its
+scarcely courteous reference to her recent impulsive action, she turned
+toward her sister.
+
+Frieda Ralston had developed into the type of matron one might have
+expected from her spoiled girlhood and--more important--her childish
+and self-satisfied temperament. She dearly loved her older sister;
+except for her husband and baby, she loved no one so well; but she also
+loved the opportunity to assume an attitude of offended dignity which
+usually had succeeded in making the members of her family do as she
+wished.
+
+Moreover her sister's recent escapade had seriously shocked and annoyed
+her, not for her own sake, but for her sister's. She had wished Jack to
+make a charming impression among their neighbors and old friends. No
+one, as she believed, could be handsomer or more delightful than her
+sister, Lady Kent, and Frieda declined to lay aside the title. Yet here
+was Jack, after having probably disgraced herself by her latest
+performance, meeting one of the most prominent of the younger men in
+Wyoming, dressed in an old, discarded riding habit, dusty, her hair
+blown about her face, looking at least ten years younger than she
+actually was; in fact, as if she had never left the ranch, never been
+married or seen anything of the outside world.
+
+As a matter of fact, Frieda now and then felt slightly resentful of the
+suggestion, occasionally made by strangers, that she was the older of
+the two sisters. But this Frieda thought must be because she was getting
+just the tiniest bit stouter than she would have preferred to be.
+However, she did not care seriously. This afternoon, as Jack tried to
+catch her sister's eye, she thought that Frieda looked prettier than
+usual, in her beautifully made blue cloth tailor suit and the little
+blue feather hat which made her eyes appear even bluer and the fairness
+of her skin more conspicuous.
+
+She also considered that Frieda was partly justified in her anger, but
+that she must not be allowed to display her temper or to lecture her
+older sister before a stranger.
+
+The next instant, leaning over, Jack whispered a few words to Olive
+MacDonnell, who with her husband, Captain MacDonnell, was occupying the
+seat in front of her own. Professor Henry Tilford Russell, Frieda's
+husband, was next to Jim Colter, who was driving the car.
+
+What Jack whispered was:
+
+"You'll stand by me, Olive, you and Bryan; as usual, I seem to have
+gotten into more troubled waters than I realized."
+
+And Olive had nodded with the sympathy and understanding which Jack had
+always been able to count upon from the days of their earliest
+acquaintance when Olive had taken refuge at the Rainbow lodge and
+Jacqueline Ralston had sheltered and protected her.
+
+The following moment Jack stretched out her arms toward Frieda's little
+girl, who was sitting in her mother's lap.
+
+"Let me hold the baby, please, Frieda dear, you must both be tired."
+
+Then as Peace climbed over into her aunt's lap, Jack pressed her cheek
+for an instant against the little girl's head.
+
+She and Peace had a deep affection and understanding of each other. But
+then the child was captivating to everybody. Inheriting Frieda's
+exquisite blonde coloring, Peace had a spirituality her mother never
+possessed. She was several years old, but so frail that she seemed
+younger in spite of her wise, old-fashioned conversation.
+
+"Tired?" she murmured.
+
+Jack shook her head.
+
+"There is nothing the matter." It often troubled her and Frieda, the
+little girl's curious knowledge of what was going on in the minds of the
+people about her without an exchange of words.
+
+Frieda now glanced at her sister and her own little girl and her
+expression altered. She loved seeing them together and had no feeling of
+jealousy. Indeed she used to hope that some of Jack's vigor, the
+extraordinary and beautiful vitality which made her different from other
+persons might be transferred to her own little girl.
+
+"We will leave you at the lodge, Jack, to dress for dinner, if you will
+come up to the big house later;" Frieda remarked with a change of tone.
+"Mr. Stevens has been kind enough to say he will remain all night and
+motor back to Laramie in the morning."
+
+Was it natural vanity on Jacqueline Ralston's part or an effort to
+reinstate herself in the good graces of her family that she bathed and
+dressed with unusual care, brushing every particle of dust from her
+long, heavy, gold brown hair which waved from her temples to the low
+coil which she wore at the back of her neck?
+
+Jack's evening dress was black chiffon without an ornament or jewel and
+was the first change she had made from her mourning. To any one less
+physically perfect than Jacqueline Kent, the severity of the dress might
+have been trying. But her skin was clear, her color, without being
+vivid, gave a sufficient flush to her cheeks, her lips were a deep red,
+her eyes gray and wide and with a singular sincerity. Moreover, Jack's
+outdoor tastes, into whatever indiscretions they might lead her, had
+kept her figure erect, beautifully modeled and well poised, and a
+beautiful figure is far more rare than a beautiful face.
+
+Walking up with Jimmie as her escort to the big house, Jack confessed to
+herself that she felt slightly bored. Unexpectedly she had grown a
+little tired, or if not tired, not in the mood to endure any more family
+criticism at the present time, and would much have preferred spending
+the evening alone with her son.
+
+She had confessed her offence to Jimmie, wishing him to hear from her
+what she had done. But Jimmie, not appreciating the social error she had
+committed, had appeared immensely proud, even jealous of her prowess,
+insisting that she should begin to give him lessons in the art of
+lassoing early the following morning.
+
+Personally Jack wondered just to what extent her family had been
+unnecessarily critical in their attitude. Would her neighbors judge her
+action so harshly that it would interfere with their friendliness toward
+her? It was always hard for Jack to live in an atmosphere of
+unfriendliness.
+
+So far as her former acquaintance was concerned she had no vestige of
+doubt. Peter Stevens had been absurdly shocked and offended by her
+exhibition of what had seemed to him unwomanliness. But personally Jack
+did not care a great deal for his opinion, she had not liked him
+particularly, and it had occurred to her that it might be just as well
+if he were shocked occasionally. He looked prim and too much an old
+bachelor for so comparatively young a man.
+
+However, what really startled Peter Stevens was Jacqueline Kent's
+appearance, when he came into the drawing room a few moments before
+dinner and found her standing alone before a small fire.
+
+He controlled with difficulty an exclamation of surprise, having not
+thought her even handsome earlier in the afternoon. And he had
+disapproved of her action more keenly than he believed himself to have
+revealed. Now as Jack began talking to him he appreciated not only her
+beauty, but the fact that she had become a charming woman of the world
+and probably had seen more of life than he had seen in spite of his
+success in his profession and his political ambitions.
+
+"You are a Republican, aren't you?" Jack asked, and then added: "I
+believe you have been elected a member of the State Legislature in
+Wyoming and the people are talking about you for one of our United
+States Congressmen. Politics seem to me a great career, perhaps the
+greatest of all careers, these days, so may I congratulate you?"
+
+Peter Stevens smiled, pleased of course, as any one might have been.
+
+"Perhaps it is a bit premature to talk of my running for Congress, Mrs.
+Kent, but if I do may I count on your support?"
+
+Laughing, Jack shook her head.
+
+"No, at least I can make no promises. You see, I don't know whether I am
+a Republican or a Democrat, or what my politics may be until I have been
+in my own country sufficiently long to study conditions. Maybe my vote
+will go to a woman candidate, if there happens to be one in my
+district."
+
+"You don't intend by any chance to be my opponent?"
+
+Smiling over the impossible aspect of his suggestion but in an
+unusually pleasant frame of mind, Peter Stevens pushed a large chair
+over toward the fire so that Jack might sit down. An instant later he
+drew his own chair up beside her.
+
+"Oh, perhaps I may be your opponent some day, who knows?" Jack returned,
+accepting the challenge good-naturedly. "But first it might be as well
+for me to learn whether I am an American citizen. May an American woman
+who has married a foreigner after the death of her husband assume her
+former nationality if she so desires?"
+
+"You do desire it, wish to give up your title and all it means in
+England, and even in the United States for that matter? You will be much
+admired in any case, I am sure, Mrs. Kent, but after all, Lady Kent has
+a more romantic sound! You feel sure you will not regret your decision?
+I have not yet had an opportunity to look up the question you have just
+asked me and I don't want to answer you without being positive as to the
+exact law in the matter. My impression is, however, that the choice lies
+with you; that a woman may resume her former citizenship in the United
+States if she so wishes and returns to her own country to live."
+
+At this instant Frieda and Professor Russell entered the drawing-room,
+and a little later, when the rest of the family had joined them, dinner
+was announced.
+
+Afterwards, although sitting beside each other at dinner, as the
+conversation was general Peter Stevens had no opportunity for any
+further personal conversation with Jacqueline Kent.
+
+He was by no means convinced that he liked her. He found most girls and
+women tiresome after a short acquaintance. However, the girl he had
+formerly known had at least developed into what appeared to be two
+conflicting personalities.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+JEAN, OLIVE AND FRIEDA
+
+
+One afternoon about ten days later Jean Bruce, who was Mrs. Ralph
+Merritt; Olive, who was Mrs. Bryan MacDonnell; and Frieda Ralston, the
+wife of the eminent scientist, Professor Henry Tilford Russell, were
+sitting with their sewing under one of the big trees not far from the
+big house, built after the discovery of the gold mine on the Rainbow
+ranch and christened the "Rainbow Castle."
+
+Jack, as was often the case when they were thus quietly engaged, was not
+with them, but was riding somewhere over the ranch with her son, Jimmie,
+and Jeannette, one of the four new Ranch girls, to some spot where Jim
+Colter was apt to be found, in order that he might ride back home with
+them.
+
+The other little girls were playing at no great distance away, except
+little Peace, who was sitting in a small chair watching them.
+
+"I do think Jack might have remained at home with us," Frieda remarked
+petulantly. "Here I have traveled all the way from Chicago, closed my
+home for a year, partly of course because the doctors thought it best
+for Peace to be in the west and outdoors as much as possible, and
+because Henry needed a change, but also because Jack was to be with us
+at the old ranch and I had not seen her since Frank's death. And yet
+nearly every afternoon off she goes riding like a whirlwind and
+deserting the rest of us as if she cared nothing for our society. Jack
+has changed a great deal I think, or else is more like she was as a girl
+than as a married woman, now her husband's influence is removed. I
+particularly wished her at home this afternoon because, as it is such a
+perfect afternoon, some of the neighbors are sure to call. After Jack's
+unfortunate performance the other afternoon I am convinced people are
+talking about her, so I would like her to make a pleasant personal
+impression upon some of the best people."
+
+Leaning back in a big wicker chair, Jean Merritt put down her embroidery
+for a moment.
+
+"Oh, Jack will make a pleasant impression upon some people and not upon
+others, as she used to do as a girl and has probably done all her life.
+Of whatever else one may accuse Jack, no one can say that she has not a
+forceful personality, so that people either like or dislike her. I often
+think of the contrast between Jack and me, now we are women, although I
+presume it was just as conspicuous when we were girls. I create no such
+affection and no such antagonism as Jack does, but a kind of mild liking
+or mild admiration as the case may be." Jean laughed, adding:
+
+"I don't know whether I am glad or sorry, whether I envy Jack or feel
+she should envy me. One thing I am sure of, I should never have turned
+my back upon the title and position Jack could have continued to hold in
+England for the simplicity of the old life here at the Rainbow ranch, at
+least not for any great length of time. I believe I was always a little
+envious of Jack's opportunities, the very things for which she cared so
+little. I would like to have been Lady Kent, to have entertained in Kent
+House, to have been a leader in English society. People talk of Ralph as
+a successful engineer, but I wonder if they realize this means we have
+never had a home, and I have simply dragged myself and the children
+after him wherever he has been employed. Then, Ralph never has made the
+money most persons believe he has; as a matter of fact, he is a much
+more successful engineer than he is a business man. Not that I am
+intending to complain," Jean said, hastily resuming her work, "but of
+course one cannot help thinking of how strange life is and how often it
+gives things to the people who don't wish for them and withholds from
+those who do. I have wanted to be a prominent society woman all my life
+and Jack has always had an aversion to such an existence, therefore the
+opportunity has been hers, not mine."
+
+"Jean, please do not speak in such a pessimistic fashion," Olive
+interrupted. "The truth is that you have the social gift and Jack,
+charming and brilliant as she is, has not. Of course I think this is
+because she does not care to possess it. Jack loved her husband more
+than the character of life she was obliged to live on his account,"
+Olive continued in the tone which always created a calmer atmosphere in
+any family discussion. "As for Jack's riding off and leaving us at home,
+you must try and understand, Frieda dear, that Jack is possessed of
+infinitely greater energy than the rest of us, and that all her days
+when she has been troubled she has not kept still and brooded as most
+girls and women do. At present, in spite of what she has been through,
+she remains cheerful and agreeable whenever she is with us, and when she
+is unhappy tries to wear herself out with physical exercise. I wonder if
+any one of us would be as courageous in her present circumstances? As
+for what Jack did the other afternoon, Frieda, of course you know I
+agree with you that it was indiscreet of her, but suppose we do not
+mention the fact any more."
+
+Frieda's red lips closed in a finer line than one might have expected of
+her dimpled countenance.
+
+"One is obliged to continue to mention one's attitude on such matters to
+Jack, else she forgets and does again exactly what she likes regardless
+of consequences," Frieda replied with primness. "But of course, Olive, I
+appreciate that you have never found any fault in Jack for as long as
+you have known each other. I wonder sometimes how your husband feels,
+except that he has pretty much the same point of view. But I have not
+been disagreeable to Jack over her latest escapade except because of
+its possible effect upon her. I am sure you understand this, Jean, if
+Olive does not. Jack is planning to live in this neighborhood for a
+number of years, until Jimmie should be taken home to England, therefore
+it is most important that she should have a good reputation among our
+neighbors and friends. I am sure I love Jack better than either of you
+can, as she is my own sister. Even she realizes that it is for her sake
+that I have been so annoyed."
+
+"Certainly, Frieda," Jean Merritt returned soothingly, having always had
+more influence upon the youngest of the original four Ranch girls than
+the others even in their girlhood, "Olive does understand your attitude
+and has said she agreed with you. But I also agree with Olive that we
+must not scold Jack any more for this particular offence. I have never
+seen Jim Colter so displeased with Jack before. After all, it was
+nothing more than an indiscretion, which my wretch of a husband refuses
+to take seriously and declares was rather sporting of Jack. He insists
+Jack is one of the few persons in the world who dares to do what she
+wishes when there is no harm in it and therefore other people must come
+round to her way of thinking in the end. Now, if there is gossip,
+Frieda, don't you think it might be wiser to have Jack's family take the
+position that she has done nothing so extraordinary? Goodness, is that
+one of our formidable neighbors approaching? Shall we go indoors to
+enjoy her visit? I agree with you, Frieda, I wish Jack _had_ stayed at
+home this afternoon. If she could have made a friend of Mrs. Senator
+Marshall half the battle in this neighborhood would have been won. At
+least we shall be able to find if what we have been fearing has come
+true. If I remember the lady at all well, if she has been told of Jack's
+indiscretion, we are sure to learn of it."
+
+Before Jean had finished speaking she had arisen, laid her work aside
+and was moving graciously forward to greet a woman who was driving up
+the avenue toward the house.
+
+She was driving a new electric machine beautifully upholstered in a
+bright blue. Mrs. Marshall was herself dressed in a costume of almost
+the same color, and was rather stout with a mass of sandy colored hair
+turning gray, and a florid complexion. She was the second wife of a
+United States senator.
+
+"No, I should of course prefer to remain out of doors. You do look too
+comfortable and delightful," she began in a manner which was perhaps a
+little too cordial to be perfectly sincere. Then when she had shaken
+hands with Frieda and Olive, she murmured: "So Lady Kent is not at home.
+I am so sorry. You will understand if I say my visit is made especially
+to her, as I hear she intends remaining among us for the present. But
+there, I had forgotten. I was not to say Lady Kent, so my stepson
+informed me. Strange for an American woman voluntarily to resign a
+title! I am so little of the time in Wyoming and so much of the time in
+Washington perhaps I fail to understand Mrs. Kent's more western point
+of view. But as we are to be in Wyoming for some time now, in fact until
+my husband is renominated and I presume re-elected to the Senate, he was
+anxious I should meet Mrs. Kent, whom I believe he knew as a girl."
+
+"You are very kind," Frieda murmured. "I am sure my sister will be
+disappointed at not seeing you and will look forward to the pleasure a
+little later. Indeed, I hope she may return before you leave."
+
+But whatever Frieda's tone and manner, she was not so convinced that her
+sister Jack would enjoy the acquaintance of their present visitor. Mrs.
+Marshall was as unlike Jack as one could well imagine two persons being.
+She had the reputation for being both a gossip and a snob and yet a
+woman of whom for these very reasons a number of persons were afraid.
+Personally Frieda felt a little afraid herself and preferred that she
+should be their friend rather than enemy.
+
+"Your sister seems to spend a great deal of her time on horseback since
+her arrival in the neighborhood," Mrs. Marshall remarked in a casual
+fashion. Nevertheless both Frieda and Olive experienced slight
+sensations of discomfort, wishing that Jean Merritt, who was better able
+to answer their guest, had not disappeared at this moment to ask one of
+the maids to serve tea.
+
+"Yes, my sister has been devoted to horseback riding all her life,"
+Frieda answered a little too warmly. "She rode always as a girl and
+never gave up riding after marrying and living in England."
+
+"Yet she must have ridden in a very different fashion. One can scarcely
+imagine an English lady riding with a lot of cowboys and ranchmen and
+engaging in a lassoing contest with no other women present. My husband
+and I were much amused when we heard the story. Mrs. Kent is known to be
+such a western enthusiast there is a report that she may be intending to
+enter a wild west show. However, I believe the commonest report of the
+story is that Mrs. Kent is thinking of joining the movies. Well, it is
+the most popular thing one can do these days!" And the older woman
+laughed as if she only half believed her own suggestions. Nevertheless,
+she could hardly have failed to realize that neither of her companions
+were enjoying her remarks.
+
+Frieda had flushed until her big blue eyes were half full of tears which
+she was doing her best to restrain. Her voice shook during her reply,
+yet she also endeavored to summon a smile.
+
+"One is so glad to find something or some one to talk about in a small
+community, isn't one?" she returned. "I should have supposed you would
+have lost interest in gossip yourself, Mrs. Marshall, living so much of
+your time in a city like Washington," Frieda added. "Of course you must
+know personally that my sister is not interested in any of the
+picturesque suggestions you seem to have had brought to your attention.
+As a matter of fact, she has not yet entirely given up wearing mourning.
+She has a rather large fortune and later must find some way of
+interesting herself, although at present she appears content merely with
+her own family. Yet I am sure after a time people must realize what her
+coming into a community like this one may mean."
+
+Then realizing that she was not making the situation any better, and
+that their visitor was annoyed by the suggestion she had intended to
+convey, that her sister, Mrs. Kent, might become a more important person
+in the neighborhood than Mrs. Marshall herself, Frieda grew suddenly
+silent. After all, why was Jack not at home to explain her own
+eccentricity?
+
+Now as Olive entered the conversation Frieda experienced a sensation of
+relief. Olive's manner was so gentle and quiet one was seldom
+antagonized by it.
+
+"We are _so_ glad of what you have just told us, Mrs. Marshall," she
+began. "I confess we have been interested to know whether Mrs. Kent's
+action the other afternoon was of sufficient importance to interest her
+neighbors and what story had been told concerning it. Mrs. Marshall, I
+am sure, will be glad to hear what actually took place and tell other
+people the exact truth. You are quite right; Mrs. Kent did ride over
+with several of our ranchmen to watch a lassoing contest among the
+cowboys. She used to take a deep interest in all western sports as a
+girl and never has lost her interest apparently. Then I confess, to our
+regret, Mrs. Kent did try to discover if she had forgotten her old-time
+skill with a lasso. We were frightened, as she might so easily have been
+injured. But nothing of the kind occurred and there is no more to the
+story. Mrs. Kent will be sorry to disappoint her neighbors if they have
+imagined a more interesting set of circumstances."
+
+Returning at this instant, followed by a maid with tea, the conversation
+altered. A short time after, without any further reference to Jacqueline
+Kent except to repeat that she was sorry to have missed her, the visitor
+withdrew.
+
+However, the three former Ranch girls did not immediately go indoors. It
+was still not five o'clock in the afternoon of a beautiful late
+September day. Beyond the broad fields of wheat and oats were golden and
+ripe for harvesting. Nearby the new little Ranch girls were still at
+play, spinning around in a gay circle at the game of "drop the
+hand-kerchief," little Peace in her chair looking on.
+
+"It is just as I feared, Jack is going to be the talk of the
+neighborhood before any one has even seen her or been introduced to her.
+I presume the cowboys discuss her skill around their camp fires at night
+as well as our richer neighbors; Mrs. Marshall probably spared us as
+much of the gossip as possible," Frieda declared irritably.
+
+But at this instant glancing up, she saw the figure of a woman on
+horseback outlined against the blue horizon and at the same instant Jack
+waved to her and came cantering in their direction.
+
+No one, except an extremely stupid or self-absorbed person, ever beheld
+Jacqueline Kent on horseback without a distinct sensation of pleasure.
+
+Frieda, in spite of the many times she had seen her in such a position,
+was not proof against the fascination. "How wonderfully Jack rides! No
+wonder she loves it," she exclaimed. "I am glad she is at home at last!"
+
+A few moments after, having cleared the gate of the farther field
+without descending to open it, Jack rode swiftly up the avenue.
+
+The eyes of Frieda, Olive and Jean remained fastened upon her.
+
+Having added to the disapproval of her family by being seen in an old
+and discarded riding habit upon the afternoon of her unfortunate
+adventure, Jack had since appeared only in an extremely new and smart
+riding costume made for her by her London tailor shortly before sailing
+for the United States. It was of black cloth with a close fitting coat
+and riding trousers. This afternoon she also wore black riding boots of
+soft leather and a little derby hat. Her hair in the yellow afternoon
+light was much the same color as the ripened wheat.
+
+So intent was the small audience upon watching Jack's return and so
+intent were the new little Ranch girls upon their game, that no one saw
+a small figure rise suddenly from her chair, clap her hands together and
+then dart across the little space of grass toward the rapidly galloping
+horse. A moment later, and she was directly in the horse's path, not
+three feet away.
+
+There the baby stood stock still, her little white frock fluttering in
+the wind, her yellow curls flying, her face upturned, frightened now and
+quite still. The horse seemed to rear so high above her head that she
+caught no vision of the loved figure she had run forward to greet.
+
+Her mother saw her, and Olive and Jean, and they were not many yards
+away, and also the other children, who suddenly had quit their play and
+remained standing in a long line, still holding one another's hands,
+breathless, intent, terrified, unable in the surprise and terror of the
+moment to offer aid.
+
+"Baby!" Frieda called and darted forward, yet knowing instinctively she
+could not be in time. Olive and Jean would have run after her except for
+a swift call from Jack.
+
+They saw Jack hold her bridle easily in one hand, and then lean over
+from her saddle until her arm could sweep the ground, when with a single
+swift motion she lifted little Peace into the saddle, as she drew her
+horse to a standstill.
+
+"Don't frighten Peace, please, Frieda," she said, as she gave the little
+girl safe and smiling and pleased with her adventure into Frieda's
+outstretched arms.
+
+[Illustration: WITH A SINGLE SWIFT MOTION SHE LIFTED LITTLE PEACE INTO
+THE SADDLE]
+
+"And to think, Jack dear," Frieda murmured, still tearful half an hour
+afterwards although Peace was safe in bed, "that I sometimes have
+criticized you for keeping on with your riding when you might be doing
+such stupid indoor things as Jean and Olive and I enjoy. Had you been
+one of us, why, Peace might have been killed or worse this afternoon. I
+never saw any one do anything so quickly or so skilfully, Jack, as you
+lifted little Peace out of danger. Why, I--I had forgotten that you used
+to be able long ago to lean from your horse and pick up anything you
+wished from the ground. One would not have supposed that such an
+accomplishment could be so valuable as actually to save my baby's life.
+Say you forgive me for being so hateful about that other thing for the
+past ten days."
+
+Jack's arm was about her sister as they walked up and down before the
+house waiting for Professor Russell's return from the small hut situated
+about a mile away where he spent the greater part of each day engaged in
+scientific investigations.
+
+"But, Frieda dear, I was to blame and I am sorry," Jack replied. "Jim
+has not forgiven me yet. I was to blame this afternoon too, for I should
+not have ridden up to the house so swiftly when I knew the children
+were playing near. But I grew suddenly lonely for you and Olive and Jean
+and left Jimmie and Jeannette with Jim and rode quickly home to find
+you. Here comes your husband, I'll leave you and go home to the lodge.
+No, I don't want any one to come with me and I won't see you again this
+evening. Good-night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+JEAN AND RALPH MERRITT
+
+
+The marriage between Jean Bruce, the cousin of Frieda and Jacqueline
+Ralston and one of the four original Ranch girls, and Ralph Merritt, the
+young engineer of the Rainbow mine, had only taken place after a long
+and frequently interrupted friendship, since between them there were
+many differences of opinion, of taste and of ideals.
+
+Frankly as a young girl Jean always had cared greatly for wealth, for
+social position and for fashionable people, a viewpoint which had not
+altered with the years, as Jean freely announced.
+
+True that her husband had made a reputation for himself as an expert
+mining engineer and at different times in a small way had shared in the
+profits of the enterprises which his skill and ability had made valuable
+to the owners. Yet never at any time had Ralph Merritt acquired a large
+fortune for himself and his family. Notwithstanding his many fine
+traits of character he suffered from one weakness. In his effort to
+gratify and please his wife now and then he had speculated with Jean's
+private fortune and with his own, and although never confessing the
+fact, his speculations more often than not had been unsuccessful.
+
+In returning to the old Rainbow ranch to spend a few months, Jean and
+Ralph had been glad to say that the opportunity to be reunited for a
+short time with their old friends and former associations was not to be
+resisted. However, there was another motive, if they preferred not to
+speak of it. At the time of Jacqueline Kent's homecoming from England to
+the ranch after the death of her husband, Jean and Ralph were passing
+through a period of financial stress so that the visit to the big house
+with their two little girls would be a relief as well as a pleasure.
+There was a chance ahead, in which Ralph Merritt thoroughly believed,
+sure to put him on his feet again. Like most other patriotic Americans,
+at the outbreak of the war in Europe he had volunteered for service
+overseas and been captain in a mining corps in France. Returning home,
+if he were rich in experience, he was poor in worldly goods. There was
+nothing unusual in this, but unfortunately Jean and Ralph were not
+willing to begin over again by living simply and economically until
+Ralph could make new business connections. And the fault was actually
+more Jean's than her husband's, although she was not aware of the fact.
+Nevertheless, among the four Ranch girls, Jean, who loved money more
+than any one of them, was the only one without it. Naturally the war and
+the high taxes it entailed had decreased the value of the English estate
+which Jacqueline Ralston Kent had inherited from her husband, yet the
+estate was still large enough for Jack and her son to be entirely
+comfortable apart from her own private fortune, due to her share of the
+output of the Rainbow mine, which had been wisely and conservatively
+invested. Moreover, Jack's own tastes were simple and she wished to
+bring up her son in a simple fashion.
+
+Captain MacDonnell possessed only a small estate of his own, but Olive
+had inherited wealth from the grandmother who had appeared so
+mysteriously in her life during the year spent by "The Ranch Girls at
+Boarding School." Moreover, Captain MacDonnell and Olive apparently
+cared only for each other, for Captain MacDonnell's art, and the effort
+to forget his injury in the war in his new work and life. The truth was
+that a large part of her fortune Olive had devoted to the establishment
+and upkeep of an Indian school not far from the neighborhood of the
+Rainbow ranch. She and her husband preferred to live out of doors in a
+tent in the western country whenever the weather made it possible,
+partly because of Captain MacDonnell's health and also that he might
+constantly study the western types and scenes which he was painting to
+the exclusion of all other subjects.
+
+Frieda and her husband, Professor Henry Tilford Russell, were not rich;
+in fact, Professor Russell, having resigned his professorship at the
+University of Chicago, was at present making no income. Yet his parents
+were wealthy and adored Frieda and her little girl, and moreover,
+Professor Russell was at this time engaging in scientific experiments
+which might bring him fame and fortune or else achieve no result of
+importance. An expert chemist who had made several valuable discoveries
+during the war, Professor Russell believed that he had earned a year's
+holiday at the ranch and the opportunity to indulge in one or two of
+his private hobbies. So Jim Colter had offered him one of his small
+unused ranch houses in a comparatively isolated spot where the Professor
+could conduct his experiments with danger only to himself.
+
+Frieda worried over this possibility, but in the main allowed her
+Professor husband to have his way, having found out that without his
+work he was restless and miserable. There was a new Frieda in her
+relation to her husband following their disagreement and reconciliation
+told in "The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure," and the birth of
+their little girl. Now Frieda seemed to care only for her husband and
+child, and had become an almost too punctilious married woman and
+housekeeper in that she wished everyone else to conform to her ideas.
+
+Money problems therefore did not at this time trouble Frieda, whose
+interest was concentrated in her little girl's health and in her
+husband's success, not for any possible wealth it might bring them, but
+that he might enjoy the honors Frieda felt so sure he deserved. In the
+meantime she had her own income and knew that at any moment Henry's
+mother and father were more than anxious to supply any of their wishes
+or needs.
+
+So it was a little cruel that Jean, who cared so much for money, was the
+only one of the Ranch girls to endure not alone the pinch of a present
+poverty but a painful uncertainty with regard to the future. In fact,
+during the weeks of the reunion of the Rainbow Ranch Girls, Jean Merritt
+had been under a good deal more of a strain than the others dreamed,
+for, except for her few general remarks to Olive and Frieda, she had
+made no mention of her anxieties.
+
+Ralph Merritt had accompanied his wife and little girls to the ranch and
+remained with them a few days. Afterwards he had gone away, announcing
+that he had important business which must be looked into, but that he
+might come back at any time. There was nothing exceptional in this, as
+Ralph's interests had always required that he move about from place to
+place, seeing a number of men who oftentimes wished him to look at a
+mine before agreeing to undertake the engineering work in connection
+with it. At present among the interests that called Ralph away was the
+discovery of a gold mine concerning which his advice was desired.
+
+Ralph Merritt was a decided favorite with Jim Colter, the former manager
+of the Rainbow ranch and one of its present owners. Among the husbands
+of the four Ranch girls he always had liked Ralph best. But even he had
+not suspected that Ralph was in any difficulty, since the younger man
+had said nothing which might cause one to suspect the fact.
+
+One day, about a week after the visit from Mrs. Marshall, a note arrived
+asking that the former Ranch girls drive over to her home and have tea
+with her and a few of their neighbors.
+
+At first Jack insisted upon declining the invitation, saying that she
+had not been out of mourning for any length of time and felt a hesitancy
+in meeting strangers. But Frieda protested, declaring her sister must
+accept or appear unfriendly. Mrs. Marshall had stated that her other
+guests would be neighbors, some of whom Jack had known as a girl, and
+the others she should learn to know as she contemplated living at the
+ranch. So Jack had yielded as she ordinarily did to Frieda in all small
+matters, in a way trusting Frieda's judgment rather than her own,
+besides not wishing to appear selfish. Without the subject being
+mentioned between them again, Jack understood that her sister wished her
+to counteract if possible a former unfortunate impression.
+
+But Jean Merritt's refusal of the invitation was more unexpected and
+more determined, as usually Jean welcomed every social opportunity.
+However, she had a much better excuse to offer than Jack. She announced
+that she had received a letter from her husband saying that he might be
+expected to reach the ranch some time during the afternoon chosen by
+Mrs. Marshall, for her tea party and so there was no question but that
+Jean must not be argued into leaving home if she preferred to remain
+rather than run the risk of not being able to greet her husband upon his
+arrival.
+
+Apparently in her usual state of mind, Jean helped the other girls to
+dress, talking to Frieda about a number of casual subjects and walking
+half way toward the lodge to meet Jack, who came up to the big house a
+little earlier than the hour for starting. Senator and Mrs. Marshall's
+summer home was only a few miles away in the direction of the city of
+Laramie.
+
+After the others had gone and Jean was alone in her own room, her
+nervousness began to reveal itself first in a number of small ways.
+Restlessly she walked up and down her large and beautiful bedroom, which
+had been especially designed for her as a girl when Rainbow Castle was
+built after the discovery of the gold mine and before the marriage of
+any one of the four Ranch girls. The room was upholstered in rose,
+Jean's favorite color, with cretonne hangings of rose and white and a
+low couch by the window filled with cushions of the same material. The
+rooms set apart for Frieda, Olive and Jack in the big house were kept as
+nearly as possible as they had been arranged in the old days and Frieda
+was at present occupying her own apartment. But Jack had never loved the
+new place as she had the Rainbow lodge of the days before their fortune,
+and moreover preferred her own private establishment. Olive and Captain
+MacDonnell chose to enjoy more freedom and seclusion in their tent than
+had they lived with the rest of the family.
+
+This afternoon Jean for a time made no pretense of sitting down. When
+the motor had disappeared down the avenue of cottonwood trees she
+continued to walk up and down, now and then glancing out her open
+window. Ralph had written that no one was to attempt making an effort to
+meet him, as he was uncertain upon what train he would arrive. He would
+either find some one to drive him over to the house or else telephone.
+
+Jean had not dressed since lunch, yet her costume chanced to be a pretty
+brown skirt and a cream voile blouse, open at the throat and rather
+unusually becoming.
+
+However, in the midst of her restless movement, stopping for an instant,
+she gazed at herself in the mirror with distinct disfavor.
+
+"I am afraid I am losing the small claim I once had to good looks," she
+announced to herself with a frown of disapproval. "Certainly I am the
+least good looking of the four of us! I wonder if Jack is the beauty
+these days or Olive? Frieda is pretty, but she has not the air or the
+distinction of Jack, or Olive's rare coloring. Oh, well, I suppose I
+ought not to mind except for Ralph's sake! Yet if Ralph only brings home
+the good news I expect him to bring, I know I shall become a more
+attractive person! Sometimes I am afraid I have made things harder than
+I intended, yet Ralph knew my weakness before we married. He understood
+that I cared more for worldly things than I suppose one should. Oh, at
+the time we were engaged perhaps I did seem to care less for them and to
+think only of our life together, but one can't always live up to the
+best in one. Now I do intend to be more loving and considerate."
+
+Rapidly Jean began changing her simple costume for an afternoon dress, a
+rose-colored crêpe de chine, by no means new, but one which her husband
+especially liked. And as Jean dressed, in spite of the fact that pallor
+was usual with her, a warm, cream-colored pallor extraordinarily
+attractive with her dark-brown hair and eyes, this afternoon her cheeks
+flushed to a deep rose. At the same time her eyes turned from the mirror
+to the window, hoping she might see her husband driving toward the
+house. Her ears also were listening for the sound of a telephone which
+might announce the fact that Ralph was at the station waiting to be sent
+for. She had decided not to drive over to meet him herself, as she would
+prefer to hear the news he must bring when they were alone.
+
+It could not be possible that the news would be bad news! Jean put this
+idea away from her at once. This could not be! Ralph had been so sure
+of the new gold mine in which he had lately invested almost everything
+they possessed. Perhaps he should not have made the investment before
+examining the mine himself, yet he had not been able to wait. The owners
+had insisted that he must take the same chance along with them or they
+would find some one else to make the investment. If the new mine was
+what they hoped and believed, large fortunes would accrue to them all;
+if not Ralph Merritt must share the fortunes of war.
+
+The afternoon passed, yet Jean continued to await in vain the appearance
+of her husband or the sound of the telephone. Not once did it ring
+during the long hours. Four o'clock and then five and still no Ralph.
+"After all, it would have been wiser to have gone with the others to
+Mrs. Marshall's tea, as it would have been far more interesting, and she
+would have felt less nervous than waiting alone," Jean concluded.
+
+Then by and by, woman like, Jean began feeling aggrieved. If Ralph were
+unable to return home as he had anticipated why had he not telegraphed?
+Surely he must appreciate her anxiety!
+
+Picking up a magazine, Jean dropped down upon the couch by the window,
+attempting to read. At first she found it impossible to concentrate her
+attention, but later became fairly interested.
+
+A quarter of an hour after, her door opening abruptly, Jean looked up
+with a quick exclamation.
+
+"Ralph!"
+
+"What's the trouble, Jean?" Ralph Merritt demanded with an irritation in
+his voice and manner most unusual with him, "I have been trying to
+telephone the house for the past two hours and finally gave up and have
+walked over from the station--three or four miles, isn't it? It felt
+like ten. Seems as if some one might have been interested enough to
+answer the telephone, especially as I wrote you I'd try to get the house
+in case I could not find any one to drive me."
+
+"But, Ralph, the telephone has not rung, I have been listening and
+expecting to hear it all afternoon. The connection must be broken. Yet
+what does it matter, now you are at home? What is the news?"
+
+"Matter is that I am dead tired," Ralph Merritt answered, flinging
+himself down upon the couch Jean had just vacated. His shoes were
+covered with dust, his face and hands were soiled, his clothes rumpled.
+In a flash Jean thought of the Ralph who had returned to the ranch in
+this same condition a number of years before and of their interview
+together on the porch of the Rainbow lodge. Ralph had promised her then
+never to speculate again, never to risk his hard earned money in a
+gamble, which is all that speculation is. Then Jean put the memory
+quickly away from her, as there could be no reason to recall it upon
+this occasion.
+
+She was standing looking down upon her husband.
+
+"Tell me quickly, Ralph, things are all right; they must be," she
+argued, her voice hoarse, her eyes having a peculiar hard brightness
+unlike their usual velvety softness.
+
+"Think I would not already have told you, Jean, if they were?" Ralph
+Merritt answered. "Suppose I would have spoken first of being tired,
+although I am tired straight through, if things had worked out as we
+hoped? The new mine is not worth the money it has required to buy the
+machinery. It is my fault. I should have known better and taken more
+time to consider and investigate. I was suffering from the same trouble
+that's taken hold of a good many young American fellows these days,
+trying to get rich in too great a hurry. I am sorry, chiefly for your
+sake, Jean dear, and the little girls, but more for you because the
+little girls won't mind seriously. I'll be able to make a living all
+right, but for a while I'm afraid not a big one, and these are hard
+times to make money go very far. I have an offer to go into New Mexico
+and look over another mine, and if it's any good I am to have the job of
+engineer."
+
+Ralph was now sitting up, his look of fatigue and discouragement a
+little less apparent as he continued to talk. He was a splendid looking
+young fellow, a typical American with a fine, clear-cut face, a strong
+nose and a sensitive mouth. The eyes he turned toward Jean were wistful
+at this moment.
+
+But Jean was white with disappointment and anger.
+
+"The old story with you, Ralph, always something in the future, nothing
+for the present. I trust you are not expecting the little girls and me
+to go with you on your wild goose chase into New Mexico. I suppose when
+I tell Jim Colter and Jack that we have not a cent to live upon, they
+will allow us to remain at the ranch for a time anyhow. If I were only
+as clever as Jack perhaps I might be able to support the family without
+your help. I have little faith left in you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE TEA PARTY
+
+
+"Jack, you will try to make yourself as agreeable as possible."
+Jacqueline Kent laughed: "Frieda dear, don't I always try? And is it
+fair of you to blame me when I am unsuccessful? But I know you want me
+to be as staid and well behaved this afternoon as if I were the Dowager
+Lady Kent, in order to conquer the reputation I seem already to have
+acquired in the neighorhood. Do they think me a kind of wild west show?
+Well, I will make my best effort."
+
+The motor in which Olive, Frieda and Jack were driving had by this time
+entered the grounds of the summer home of Senator and Mrs. Marshall. The
+house was a big frame building with a wide porch filled with attractive
+porch furniture and shaded by striped awnings of brown and yellow. The
+afternoon was a warm and lovely one and apparently the guests were
+preferring to remain out of doors, as several of them were wandering
+about in the yard before the house and a number were seated upon the
+veranda.
+
+As the motor from the Rainbow ranch stopped, Senator Marshall himself,
+accompanied by Peter Stevens, came forward to greet the newcomers. He
+spoke cordially of his pleasure in seeing them to Frieda and Olive, but
+his attention was attracted by Jacqueline Ralston Kent, whom he had
+known as a young girl.
+
+Senator Marshall was a middle-aged man of distinguished appearance, over
+six feet tall, with white hair, bright blue eyes and an aquiline nose.
+Ordinarily his expression was one of good-humored tolerance. Yet Senator
+Marshall had the reputation for being a dangerous enemy and a man of
+strong will whom no one dared oppose upon a matter of importance.
+Notwithstanding the fact that his wife was feared by her neighbors as a
+woman whose authority no one was allowed to dispute, it was said that,
+although her husband gave way to her in all small issues, in larger ones
+she was compelled to do as he wished.
+
+To-day Jack was wearing an afternoon dress of black tulle over black
+silk, and a large black hat, which made her skin appear exceptionally
+clear and fair and her hair a deeper gold brown.
+
+"It was kind of you to come to see us the other afternoon, Mrs.
+Marshall, and I am sorry to have missed you," Jack said a little shyly a
+few moments later, when Senator Marshall had taken her to speak to his
+wife, leaving Peter Stevens to follow with Frieda and Olive. It was a
+misfortune from which Jacqueline Ralston had suffered as a girl and
+which she never had entirely conquered, that she was apt to feel less at
+ease with women than with men, as if they understood her less well and
+criticized her more severely.
+
+Now as Mrs. Marshall returned her greeting, although perfectly polite
+and cordial, Jack had an instinctive impression that the older woman saw
+something in her which she did not like, or else had heard something
+previously which had prejudiced her.
+
+"I am glad to meet you at last, Mrs. Kent. Considering the fact that you
+have been in the neighborhood so short a time I seem already to have
+_heard_ a great deal of you."
+
+If there was no double meaning in the words which were simple in
+themselves, nevertheless Jack flushed slightly.
+
+"But I am not a stranger in this neighborhood, Mrs. Marshall. I knew
+your husband a long time ago when my father was alive and I was a little
+girl trying to help manage our ranch. I don't think I forgave you for
+many years, Senator Marshall, because you were one of the lawyers on the
+other side when we had a difficulty over the boundary line of our
+ranch."
+
+"No, you were quite right not to forgive me, but remember you won the
+case and I lost, so that should make it easier for you to forgive and
+forget. I am sure I shall never have the bad taste or the poor judgment
+to take sides against you a second time upon any subject."
+
+Smiling, Jack glanced around her. Seated upon the porch were half a
+dozen or more persons whose faces were dimly familiar, some of whom she
+had not seen in a number of years, others fairly intimate friends, and a
+few complete strangers.
+
+Leading her about the circle, Mrs. Marshall introduced her to the
+persons whom she had never met and Jack herself paused to shake hands
+and talk to the others.
+
+There was something in her manner which the older woman observed with a
+sensation of envy, never having seen anyone before apparently so
+sincere and straightforward as Jacqueline Kent.
+
+An hour later Jack found herself at one end of the long veranda
+surrounded by a group of half a dozen persons including her host.
+
+"It is growing late, I am afraid we shall soon have to say farewell,"
+Jack suggested, looking about to discover Frieda and Olive. She had done
+her best to make herself appear as agreeable as possible according to
+her sister's direction, but already she was a little tired and anxious
+to be back at the ranch, seldom really enjoying conventional society as
+she believed she should.
+
+"But you must not think of leaving us, Mrs. Kent, until you have seen my
+son," Senator Marshall insisted. "He was forced to go to Laramie this
+afternoon upon some business for me, but I promised to keep you until
+his return. I suppose you don't realize that the girls in the
+neighborhood are already beginning to be a little jealous of you, now
+that you have the reputation of being the best horsewoman in the state.
+I am glad you are not a young man instead of a young woman, or you might
+become Stevens' or my political rival some day. Do I hear correctly
+that you mean to resume your American nationality as soon as you can go
+through the necessary formalities?"
+
+Jack nodded.
+
+"Yes, Mr. Stevens has been helping me, telling me what I must do. Yet I
+think it is not gallant of you, Senator, to suggest a woman has no
+chance in politics in Wyoming, the first state in the Union to allow
+women the vote."
+
+Senator Marshall leaned back in his chair, eyeing Jack with a smile.
+
+"So you are thinking of playing Lady Nancy Astor in the United States?
+Who knows but the idea is a good one. If the British Parliament accepted
+an American woman married to a British peer, I don't see why an American
+woman married to an Englishman, resuming her former allegiance to her
+own country because she loves it best, would not make a first-class
+member of Congress, perhaps defeat you, Stevens."
+
+"Why not you, Senator, if Mrs. Kent is elected to office from Wyoming?
+For that matter, I do not see why she should not have the highest honor
+in the gift of the state."
+
+As the two men were joking with one another, Jack rose and at the same
+instant saw a young man of about twenty-one coming hurriedly across the
+porch in their direction.
+
+She held out her hand at once, recognizing him as John Marshall, Senator
+Marshall's son, although never having met him at any time.
+
+"I am so glad you have not run away, Mrs. Kent, I want to ask you a
+great favor. I hear you can beat any ranchman in Wyoming swinging a
+lasso. Try it with me some day, won't you? It is great sport, but I've
+yet to see a girl outside the circus or a wild west show who is any good
+at it."
+
+Absurd under the circumstances, yet Jack blushed furiously and then
+laughed:
+
+"Am I never, never to cease to hear of my ridiculous exploit? You see,
+Mr. Marshall, I thought I was safe from observation that day, or perhaps
+it is more than probable I did not think what I was doing at all. And
+since that ten minutes of simply having a good time and trying to find
+out if I had forgotten what I learned as a girl, I have heard of little
+else. But you are mistaken in thinking I have any great skill with a
+lasso. I have forgotten the little skill I once possessed."
+
+"But you will let me see you attempt it again? It is the greatest sport
+in the world, beats tennis or baseball, or even polo. The girls in this
+part of the country are either afraid or else insist lassoing isn't
+ladylike or proper, some funny nonsense! A good many of them say it was
+shocking of you and that no well-bred girl would ever have been alone
+with a lot of cowboys watching their contest, let alone taking part. But
+I----"
+
+"See here, don't you think you have said enough, John?" Senator Marshall
+protested.
+
+But Jack only laughed and held out her hand.
+
+"I deserve nearly anything that may be said of me, but I thought I had
+come home to live in the west where one did not have to be conventional.
+Apologize for me, won't you? Yes, I'll ride with you with pleasure if
+you don't mind my bringing Jimmie and several little girls along to act
+as our escort. You see, I ordinarily ride with them every afternoon. I
+do wish we could try the lassoing, but I am afraid I don't dare."
+
+"Still, you will some day. I've an idea you would dare anything that you
+thought the right thing to do," John Marshall added so enthusiastically
+and making so little effort to conceal his admiration for Jacqueline
+Kent, who was several years his senior, that the group of older people
+about them laughed.
+
+A few moments later, thrusting his father and Peter Stevens aside, he
+insisted upon seeing Jack to the motor and handed her in with amusing
+and most unnecessary gallantry, as she was more than able to look after
+herself.
+
+Ten minutes later, leaning back in the car with her eyes closed, Jack
+demanded:
+
+"Were you pleased with me this afternoon, Frieda Ralston Russell?
+Goodness knows, I am tired enough with the struggle to be agreeable! I
+wonder why society wears me out and I can be outdoors and busy all day
+without fatigue."
+
+"You got on pretty well, Jack, only I was not with you all of the time
+and don't know everything you said. I do hope you said nothing
+indiscreet; but I am afraid Senator Marshall and his son liked you
+better than Mrs. Marshall did, and that is a pity."
+
+Jack yawned.
+
+"Olive, was there ever so much worldly wisdom possessed by any one
+person as by Mrs. Henry Tilford Russell? I am sorry if you think Mrs.
+Marshall did not like me, but she cannot be blamed for the fact and
+neither can I. As for the son, John Marshall, he is a nice boy, nicer
+than his father. I don't know why, but I never altogether trust Senator
+Marshall. However, I am talking nonsense; one talks so much nonsense at
+a tea party it is hard to stop immediately after. I hope Ralph is safely
+at home by this time. I was sorry Jean was not with us. It is so
+wonderful for the four Rainbow Ranch girls to be living together at the
+old ranch after all these years and all our experiences that I don't
+like our being parted except when it is unavoidable."
+
+"Don't talk as if we were patriarchs, Jack, and as if John Marshall were
+a small boy and you were old enough to be his mother," Frieda protested.
+"You are only a few years older than he is, after all! But it is nice to
+be together and I trust Ralph's arrival will cheer Jean up. She has
+tried not to show it, but Jean and I always have understood each other
+and I have seen lately that she is more worried over something than she
+wants anyone to know."
+
+"Well, please give my love to Ralph if he has returned and say I shall
+look forward to seeing him in the morning. No, I won't come to the
+house. Jimmie and I want to have dinner together and an evening alone,"
+Jack answered.
+
+About ten o'clock she was sitting out on the porch of the Rainbow lodge
+feasting her eyes on the golden glory of the October moon floating in a
+heaven of the deepest blue, when she heard some one walking toward the
+house.
+
+Jack was rarely afraid of the conventional things which most women fear,
+yet the steps seemed furtive and uncertain, so that she got up hastily.
+
+A moment later the figure of a young fellow appeared wearing the costume
+of a cowboy. The moonlight shone full upon his face, yet Jack did not at
+once recognize him.
+
+"'Pears as if ye didn't know me, yet I ain't surprised," he drawled. "I
+ain't seen you but the once when we rid over to the lassoing from the
+ranch house. My name's Billy Preston, come from the Kentucky mountains.
+The boys sent me up here to make you a little present. I was going to
+leave it on your front porch and sneak away again, expectin' to find you
+indoors or mebbe not at home."
+
+"Why a present for me? What is it? No one ever gives me a present any
+more, and who is it from?" Jack demanded as eagerly as a little girl.
+
+The young mountaineer thrust something toward her, rather a large bundle
+it appeared in the moonlight.
+
+"It's a new lasso, made of the finest horsehair in the market and sent
+you by the fellers who saw you ride that time. They say with a little
+more practice you'll learn what you set out to do. Anyhow, the fellers
+want me to say they are with you in anything you may be thinkin' about
+undertakin' out in these here parts. And say, you needn't be afraid, no
+matter what happens. We are all your friends; we like a woman who don't
+put on side and who kin ride straight and think straight and act
+straight. You know, I was brought up in the Kentucky mountains, and
+besides I fit two years in France. So I kin shoot, as we used to say
+down south, I kin shoot a fly off a telegraph pole, so if ever you
+should need any one to look after you, why, count on me."
+
+"Good gracious, thank you and thank everybody!" Jack murmured. "I am
+delighted to own the new lasso, although I'm afraid I shall never learn
+to use it properly. But if the Rainbow ranchmen wish me to know they
+are glad I am at home again, I don't know how to thank them enough.
+Please say I love every inch of this old ranch in the greatest country
+in the world. But I'm not thinking of any special undertaking except to
+live here and help a little with the care of the ranch as I once did as
+a girl. Just the same, I am deeply grateful for the honor you have paid
+me and the protection I feel sure every one of you would offer me if I
+should ever need it. I don't know what I should say to express my
+gratitude, but you'll see that the men understand."
+
+Billy Preston nodded.
+
+"Don't you worry, Miss--Mam," he added quickly. Yet he must be forgiven
+his mistake for Jack looked so like a young girl standing there on the
+old porch in her soft black dress in the yellow radiance of the moon.
+"I'll see they know you're pleased, but you ain't to disremember the
+rest of what I said. One ain't ever able to guess how things may turn
+out in this world or what troubles folks may git into."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+AN INTERVIEW
+
+
+Immediately following breakfast the next morning Jack and Jimmie went
+out to the tennis court near the Rainbow lodge, which they had recently
+been trying to get into condition. There they began batting balls back
+and forth across the net. Not old enough to play a good game of tennis
+for the present, nevertheless Jimmie Kent was determined to make as good
+a beginning as possible and to learn whatever his mother might be able
+to teach him. He was very like Jack rather than his English relatives, a
+straightforward, determined little fellow, self-willed and frank, with a
+vigorous body and an ardent love of outdoor sports.
+
+"You've missed that ball and it was such an easy one!" he called out in
+an annoyed tone, and then saw his mother run across the court waving her
+racquet.
+
+"Excuse me for the present, Jimmie, but here comes Frieda from the big
+house and it is so early for her to be out that I am afraid there is
+something the matter."
+
+Frieda Russell was walking a little more rapidly than usual and seemed
+to be slightly out of breath when her sister joined her and slipped an
+arm through hers.
+
+"Nothing has happened, Frieda? Peace is all right, and Professor Russell
+and the others?"
+
+The younger woman nodded and yet her face remained grave and there was a
+suggestion of a frown between her large clear blue eyes.
+
+"Yes and no, Jack. Oh, I know you hate any one to speak in so
+non-committal a fashion and yet one can not always be so direct and so
+certain about things as you are. Everybody is well at the big house,
+physically well I mean, and yet there is something I felt I wanted to
+discuss with you this morning before any one else sees you. I
+particularly want to talk to you alone, so suppose we sit down in the
+hammock on the front porch and you can see and tell me if any one draws
+near."
+
+A moment later, Frieda spread out her plaid blue gingham skirt with as
+much care as if it had been of silk and took off her big blue shade
+hat, holding it in her lap. She had always been extremely careful of her
+costume and her physical appearance as a young girl and now devoted even
+more attention to them, with the result that she had an air of
+daintiness which was very pleasing and that her skin remained as fair
+and soft as a baby's.
+
+"You are rather a comfort, you know. Jack, when one is in a difficulty,
+not that I always rely upon your judgment, but I do like to talk things
+over with you and get your point of view," she began. "The truth is I am
+worried about Jean and Ralph. Ralph returned to the ranch late yesterday
+afternoon and saw Jean while we were away. I did not see either of them
+until later when they came in to dinner together and then I have never
+seen Ralph or Jean look as they did. Even Henry noticed it, and you know
+he notices very little that has to do with human beings. He actually
+inquired if they were feeling ill, which was most unfortunate, since
+they both said 'no,' and then tried to behave as if there was nothing
+the matter. They were neither of them successful. I know Jim saw there
+was some trouble, but Jim is so wonderful, he never has interfered in
+any way with us since we married. We must first give him our confidence,
+and even then he is very careful.
+
+"Of course I do not understand whether the trouble is between Jean and
+Ralph or whether it is due to some outside cause. But I must say, Jack
+dear, that though she has confided nothing to me, I did think Jean's
+manner toward her husband a strange one. And yet perhaps I am a little
+suspicious or just over anxious because--well, because," Frieda
+hesitated a fraction of a second and then went on, "because Henry and I
+had that misunderstanding after we were married which made us both so
+dreadfully unhappy and except for an accident might have wrecked our
+lives. It's a funny thing, isn't it, Jack, when one marries one thinks
+one's problems are over. I suppose that is because one is very young,
+and then naturally one finds out that if the old problems are over,
+there is an entirely new set. Even you and Frank used to have little
+differences now and then! And yet here you are still little more than a
+girl, and a widow, with a wholly different life to live until you marry
+again. Don't shake your head. One never knows. You always insisted,
+Jack, that you would not marry when you were a girl, and yet you were
+married before any one of us.
+
+"But I am wandering from my subject. You see, about Jean and Ralph, I
+don't know what to do, or whether any one of us has the right to attempt
+to secure their confidence unless they first offer it to us. At
+breakfast this morning Ralph Merritt announced that he was leaving the
+ranch again to-day and might be gone for some time. He was going to some
+frightfully hot place in New Mexico to see about a lately discovered
+gold mine, but Jean and the children would not go with him. And Jean
+made no protest of any kind. She did not even try to persuade Ralph to
+stay on at the Rainbow ranch for a few days until he had a chance to
+rest and they could be together for a little while. I never saw Jean
+behave so queerly or look so strangely. She was white and cold and
+severe, although she does look so unhappy, almost as if she were ill.
+You know she has always cared for me more than for you or Olive, and yet
+when I put my arm around her this morning and asked if she felt badly,
+she almost pushed me away and said that I would soon grow too tired of
+her to care whether she were well or ill. Of course she will probably
+talk to me later on, yet it is funny. One might not think it, yet Jean
+is really more reserved than the rest of us.
+
+"But what I am worrying over is, that by the time Jean makes up her mind
+to confide in any member of her family, Ralph will have gone. And if he
+goes, somehow I have a strange presentiment that it may be a long while
+before we see him again. Do you suppose you could speak to him? Ralph
+said this morning that he was coming to the lodge to have a talk with
+you as he really has never seen you alone since your arrival in this
+country. You and Ralph are pretty good friends! I don't know why it is,
+Jack, but boys and men talk to you more freely than they do to most
+girls or women, so will you undertake to find out what is the difficulty
+between Jean and Ralph before Ralph goes away? Try to learn if the
+trouble is some outside thing in which we could be useful. I know Jim
+Colter wants to offer to help Ralph, if he needs help, he admires and
+likes him so much, but I don't think Jim dares, Ralph looks in such an
+uncomfortable mood."
+
+Without even an exclamation to interrupt her sister's story, Jacqueline
+Kent had listened intently, her gray eyes a little clouded, her
+sympathetic face responding to every suggestion.
+
+"Yet, Frieda, you feel I ought to question Ralph when Jim, who is his
+dear friend, is unwilling? I am afraid not, Frieda dear. You realize I
+have seen so little of Ralph and Jean since their marriage, as I have
+been living in England and they have been in the United States except
+while Ralph was in service in France. Secretly I confess I am a little
+afraid of Ralph, more than I am of either your husband or Olive's, Ralph
+is so quiet and apparently so self-sufficient. If he has made up his
+mind to a certain action I cannot believe that any one save Jean _could_
+influence him."
+
+"Yes, but Jean won't _try_ to influence him this time, at least this is
+my impression," Frieda added hastily, "and Ralph feels sorry for you at
+present, Jack dear, and admires the way you are facing things. He said
+so last night at dinner, said quite plainly that he admired you more
+than any one of the former Ranch girls, which was not especially polite
+of him, although I did not mind, even if Henry was there and might feel
+he had made a mistake in marrying me instead of you, not that he could
+have married you, as you were engaged already. But I must get back home
+now, or else Ralph may arrive and perhaps believe I have been gossiping
+about him."
+
+Hastily Frieda jumped up.
+
+"Good gracious, Jack, isn't that Ralph on his way here this instant? It
+is either Ralph or some one like him! Let me slip into the house and
+stay there until you persuade Ralph to go for a walk, then I'll run
+home. I hope Jean will be too much engaged to miss me, I did not mention
+to any one I was coming over to the lodge. Good-by, dear; anyhow, you
+can do your best to follow my advice."
+
+Scarcely a moment after Frieda had disappeared Jacqueline Kent went
+quickly forward to greet Ralph Merritt, who was walking slowly across
+one of the fields in the direction of the Rainbow lodge. At once Jack
+believed that even had Frieda not forewarned her, she must nevertheless
+have observed the trouble in Ralph's face.
+
+"I have come to say good-by and hello at the same time, Jack," he
+announced. "Sorry not to see more of you, but I'm off for New Mexico
+this afternoon, I don't know for how long a time."
+
+Perhaps there are occasions in this life when frankness may not be
+desirable. But the spiritual frankness of Jacqueline Kent, which did not
+consist of saying unkind things to people under such a guise, but of
+going directly to the heart of what she felt and believed and of
+expecting the same thing of other human beings, nearly always served.
+
+She did not hesitate at this instant.
+
+"Ralph, I believe you are in some kind of difficulty. I think I have
+guessed partly by your expression and also because you would not leave
+the ranch so abruptly and with the suggestion that you may not return
+for many months without an important reason. I wonder if the trouble is
+a money one, Ralph, because if it is, you must let me help you. You know
+I have a fairly large estate and it is costing Jimmie and me almost
+nothing to live here at the lodge, and Jean,--Jean has been like my
+sister since the days when we spent our girlhood here as the 'Ranch
+Girls of the Rainbow Lodge.'"
+
+Ralph shook his head.
+
+"You're a trump, Jack, but that is out of the question. Suppose we walk
+down to the Rainbow mine. I had not intended talking to any one, but
+perhaps it is best I should, and somehow, Jack, it is not so hard to
+confess one's mistakes to you as to most persons. I can't take your
+money because I have already lost most of Jean's and all of my own. Jean
+hates poverty and has lost faith in me besides. I don't altogether blame
+her, yet it has been hard for a good many of us to get started in the
+old fashion since the war ended, and these days the Government has so
+many regulations about mining gold that only where the output is large
+does the work pay. What I want to ask you, Jack, is to look after Jean
+and the little girls while I am away. I'll come back when I have made
+money, not before."
+
+The man and girl had come to the neighborhood of the old Rainbow mine
+and stood near the edge of one of the disused pits.
+
+"Yes, I understand, Ralph. Moreover, you have decided that it will not
+be worth while to attempt any more work in the Rainbow mine, at least
+not unless a new lode is discovered. Now I wonder, Ralph, if it has ever
+occurred to you how much Olive and Frieda and Jean and I owe to your
+former skill in working the Rainbow mine in the past, how much of our
+fortunes are actually due to you? Does that not make a difference? Are
+you not more willing to let me be of assistance to you until you are
+able to repay me? Won't you at least promise me to talk to Jim Colter
+and to ask his advice before you leave?"
+
+Ralph shook his head.
+
+"No, and even if I were willing, and I am not, Jean would never consent.
+Many times she has told me how deeply she appreciated that fact that you
+and Frieda shared alike with her the output of the Rainbow mine when she
+was only your cousin and with no legal right to your inheritance. Having
+lost Jean's money, although she gave me her consent, even urged me to
+the investment, she has lost faith in me. What is more serious, I am
+even beginning to have less faith in myself. Yet I don't know why I am
+telling you all this, Jack, I had not intended to do more than say
+good-by. What hurts worse is that Jean does not care for me any more; I
+wonder now if she ever did care as I did. You know how important she has
+always counted wealth and position and I believed once I could give them
+to her, but lately I have failed and so Jean is disappointed. Funny
+thing marriage, Jack!"
+
+"Funny thing life, Ralph, one is just a part of the whole! I think you
+are mistaken about Jean, but I have no right to express an opinion. Only
+if you do consider it wiser to fight it out alone, don't worry over Jean
+and the little girls. Jim would look after them even if I were not here.
+Queer that Jim, who came to us first as a cowboy and then the manager of
+the Rainbow ranch, should have been even kinder than an own father! Not
+that I think of Jim as so much older than I am! However, 111 stand by
+Jean through whatever comes, Ralph! And after a time, even if she is
+disappointed and hurt for the present, she is sure to change. I wish I
+dared to tell her the mistake she is making, only I don't dare. In any
+case, I'll do my best."
+
+Ralph Merritt held out his hand.
+
+"Shake hands, Jack, and let us say good-by. But before I leave you I
+want to say to you something else, something which may surprise you. I
+believe you came back to this country for some good purpose, Jacqueline
+Kent, some purpose none of us recognizes at present and you least of
+all. But if the day should come when you feel that some work calls you,
+don't be afraid to undertake it. Life has a queer fashion of preparing
+people for what she wishes them to accomplish, without their knowing."
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"I wonder what there can be ahead for me, Ralph? Yet some day I must
+find something, as I shall never marry again. Life on the old ranch is
+restful and charming, yet I suppose it won't continue to be enough. So
+let us wish each other good luck here in the shadow of the old mine
+where we discovered the 'Pot of Gold.' There must be other kinds of gold
+at the end of other rainbows."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+A YEAR LATER
+
+
+"It is harder to endure, Jack, because so much my own fault, all my life
+I must feel in a measure responsible, and I cannot feel hopeful as you
+insist you do, perhaps for that very reason. However, we must not talk
+too much of this now, to-morrow will be time enough. You must keep all
+the strength and self-control you possess for to-night."
+
+It was more than a year later, and Jean Merritt and Jacqueline Ralston
+were in Jean's beautiful bedroom in the big house on the Rainbow ranch.
+Jean was sitting on a low couch with her hands clasped tightly together,
+while Jack was moving restlessly up and down the large, fragrant room.
+
+"But I can't make a speech to-night, Jean, not after the bewildering
+news we have just received, although I will not believe it to be final.
+Why did I ever think I could? Yet surely there is a sufficient reason
+now for me to be excused!"
+
+"Sit down for a few moments please, Jack," Jean answered with such an
+evidence of self-control and of unselfishness that her companion
+suffered a swift emotion of shame and compunction.
+
+"Now there isn't any question but you must go on to-night with what you
+intended doing. Remember we all have decided that, for the time at
+least, it will be wiser to keep secret the information we have just
+received. Therefore you cannot make this your excuse for failing to
+speak as you planned. If you fail to speak this evening it will appear
+either that you are afraid to say what you think, or else that you have
+changed your opinion."
+
+Jack flushed.
+
+"But I _am_ afraid. Am I not the last person in the world you would ever
+have dreamed attempting a public speech? And here I am involved in the
+effort to make one to-night, simply because I began talking first to our
+own ranchmen and then to the men on the neighboring ranches of some of
+the work I thought we ought to undertake in Wyoming. When I first began
+I did not know I was making a speech. To-night I shall probably know it
+without being able to make it. Still, I don't want to talk about myself
+in the face of your problem, Jean. Now let us go over the news you have
+received and see if we both understand. Ralph has been away over a year,
+hasn't he, working always at the mine in New Mexico and writing
+regularly? The mine so far has not proved a success, but Ralph insisted
+that he still had faith in it and never spoke of leaving, or changing
+his work. Now word arrives that two weeks ago he had a serious fall into
+a pit which had been left uncovered, but that he seemed not badly hurt,
+only a little bruised and shaken and that he had continued with his
+duties that same day as if nothing had occurred. Then next morning, as
+he failed to appear, one of his men going to look for him found his tent
+empty. He has not been seen since. Yet no one had heard him go away in
+the night and there was nothing to suggest that he had intended
+remaining away, as his clothes and private papers were left behind.
+Naturally the people at the mine believed we had heard some word of him,
+and I believe we soon shall hear. Ralph will write or come to the
+Rainbow ranch, I am convinced of it. What is it you really think, Jean?"
+
+Jean shook her head.
+
+"I don't know what to think. Some tragedy may have happened to Ralph, or
+he may simply have grown too weary and discouraged to remain where he
+was any longer."
+
+Getting up, Jean began walking up and down the big room with its
+rose-colored carpet as if her uncertainty and unhappiness must have a
+physical outlet.
+
+"I have never told you in so many words, Jack, although I must have said
+enough for you to guess that Ralph and I parted without the tenderness
+and faith I should have shown him even if I believed he had made
+mistakes, because the mistakes were made chiefly for my sake. I thought
+I had learned a good deal in this year of his absence, but perhaps it
+was not enough, so I must bear this new anxiety. Ralph would have been
+happier married to you, Jack, than to me; I have thought this a good
+many times. You care nothing for wealth and society; I have always cared
+too much until lately. Now after this year with all of you at the old
+ranch I was learning a new set of values; except for wanting Ralph I
+have been so happy here just as we used to be as children, even if we
+have a new group of younger Ranch girls. Now, unless I hear from Ralph
+within the next twenty-four hours I mean to go to New Mexico to find
+him. I should have been with him through this year, enduring the
+hardships he has been forced to endure, instead of living in comfort and
+idleness here at the ranch."
+
+"But you have not lived in idleness, Jean, whatever else you may accuse
+yourself of. Managing this big place, keeping house for Jim and his
+little girls and for Frieda and her family is hardly being idle. Jim
+says he has not been so at ease since Ruth died. It's funny Jim told me
+he thought it wiser for Professor Russell to go in search of Ralph
+unless we receive word immediately than that he should go, although Jim
+and Ralph are devoted friends. Jim says that Henry is a scientist, but a
+more practical man of affairs than the rest of us give him credit for
+being. Yet somehow I don't believe Jim is willing to leave us alone at
+the ranch, not only his own little girls, but you and Frieda and Olive
+and me. He insists on driving me over to Laramie to-night, although I do
+not feel he likes my speaking in public. However, when I asked his
+advice he merely said: 'Go ahead, Jack, do what you wish to do; your
+life is your own. If I am an old fogy and should prefer you to stay
+quietly at the lodge, I never have expected it of you since you came
+back and resumed your American citizenship. As long as you don't go too
+far I'll stand behind you.'"
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"Of course I don't know what Jim means by 'too far,' but I suppose he
+will tell me in time. Now I am going away, Jean dear, and leave you to
+try to rest. Remember, I believe firmly that we shall hear from Ralph
+within the next few days, or the next few hours, who knows? But Olive
+and Captain MacDonnell will stay with you to-night, as Frieda and
+Professor Russell wish to drive over to the Woman's Club with me. At
+least if I am to make a speech I am glad it is to be made there. Frieda
+is too funny. She is torn between being rather proud of my being a
+sufficiently prominent person in the neighborhood for people to be
+willing to listen to me, and thinking it unwomanly of me to attempt to
+speak. Besides, I think she shares my present conviction that I am going
+to break down and so disgrace myself and all of us. Yet it is such a
+simple thing I wish to talk about, and anyone ought to be able to say
+what one thinks."
+
+As Jack rose, Jean placed her hands on her cousin's shoulders, her brown
+eyes gazing steadfastly into Jack's gray ones.
+
+"No, it is not going to be difficult for you to-night, Jack, not after
+you have once started with your speech. It will be difficult at first,
+of course, to face an audience of men and women for the first time in
+your life. You have said a good many times just what you will say
+to-night, but I know that you have never considered before that you
+_were_ making a speech. But it will be a success, Jack, because to you
+it is always a simple thing for people to be straightforward and honest
+and public-spirited. Now go and lie down yourself for an hour or so. I
+am going to see what the little girls are doing."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"No, I am going off for a ride alone, Jean. It is funny, but Billy
+Preston, one of our cowboys, told me I should not ride alone, not even
+over our own ranch. Already there seems to be a good deal of feeling
+against me because of what I have been advocating. As if I were of
+enough importance to be considered dangerous! But please don't speak of
+this to any one else; I must ride alone now and then, and I have
+promised Jim never to leave our ranch without an escort. It is curious
+that I can think better on horseback than at any other times. Other
+people manage the same thing by lying down, or walking through the
+country, or in crowded city streets. I believe some writers can only
+dictate when they are striding up and down their rooms. But I am off
+now, really this time, Jean. I'll have a light supper at the lodge, as
+we start about seven. In the morning I'll tell you the worst, or
+probably Frieda will tell you before I can see you."
+
+A moment after Jacqueline Kent was gone.
+
+After her departure Jean suffered a stronger sensation of
+discouragement. It was always true that Jacqueline Kent possessed a
+vitality so keen and a sweetness of character so inherently sincere,
+that one was apt to be stimulated and cheered by her companionship.
+
+Later in the same day driving toward town, Jack remained unusually
+quiet. She was riding in the front seat of a Ford car seated beside Jim
+Colter and listening with some amusement to her sister Frieda's
+conversation with her husband, which Frieda had not the slightest
+objection to having overheard.
+
+"I feel perfectly convinced that Jack is going to break down, Henry, or
+perhaps not even be able to begin her speech when she faces her
+audience. I do wish I had not come. Of course you and Jim won't mind so
+much because you are no real relation to Jack, so I shall feel much more
+embarrassed than anyone else. However, my one comfort will be that if
+Jack does make a complete failure to-night she will never attempt to
+speak in public again. I don't see why she should care so much what the
+other ranchmen in Wyoming do, so long as we are successful with our own
+ranch. But then one never has been able to count upon what Jack would
+think or do. We are not in the least alike."
+
+"But my dear Frieda," Professor Russell expostulated, speaking in a
+hushed voice intended only for Frieda's ears, "don't you think it unkind
+of you to suggest failure to your sister at this late hour? If you did
+not wish her to speak you should have remonstrated earlier."
+
+"Oh, I did talk to her; indeed I am sure I have discussed nothing else
+for the past week. Sometimes I have told Jack I would never forgive her,
+if she went on with what she had been doing, and then again I advised
+her to make a perfectly wonderful speech at the Woman's Club to-night,
+just to show the stupid people who object to her how clever and charming
+she is, and how right. Of course I think Jack is right about a few
+things now and then."
+
+In answer to Jack's gay laughter from the front seat and Jim Colter's
+chuckle, even to her husband's amused smile, Frieda continued
+undisturbed.
+
+"Frieda dear, you are a tonic and I won't dare fail if you feel as you
+do about me," Jack called back over her shoulder. "You are more
+refreshing than Jim, who tells me I am sure to succeed in convincing my
+audience to-night, when deep down inside of him he is sure I will not.
+Yet you won't desert me if the worst happens, Frieda?"
+
+Frieda shook her blonde head.
+
+"No, Jack, I shall never turn my back upon you really, no matter what
+you do, even if I disapprove of it most dreadfully, perhaps not even if
+you should run for some public office in the state of Wyoming as if you
+were a man. Of course the suggestion is absurd, but I did hear some one
+say you might become an influence in the state of Wyoming."
+
+"Yes, that was absurd, Frieda dear," Jack returned, resting her head
+lightly on Jim Colter's shoulder and closing her ears to Frieda's patter
+in order to try to think more clearly of the task ahead of her.
+
+The subject upon which Jacqueline Kent was to speak to-night was a
+simple one, so simple that she had not understood why there should be
+any opposition to her suggestion. In the beginning it had been only a
+suggestion.
+
+Jacqueline Kent desired the ranchmen of Wyoming to increase the number
+of their livestock and to have larger herds of cattle, and droves of
+sheep, with a view of making the state of Wyoming the most important
+ranch state in the country. The world was never before in so great need
+of food and clothing.
+
+Yet soon her little talks with the Rainbow ranchmen and the men from the
+adjoining ranches became known throughout the neighborhood. Then to her
+surprise Jack discovered that a large number of the prominent men in
+Wyoming opposed her suggestion. Among these men were Senator Marshall
+and her former acquaintance, Peter Stevens, who was employed as an
+attorney to limit the supply of livestock raised in Wyoming.
+
+To-night Jack had been asked to present her view of the question before
+a group of men and women in the Woman's Club in Laramie. The building
+was a large one. Later, when Jack stepped out upon the platform she
+faced an audience of several hundred persons.
+
+An instant the faces swam before her and her courage failed. Then she
+appreciated that her first sentences could not be heard beyond the first
+few rows of chairs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+A MAIDEN SPEECH
+
+
+Nevertheless Jack looked very young, attractive and frightened. Her
+color had vanished, her wide gray eyes held an expression of appeal for
+patience and understanding.
+
+She was dressed in the costume she ordinarily preferred in the evening,
+a black tulle over black silk, cut with a square neck and with elbow
+sleeves, and, although of exquisite material, made in a simple fashion.
+Usually caring little for jewelry, to-night she was wearing a pearl and
+amethyst star which her husband had given her years before.
+
+As her glance now swept the audience she beheld the faces she especially
+wished _not_ to see, Jim Colter's, her sister Frieda's, and her
+neighbors, Senator and Mrs. Marshall's. Not far away and staring fixedly
+at her was the somewhat grim countenance of her former acquaintance,
+Peter Stevens.
+
+Upon Jim Colter's fine, deeply lined face--his coal black hair was now
+turning slightly gray--was a look with which Jack had been familiar
+since her girlhood. The look said more plainly than words that Jim was
+always there to fight her battles and whether she succeeded or failed,
+she could count upon him. Frieda's face was set and white and miserable,
+her blue eyes open to their fullest extent, announcing as plainly as her
+lips could have stated:
+
+"Why, why did I ever permit Jack to make such a spectacle of herself?
+Have I not warned her that she could never make a public speech? Yet
+after all, the fault is partly mine, as I should never have allowed her
+to undertake such a task!"
+
+It was Frieda's honest conviction that, as she had a great deal more
+common sense than either her sister or husband, it was not only their
+duty but their privilege to yield to her judgment in practical matters.
+
+The expression with which Senator Marshall regarded her, Jack believed
+she recognized as one of amused tolerance, not unmixed with
+satisfaction. He had talked seriously to her of the mistake she was
+making in her present ideas. He also thoroughly disapproved of women
+attempting public speeches under any conditions whatsoever, and of this
+Jack also had been kindly informed. Mrs. Marshall's attitude did not
+affect Jacqueline Kent in any fashion. Long before she had accepted the
+fact that Mrs. Marshall did not like her and resented any influence she
+might have gained in the neighborhood. Especially Mrs. Marshall had
+seemed to dislike her stepson John Marshall's boyish friendship and
+admiration for his neighbor. If John had come to hear her speak to-night
+he was not seated with his parents, for Jack's subconscious mind was
+registering these small and unimportant impressions even as her lips
+moved almost inaudibly in the address she was endeavoring to make.
+
+However, the one face which seemed to arouse Jack more completely than
+the others was that of her former acquaintance, Peter Stevens. In the
+past year Peter Stevens had become more than an acquaintance. If they
+were not friends he appeared to enjoy calling at the Rainbow lodge, for
+one could count upon seeing him there probably once a week. His
+expression at present was undoubtedly one of pleasure at her failure.
+Jack felt distinctly angry.
+
+"Louder," some one called from the back of the hall, and hearing the
+call, she paused and an instant remained silent. Speaking again, it was
+apparent that both her manner and voice had changed. The self-command
+which had in a measure deserted her was slowly being regained.
+
+"I am sorry, I fear a good many members of my audience have not been
+able to hear what I have been saying," she answered, speaking in a
+fashion which seemed to take the men and women who were her listeners
+into her confidence, making the greater number of them her advocates
+rather than her critics. "I suppose it is scarcely worth while
+confessing that I have never made a public speech before and have no
+idea how much one should raise one's voice. Yet the subject I want to
+talk about to-night is such a simple and direct one that I really and
+truly don't see why it should be discussed in any public fashion. I am
+only here because some of you felt it might be wise for me to state my
+opinion. Nevertheless, I am sure I agree with any of you who feel my
+opinion may not be valuable.
+
+"Most of you know that I came back from England more than a year ago and
+because I loved my own country better than my adopted one, I have
+resumed my American citizenship. Yet when I speak of loving my country
+I think I mean first of all that I love my state, the state of Wyoming,
+where I was born and lived as a girl, and that the parts of Wyoming I
+love best are her great and beautiful ranches.
+
+"On my return, to my surprise I discovered that instead of the ranches
+in Wyoming having increased in the last few years and the quantity of
+livestock become greater, they now cover less acreage and the livestock
+is smaller in number. I was sorry; our state is so lovely, with its
+broad stretches of fertile prairies, our rivers and streams, and our
+hills set like a rim of jewels about them. So first I began talking to
+the men on our own ranch, the Rainbow ranch, asking them if it would not
+be possible to increase the number of our cattle and sheep. Since the
+close of the war we have heard of nothing but of how hungry the world
+is, at least the European world. So I did not dream there could be any
+objection if I talked to other ranchmen beside our own and asked them
+what their plans for the future were to be. We all know that many of the
+men who are now working on the ranches in the United States intend
+owning their own places as soon as possible. Many of them are soldiers
+who, having returned from the war in Europe, now wish to lead an outdoor
+life and enjoy the freedom and the independence which the ranch life
+offers. And wherever and whenever I have talked to the former soldiers
+who have come to dwell in Wyoming they have seemed to agree with me.
+
+"The views of the people who oppose the idea of increasing the number of
+our ranches and the supply of our livestock I confess I am too stupid to
+understand. They seem to feel that Wyoming's future lies in her cities,
+in her mineral deposits, and even in her recent large manufactories.
+
+"They believe we will receive less for our cattle and horses if we raise
+a greater number. Yet say this is true, and I do not accept its truth,
+how will the ranchmen be injured if the cost of the increase in his
+expenses is covered by the greater number of his stock? And this we have
+found to be the case in the past years' experiment with the livestock on
+the Rainbow ranch."
+
+Jack paused again, but this time not because she was either frightened
+or embarrassed. She had given up the effort to make a speech after
+having undertaken it, having discovered that she was not being
+successful. Since then she had been talking to her audience in the same
+fashion that she would have spoken to any single individual who might
+have expressed an interest in her subject.
+
+"I wonder," she remarked clearly and distinctly, "if there is any one
+present who is entirely unprejudiced and is willing to state the other
+side of this question, to explain why the state of Wyoming should cease
+to be a great ranch state. Perhaps Senator Marshall or Mr. Peter Stevens
+will speak upon the subject."
+
+As Jack ceased there was a momentary pause followed by a ripple of
+laughter. The word "unprejudiced" had amused her audience. Peter Stevens
+was known to be employed by the interests who wished to decrease the
+supply of cattle in the state, while Senator Marshall's political party
+advocated the same point of view.
+
+However, Senator Marshall so far accepted Jacqueline Kent's challenge as
+to arise in his place. Bowing, he said blandly:
+
+"I never argue a point with a woman."
+
+And first his retort was greeted with a murmur of indignation and then
+of renewed laughter.
+
+Gazing directly into his face, Jack protested:
+
+"But, Senator Marshall, do you not consider that the day has passed for
+failing to argue points with women? We are voters and if points cannot
+be argued, at least certain questions must be made plain. To-night we
+are in a Woman's Club built largely with the idea of offering women the
+opportunity to find out some of the problems they intend to understand."
+
+A few moments later, having received no reply from Peter Stevens, who
+seemed to have chosen to ignore her request, closing her speech more
+eloquently than she had begun it, in the midst of friendly applause,
+Jack bowed and withdrew from the platform.
+
+A little later amid a group of friends and acquaintances unconsciously
+she still held the center of the stage.
+
+"You were not so bad as I expected, Jack, although I was a little
+disappointed in you," Frieda found time to murmur, feeling in the midst
+of her pessimism a great sense of relief. Not only was the speech over,
+but in spite of it Jack was looking extremely pretty and no less
+feminine than she had previously.
+
+Jim Colter simply nodded his head to reveal his satisfaction, while her
+brother-in-law, Professor Henry Tilford Russell, shook hands, announcing
+frankly:
+
+"You did yourself credit, Jack, not to _attempt_ to make a speech. It is
+better to talk simply upon a subject until you know more about it, and
+afterwards for the matter of that."
+
+But outside Jacqueline Kent's own family, many of her friends were
+enthusiastic.
+
+"I do not see why we should not ask you to run for an office in the gift
+of the state of Wyoming some day, Mrs. Kent," the President of the
+Woman's Club declared in a tone sufficiently loud to be heard by a large
+group of persons. "No one denies that an American woman, Lady Nancy
+Astor, is making an excellent member of the British Parliament. Why
+should we be so much more conservative than England? Moreover, Lady
+Astor is an American woman."
+
+In return Jack laughed, failing to attach any seriousness to the
+suggestion.
+
+"Yes, but unfortunately I have none of Lady Astor's gifts," she
+responded. "Nevertheless there may be some one in Wyoming who has, and
+perhaps it would be interesting if Wyoming, one of the first states to
+give the vote to women, should be represented by a woman in Washington.
+You would dislike the idea very much, wouldn't you, Senator Marshall?"
+
+Senator Marshall, who had come up to shake hands with Jack, nodded
+vehemently.
+
+"I should indeed dislike it; I still am sufficiently old-fashioned
+enough to believe that woman's place is the home."
+
+A voice behind his shoulder interrupted.
+
+"Nonsense, father, you are simply afraid of Mrs. Kent as your possible
+rival, for if ever she is elected to Congress the next step will be to
+defeat you for the United States Senate."
+
+The voice was John Marshall's, the senator's son and Jack's devoted
+friend.
+
+"Thanks, but don't make the Senator disapprove of me any more than he
+does at present. I must live in peace with my neighbors."
+
+A little to Jack's surprise Peter Stevens made no effort to shake hands
+with her or to speak to her, although she remained half an hour in the
+Woman's Club after her poor effort at speech-making was concluded. Peter
+Stevens was there also talking to other friends.
+
+She was standing alone out on the sidewalk waiting for Jim Colter to
+drive up with the car, Frieda and her husband having moved a few feet
+away to speak to some one, when Peter Stevens' voice said unexpectedly:
+
+"Good-night, Jack. I suppose it would make no difference to you to
+realize how intensely I disliked your speaking in public this evening."
+He and Jack within he past year had returned to their youthful custom of
+calling each other by their first names.
+
+However, Jack's answer surprised him.
+
+"Oh, I don't know; perhaps you are right. I might consider you an old
+fogey, Peter, to object to girls and women speaking what they believe to
+be true, but it is probably true that at least no one should speak in
+public who has no more talent than I possess. You were kind not to make
+me appear worse by displaying your learning and eloquence afterwards.
+No, I am not being sarcastic; every one says you are learned and
+eloquent. Yet in spite of your reputation, I have the courage to think
+you are mistaken about a number of matters. But here is Jim with the
+car, so good-night. Why, yes, of course I'll be glad to see you at the
+lodge; differences of opinion need not destroy friendship."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE PROPOSALS
+
+
+One spring day an automobile containing four men and two women drove up
+and stopped before the Rainbow lodge.
+
+The half dozen guests must have been expected, because within a few
+moments after they were ushered into the big living-room of the lodge,
+which had altered but little in character in many years, Jacqueline
+Kent, who had been Jacqueline Ralston in the old days, came downstairs
+to greet her visitors.
+
+The call could not have been merely a social one, else Jack would
+scarcely have appeared so pale and preoccupied and so unlike her usual
+radiant and vital self.
+
+Slowly she had descended the stairs, and entering her own living-room
+had shaken hands with four of the six persons whom she knew and had then
+been introduced to the other two. Afterwards she sat down in a chair and
+listened quietly, rarely doing more than introduce a sentence now and
+then.
+
+At the close of nearly an hour, when the visitors, declining to remain
+for dinner, had risen to say farewell, Jack also stood up, facing them.
+
+She stood with the mantel and the bookshelves forming her background.
+Upon the mantel were several of the possessions she had treasured in her
+childhood, Indian bowls of strange shape and antiquity, her father's
+pistol, the first nugget of gold she and Frank Kent, who was afterwards
+to be her husband, had discovered in the Rainbow mine. In the old
+bookshelves were the self-same books she and Olive and Jean and Frieda
+had read and studied in their girlhood, studied far too little until the
+coming of Ruth to act as their governess.
+
+Outside the big living-room windows Jack could see the long double row
+of tall cottonwood trees now grown through the years to mammoth
+proportions and away and beyond the purple fields of the blossoming
+alfalfa and the newly sprouting tender green spears of grain, all her
+own beloved and familiar background.
+
+"I am sure you realize I appreciate the honor you have done me," she
+said finally, speaking in hesitating fashion. "Yet I do not believe I
+dare give you my answer this afternoon. You have been kind enough to say
+that I may have two more days for considering your proposal, and within
+that time I shall of course let you hear. You are sure you cannot stay
+longer, not even for tea?"
+
+Ten minutes later, on the porch of the lodge Jack stood alone, watching
+the automobile containing her six callers roll down the avenue between
+the cottonwood trees and pass out the gate which separated the lodge
+grounds from the rest of the Rainbow ranch.
+
+For a short time Jack continued her watch, glancing first in one
+direction and then in another as if expecting some one else to approach
+with an evident wish to see her.
+
+The afternoon was in early May. The air blowing from the snow-capped
+hills closer to the western horizon brought with it the fragrances of
+damp wooded places, mingled with the wealth of prairie flowers over
+which it had more lately passed.
+
+Jacqueline Ralston Kent threw back her shoulders, lifted her head and
+inhaled a deep breath.
+
+"I wonder why Jim, Jean, Frieda and Olive do not come to find out what
+decision I have reached," she remarked aloud. "This must be some
+prearranged plan that I am to be left alone for a time. And yet it is
+unlike my younger sister, Frieda, not to continue to express her opinion
+and insist I agree with it whether or not it happens to be my own.
+Perhaps being left alone may be more effective than the usual family
+opposition toward bringing me around to their way of thinking. Yet the
+family is divided in their viewpoint, and so whatever I may do I must
+please some of them and displease others. If I am to be left alone I
+think I'll go for a ride. I wish Jimmie were here to go with me; I
+intend to talk my problem over with Jimmie--this and every problem we
+ever have to face. But of course with Jim looking after the branding of
+the new calves this afternoon what chance have I of Jimmie's being
+anywhere near?"
+
+Not long after, with her costume changed to her riding-habit, Jack went
+back to the stable of the lodge and finding no one there, saddled her
+own mare, a present from Jim Colter several years before, and rode off.
+
+Before leaving, she explained to the old half-Indian woman who looked
+after her small household that she would not return until dinner time.
+If she were late Jimmie was to eat his dinner and not wait for her.
+
+It was true that Jacqueline Kent felt she was facing this afternoon one
+of the greatest decisions of her life, almost as important a decision as
+her marriage. Perhaps in some persons' eyes a more important decision,
+since it was more unusual than marriage in the lives of most women.
+
+It was so strange and so unexpected that at present Jack herself was
+scarcely able to accept the momentous fact. Yet here it was before her
+staring her in the face, awaiting her judgment and shutting out the dim
+spring loveliness of the sky and plains.
+
+"Should she or should she not? Would she or would she not?" The refrain
+had a stupid sound in Jack's ears. She caught herself wondering which
+was grammatical and then concluded that both expressions were right in
+her case, since both her future and her will were involved in her
+present conclusion.
+
+Who would have believed that upon her return to Wyoming, her simple
+desire to become an American citizen again and later her interest in
+the prosperity and happiness of her state could involve her in such a
+situation? Within the last hour, was it really possible that she,
+Jacqueline Ralston Kent, one of the four original "Ranch Girls of the
+Rainbow Lodge," had been asked to accept the nomination for the United
+States Congress and become among the first women representatives in the
+country?
+
+Jack bit her lips, put her hand to her face to feel the sudden flush
+which had suffused it at the thought of her own unfitness for so great a
+responsibility.
+
+Then she gave her horse its head and started upon a swift canter; for a
+little while she must put away the question which so troubled her.
+Appreciating her own lack of knowledge and of training for the task
+ahead, why not decline at once and for all time ever to consider it? Yet
+on the other hand, had she the right to evade so wonderful an
+opportunity? She was young and could learn a good deal of what she
+should know in order to meet such a responsibility. Moreover, she did
+have the interest of her state at heart and some of her friends and
+acquaintances must have believed in her, else the nomination would never
+have been offered her. Besides, if she were honest, frank, and
+open-minded, would it not be a wonderful experience? Jack was only
+lately a girl, and in her heart of hearts felt it would actually be
+great fun to be among the early vanguard of the women who were to hold
+important political offices in the United States.
+
+"Yet of course, even if I conclude to accept the nomination, I won't
+unless Jim Colter finally gives his consent. I refuse to be regulated by
+Frieda. Besides, why worry? After all, there is not one chance in a
+hundred that I shall ever be elected!"
+
+Lightly Jack touched her horse with her riding whip; she had believed an
+ordinary gait would suffice to distract her thoughts for a little time,
+but evidently this was not sufficient. Her horse was moving quickly and
+evenly over the smooth road and still her thoughts had continued
+unchanged. He must break into a run--a run so swift and headlong, as if
+in a race for a goal, that all her thought should be centered upon his
+control. She needed to feel the strong rush of the wind in her ears, the
+splendid sensation of being a part of the movement which she so enjoyed.
+
+She had promised not to ride outside of the Rainbow ranch alone, an
+absurd promise which several of the cowboys had suggested, and which Jim
+Colter had insisted upon. She had made enemies within the last year by
+the outspoken position she had taken upon a number of questions. At
+present there were rumors that if she accepted the nomination to
+Congress she would be forced to regret it. Yet these rumors appeared to
+Jack as nothing save stupid gossip and sensationalism and not to be
+regarded.
+
+However, boring as it might be upon occasions like this afternoon, when
+she would like to have gotten as far away from the Rainbow ranch as her
+horse could take her within a two hours' ride, nevertheless she intended
+keeping her promise.
+
+The outermost borders of the Rainbow ranch were enclosed by a high
+paling fence to prevent the escape of the cattle.
+
+When she had ridden a little more than an hour Jack arrived at one of
+the borders of the ranch, in the same vicinity where at one time there
+had been a serious dispute with a neighbor over the boundary line. This
+was near the end of the Rainbow creek, at one time considered chiefly
+valuable for the watering of the stock and afterwards found to contain
+valuable gold deposits.
+
+Those had been strenuous and fighting days at the Rainbow ranch. First
+there was the effort to make a living for the family and then to achieve
+a certain amount of education for the four Ranch girls. Afterwards had
+come the adjustment of their legal rights to the ranch, in the days when
+the possibility that gold might be discovered made the possession too
+valuable to pass to four obscure young girls. How the manager of their
+ranch, a fellow named Jim Colter, who so far as the neighbors knew at
+that time had sprung from nowhere, had fought and won their battles for
+them!
+
+Well, those old days had passed and this afternoon Jack concluded that
+no such perilous times could ever return, whether or not she chose to be
+among the pioneers and enter the political arena.
+
+By this time she had ceased her rapid gait and had come to the bridle
+path which led along the far side of Rainbow creek. The path ascended
+among high rocks and crags, almost the only hilly portion of the entire
+ranch. At the top there was an especially fine view.
+
+At present Jack rode slowly, allowing her horse opportunity to rest now
+and then after his swift run.
+
+[Illustration: JACK REINED IN HER HORSE AND SAT STILL SILHOUETTED
+AGAINST THE SKY]
+
+Jack herself felt in better spirits, more exhilarated. Not having fully
+reached a decision, nevertheless she had managed for a brief time to
+banish the question to her subconscious mind, hoping it was still
+wrestling with the problem and might later help her with its solution.
+
+She glanced among the rocks and crags, remembering how she and the other
+Ranch girls had played hide and seek among them as children. Long before
+when Wyoming was largely inhabited by Indian tribes the Indians had
+lived among these rocks sheltered from their enemies. Indian treasures
+had been discovered buried under the earth or fallen between crevices of
+stone.
+
+Reaching a level space of ground, Jack reined in her horse and sat
+still, silhouetted against the sky. Behind her the sun was setting in
+purple and gold clouds. Below she caught a glimpse of another figure on
+horseback approaching in her direction. Putting her hand to her lips
+Jack called "Hello." She was under the impression that the rider was
+either Jim Colter or one of the Rainbow ranch cowboys, and they were all
+her friends. As it was growing late it might be pleasant to have an
+escort home.
+
+A lifting of a hat and a wave of a hand returning her greeting, Jack
+uttered a little exclamation of surprise.
+
+She waited until Peter Stevens had climbed up the bridle path and was
+beside her.
+
+"I have come to ask you, Jack, if there is any possibility of your
+accepting the offer which was made you to-day? Please understand that it
+is no secret. There has been talk of your nomination for Congress for a
+good many months, not weeks. I presume you realize that if you accept
+you will be my opponent? I also am to run for the same office, unless
+you would like me to withdraw. I am willing if you wish to have me do
+so. Yet I would give up a good many more important things in my life if
+I could persuade you to refuse this nomination. I know you think I am
+old-fashioned, narrow, dogmatic, yet with all my heart and all my
+intelligence I oppose the thought of our American women holding public
+office. And you of all women, Jack! Why, with all the experience of life
+you think you have had, you are little more than a girl. It must be
+impossible for you to realize the jealousies, the calumnies and feuds
+that will be aroused by your action. In this past year I have seen you
+fairly often; never so frequently as I desired, yet you must have
+learned to know whether you like or dislike me. Won't you be my wife,
+Jack, and go with me to Washington in that capacity and not as my
+political adversary? I would do a great deal to prevent your making such
+a mistake."
+
+More surprised than she cared to show, Jack shook her head, her face
+slowly flushing.
+
+"I am sure you are very kind, Peter, and I do appreciate the honor you
+have done me, because I do realize how great a sacrifice you are making.
+Yet perhaps you need not have been put to such a test, for although I
+cannot accept your offer, perhaps I shall not accept the other offer
+either. I know my own limitations for such a distinguished office as
+well as even you can know them. However, I make no promise. Will you
+ride back to the lodge to dinner with me?"
+
+Peter Stevens shook his head and an hour after Jack arrived at the
+Rainbow lodge alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+A DECISION
+
+
+Jack, however, did not reach a decision that night, although many hours
+she lay awake continuing to revolve the subject in her mind.
+
+The next day the opposition she again encountered was even keener than
+any that had gone before.
+
+Not long after breakfast Frieda made the first family appearance,
+bringing her little girl with her.
+
+Seeing her sister approach, Jack, who had stepped out of doors for a
+moment for a breath of fresh air, feeling more fatigued than she
+scarcely ever recalled being at this hour of the morning, gave a quickly
+suppressed sigh and then held out her arms to Peace.
+
+Thoroughly she and Frieda had gone over this question of her possible
+nomination when the matter simply had been under discussion. Frieda had
+then aired her views as fully as it seemed possible that any expression
+of opinion could be aired. Not for a single instant was Jack even to
+allow her mind to rest upon the idea. "A woman politician in the
+family!" Personally Frieda felt and announced that she could not endure
+the disgrace.
+
+From the first had she not warned her sister that public speech making
+would lead to something more disastrous?
+
+Now as Jack greeted her sister she was painfully aware that Frieda's
+face wore the familiar expression it was wont to wear when she had
+appointed herself both judge and jury in a case and allowed no counsel
+for the defendant.
+
+Pretending to ignore the expression, nevertheless, Jack felt a little
+ominous sinking of the heart. She was not prepared to allow Frieda to
+make this decision for her, and had so informed her, as gently and
+firmly as possible, in their previous talks together upon the self-same
+topic.
+
+And Jack did not wish to be drawn into any further argument this
+morning, and certainly not with her sister. All her life she had hated
+argument more than any one of the four Ranch girls, and in the old days
+used often to run away for a ride or a long walk, leaving the matter to
+be settled by the other three, who discussed the point to exhaustion.
+
+"Glad to see you, Frieda dear, it is nice to see you so early in the
+morning and with the baby, especially when I am tired, which does not
+happen often to me. Will you come indoors or shall we walk about among
+your old violet beds? They are blooming in special abundance. Perhaps it
+may amuse Peace to gather some and take them home to the big house. I
+always feel as if I were selfish having so much more enjoyment from your
+flower beds than the rest of the family. Remember, Frieda dear, when you
+planned to be a florist and to rescue the family by selling violets? It
+was sweet of you."
+
+"I'll stay outdoors and Peace can gather the violets if she wishes, but
+I did not come down to the lodge at this hour to discuss violets. I
+never do anything early in the morning, as you know, unless it seems to
+me excessively important. I know those people appeared here yesterday
+afternoon, Jacqueline Ralston Kent, to offer you the nomination for
+Congress; they want you to become a Congressman, or Congresswoman. Who
+ever heard of such a foolish title? Now I wish to know precisely what
+answer you gave them. I would have walked down to the lodge last night
+with Henry, except that both Henry and Jim Colter insisted I should
+leave you alone and give you time to think the matter over for yourself
+before I spoke to you again."
+
+"But you haven't anything _different_ to say, have you, Frieda, so why
+let us talk of it at all?"
+
+"To that I will agree only upon _one_ condition, Jacqueline Kent. You
+must promise me to refuse this nomination once and for all time and
+never so long as you live have anything to do with politics either in
+this country or in England."
+
+"That is rather a tall order, don't you think, Frieda?" Jack answered,
+purposely looking in another direction rather than toward her sister's
+face.
+
+Frieda always would appear to her a grown up and glorified baby, so
+long, when they were little girls together, had she looked upon Frieda
+almost more as a mother than as an older sister.
+
+"Yet unless you do promise, Jack, it can never be the same between us
+again. So please listen carefully before you reply.
+
+"I know at other times I have objected to small things that you wished
+to do and sometimes you went ahead and did them without regard to my
+feelings or my judgment and I never said anything much afterwards even
+if they did not turn out successfully. But this is a _big_ thing and a
+_different_ thing, and if you act against my wish I told Henry last
+night I should never really forgive you, even if for the sake of
+appearances we pretended that things were the same. I have been much
+embarrassed recently at your becoming a prominent person in the
+neighborhood; of course I wished you to be prominent socially and to
+become a leader, like Mrs. Senator Marshall. She would then be obliged
+to take second place, in spite of her husband's distinguished position.
+But the idea that you, my sister, could actually become interested in
+politics!" Frieda pronounced the word as if it were a deadly poison.
+"Why, it simply never dawned upon me, not for the longest time! When we
+went about to parties together after you had been in Wyoming a year I
+began to hear people say laughingly that Wyoming needed a young and
+charming woman to represent her in political life so that she should not
+fall behind the other states. So why were you not the person, as Lady
+Astor was in England? The cases were a little alike, you had married an
+Englishman and had the title of Lady Kent, but after your husband's
+death had preferred to return to your own country, renounce your title
+and resume your American citizenship. You had gone through all the
+necessary legal formalities to attain that end, you were clever and
+good-looking and your actions had proved you were a thoroughly patriotic
+American. The fact that you said you did not belong to any party was
+perhaps best of all, as women needed to be independent in politics. They
+were the new voters and should not be slaves to parties as so many
+American men were.
+
+"This is as nearly as I can remember what was said about you, Jack.
+There were other things, not so flattering, but I presume most persons
+would not like to mention them before me. However, I paid little
+attention at first, as I thought it was all just talk, because most
+people have so little to talk about really. Even when you began making
+speeches about the things you wish to have accomplished in the state of
+Wyoming (as if your opinion was of any value), why, I did not trouble
+specially! It all seemed so absurd! Indeed, when you spoke to me a few
+days ago of what might occur and declared that the nomination for the
+Congress of the United States might actually be given to you, though I
+said everything against it I could at the time, I did not really believe
+it. Then yesterday afternoon actually it happened! But perhaps you
+refused to consider the suggestion, Jack. Indeed, I feel sure after what
+I have said to you and knowing Jim Colter's attitude, even if he has
+said but little, you must have refused. If so, I am sorry to have tired
+you by talking so much; I am sure I hate talking at any length unless I
+feel it my duty."
+
+"And you do feel it your duty this time, don't you, Frieda?" Jack
+answered, slipping her arm through her younger sister's.
+
+"Still, having done your duty, don't you think that after all I may be
+allowed to use my own judgment in this decision? Suppose I happen to
+think that life just now is offering me a great and surprising
+opportunity! It is surprising for me to have been chosen for this
+distinction; I feel this as keenly as any one of my family or friends,
+knowing my deficiencies, can feel it! Now don't you think it's unfair to
+threaten me, Frieda, to threaten in the one way which you know hurts
+most, the loss of any part of your affection, if I cannot make up my
+mind to do what you think best for me, not what I may think best for
+myself? I have never in all our lives, Frieda, suggested that any act of
+yours could possibly make me care for you less."
+
+Frieda's voice wavered a little.
+
+"Yes, I know, Jack, but then I would never do anything so rash and so
+foolish as what you contemplate. To see your name in the newspapers, to
+know that people are everywhere discussing your private affairs, making
+up disagreeable stories about you if they wish, for you know you are
+unconventional, Jack, and sometimes do give people opportunities to
+misjudge you, well, I simply can't bear it. So come on, baby, let us go
+back home, I see we are in the way here. I apologize, Jack, for wasting
+your time and mine. I had some socks of Henry's I wished to darn, and I
+should have been much better employed, as I see you already have reached
+your decision. Well, Jack, I am sure something very unfortunate will
+come of any such decision; when you become a public character you will
+certainly never be the same person to me."
+
+Frieda had slipped her hand inside her little girl's and was about to
+move away when Jack's arms went round her and her gray eyes, filled with
+tears, gazed into Frieda's implacable blue ones.
+
+"Frieda, in spite of all your sweetness, don't you realize that you are
+rather hard sometimes? I wonder if life will ever teach you to be
+different?"
+
+Frieda's eyes wavered an instant.
+
+"I see nothing to be gained by discussing my weaknesses of character. So
+long as I satisfy my husband and child I can manage without your good
+opinion, especially now I know that my interest and my wishes have not
+the slightest effect upon you." Frieda walked resolutely away.
+
+Several minutes after her departure Jack continued standing in the same
+spot. Frieda had opened her eyes. She had been thinking that she was
+still uncertain of her decision and now knew that unconsciously her mind
+was made up. She intended to accept the nomination which had been
+offered her and to do everything in her power honestly to win the
+election.
+
+Returning to Wyoming where she had lived as a child and young girl, she
+had confided to Jim Colter that she must look for some new and
+absorbing task to fill her life now that her married life was over. What
+this interest would be she had not then conceived. What it might be in
+the future was still uncertain. Yet the next step lay straight ahead.
+
+Never in all their lives had she and Frieda had so serious a difference
+of opinion, and Frieda's words and manner had hurt more than anything
+that had happened since her return to the security of her former home.
+She could only hope that Frieda would relent, that Professor Russell
+would use his influence in her favor. Nevertheless, although frequently
+led by Frieda in small matters, on this occasion she had not been in the
+slightest degree affected. This was a big decision which she faced, a
+decision in which Frieda had but scant right to interfere. Of course she
+must allow for prejudice, certain suggestions which her sister had put
+forward had made her wince more than she cared to show. But over and
+against the small things was there not the one big opportunity that she
+might serve both her country and other women if she did not fail too
+completely in the work which might or might not lie ahead?
+
+Then in a boyish fashion wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of
+her hand, Jack laughed. "Oh, Frieda will probably forgive me if I make a
+success, never if I am a failure! People forgive nearly everything to
+success."
+
+"Jimmie," she called a little later, running around the side of the
+lodge where her small son was engaged in playing with a magnificent St.
+Bernard dog which had been a recent gift from Jim Colter, "won't you go
+up into the woods behind the Rainbow creek with me and spend the day? We
+will take our lunch and I'll take my rifle. I don't believe there are
+many animals left in our woods these days, but there used to be years
+ago and at least we can play at being pioneers."
+
+But Jack and Jimmie were not to escape so easily.
+
+Opening the gate which led from the front yard half an hour later, they
+came face to face with Jean Merritt and Olive MacDonnell.
+
+"Trying to run away into your beloved outdoors in the usual fashion,
+Jack?" Olive said, smiling. "Well, you may go after a while, but Jean
+and I wish to talk to you first."
+
+"Please don't," Jack murmured, slipping a hand into the hand of the two
+other original Rainbow ranch girls. "Frieda has already reduced me to
+tears by overmuch conversation this morning. One could scarcely describe
+the conversation as argument, as I was allowed to say nothing. Oh, I
+know, Olive, that you and Jean will not be so obdurate as Frieda and
+will allow me a point of view on the subject, but just the same, spare
+me, because I have made up my mind, provided Jim Colter does not
+positively refuse his consent. I shall not go against Jim's command,
+although I may against his wish. Otherwise I mean to accept the
+nomination, poor, uneducated, inefficient, stupid female person that I
+am and ever must remain."
+
+"Jack, you have _one_ member of your family who will stand by you
+whatever comes, as you have stood by me in the past year," Jean Merritt
+announced. "I have not said a great deal while the rest of the family
+has been doing so much talking and yet I believe I am glad of your
+decision. I know one is prejudiced against the idea, not so much of
+women in politics as of a young woman like you, Jack, who is so
+beautiful and charming and sincere and one who happens to be so near
+one's own affections. I suppose disagreeable things will be said of you,
+yet I know of few women so brave and so straightforward, or better able
+to bear calumny. And I don't see why people think that marriage always
+protects a woman from unhappiness; it has not protected me."
+
+Jean rarely spoke of her own sorrow and only in moments of the deepest
+emotion, so that Olive and Jack both flinched at the close of her little
+speech, and temporarily at least Jack's problem took second place.
+
+In more than a year, since Ralph Merritt's departure to act as mining
+engineer in a gold mine in New Mexico, no human being who had ever known
+him before had laid eyes upon him. In all the time since, no word had
+arrived of his mysterious disappearance from the mine, and no word had
+ever been received from him addressed either to Jean or to any one of
+his family or friends. Utterly and completely he had vanished. Months
+had been spent by Professor Russell in investigating his whereabouts,
+every clue had been followed, yet from the moment Ralph was known to
+have gone into his own tent to lie down until the present, no other
+news of him had been unearthed.
+
+"I still have faith that things will adjust themselves for you some day,
+Jean, I don't know exactly why. I appreciate I have no possible evidence
+to support the idea, but I have always believed and do still believe
+that Ralph will come back some day and be able to explain the mystery of
+his disappearance."
+
+Jack gave Jean's hand a tight squeeze.
+
+"Jean, it does help a lot to have you say you will stand by me. I may be
+brave to-day, but to-morrow I shall probably turn coward. Olive, what
+about you and Bryan?"
+
+Olive let go her friend's hand and did not answer for a moment. She was
+always quieter and more reserved in her manner than the other Rainbow
+ranch girls.
+
+"Bryan and I talked over your possible decision until after midnight,
+Jack. Bryan argued you would accept, I argued you would not. Bryan seems
+to have known you best. He says you are made of the right material for
+what you are to undertake. Yet he dreads it all for you as much as I do,
+the fatigue, the misunderstanding. It seems impossible to me, Jack, as
+you must appreciate, and yet you and I are wholly unlike. But I believe
+you are the most courageous woman I have ever known, just as you were
+the most courageous girl. One thing Bryan wanted me to say both for him
+and for me. He believes you will not care for the notoriety, not even
+for the fame, if it should come to you, but only for the opportunity.
+And he and I both want you to understand that we will do _everything_ in
+our power to help you, whatever course you may pursue. You see, dear,
+Bryan insists I feel toward you like the old axiom, 'My country, right
+or wrong, but still my country.' However, I told him the old axiom was
+not only stupid but wrong. One's country must be right, and so must your
+choice be."
+
+"Hero worship, or rather heroine worship," Jean remonstrated. "Olive had
+that same absurd attitude toward you as a girl, didn't she, Jack? So
+small wonder you think you are a sufficiently important person to be
+nominated for the Congress of the United States! But don't let us keep
+you any longer from your beloved woods. Jimmie evidently does not know
+the poem about the small boy: 'Who was never bad, but always good, who
+never wriggled, but always stood.' So good-by and a happy day."
+
+"You'll tell Jim to come in to speak to me before he goes to bed," Jack
+called back over her shoulder, as she and Jimmie started off together.
+"I must send word in the morning what my decision is and so I must see
+Jim first."
+
+After a day in the woods Jack was undressing for bed, having decided
+that it was too late to expect Jim Colter, so she must try to get hold
+of him before he left home next morning, when she heard a familiar
+whistle.
+
+"I'll be down in a minute, Jim," she called, thrusting her head out the
+open window. "Will you come in? The door is open."
+
+"No, I'll wait out here," came the answer back. "Don't dress, I shall
+only stay a moment. Some business detained me."
+
+A little later, with her hair in two gold braids and holding a violet
+dressing gown close about her, Jack faced the real test of the long day.
+
+"May I, or may I not, Jim?" she demanded.
+
+Jim Colter shook his head.
+
+"You are a full grown woman, Jacqueline Kent, not a child, not even a
+very young girl. Not that I remember having reached decisions for you
+even in those days."
+
+"Which means I was always obstinate, Jim."
+
+"Always a bit obstinate, Jack."
+
+"But I am not obstinate to-night, Jim Colter, and I won't if you say
+no."
+
+Jim shook his iron-gray head.
+
+"I shall not say no, Jack; you must decide as you think best."
+
+"And if I go wrong you'll help me meet the consequences, even though you
+would rather I chose the other way?"
+
+"So help me, yes, Jack Kent."
+
+"All right, Jim, unless you forbid me, I have decided. If I am elected,
+and in ninety-nine chances in a hundred I won't be, do you suppose I
+will have to spend the greater part of my time away from the old
+ranch?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE CAMPAIGN
+
+
+A few weeks later, had Jacqueline Kent been altogether outspoken, there
+were many hours when she would have confessed her regret at not having
+obeyed her sister Frieda's command. One could hardly describe Frieda's
+attitude otherwise.
+
+Certainly Jack had not been able to imagine the degree of excitement and
+controversy aroused by the simple fact that a comparatively unknown
+young woman had been nominated for membership in the Congress of the
+United States. If it were in her power and the power of the men and
+women voters supporting her she intended to be elected. Nevertheless,
+Jack had not understood either the amount or the character of work that
+would be required of her personally to accomplish this result.
+
+In the past electioneering had appeared as a fairly amusing pastime.
+Living in England, she had often seen Englishwomen engaged in it. They
+had not at that time been electioneering for themselves, but for their
+husbands or brothers, fathers or friends. Their method had been to drive
+about from one village to another talking to the village people and
+asking their support, or else stopping to argue or plead with the
+passers-by along the country roads. At big political meetings, which men
+and women attended together, speeches were made and questions put to the
+speakers. In the past Jack had frequently accompanied her husband to
+these gatherings, where she had been greatly entertained. Then she had
+been a spectator with no personal rôle to fill. Now the situation was
+wholly changed.
+
+A curious fact, but in the United States, supposedly less conservative a
+country than England, the nomination of a woman for a high public office
+was creating a greater storm of protest and of indignation than had been
+aroused in England by the same act. True, Jack was not the first woman
+chosen for this same office in a western state. But the fact that the
+number should increase, many persons in Wyoming declared to be alarming.
+
+Now when Jack went to political gatherings, she found herself not only a
+center of attention and of controversy, but more often than not was
+compelled to make a speech. Never regarding herself as a good speaker,
+and always frightened, she never learned to enjoy the opportunity.
+
+Moreover, as Frieda had warned her and as she had not fully appreciated,
+there was hardly an issue of the daily papers in which some information
+or misinformation concerning her personal history did not appear.
+
+At first Jack refused to allow her photograph to be reproduced,
+insisting that people might wish to know what she thought and why she
+thought it, but certainly could have no interest in her appearance. Yet
+this was so absurd a position, as her friends and acquaintances agreed,
+that Jack was obliged to surrender. Afterwards she was forced to see
+photographs of herself, or at least what claimed to be photographs, in
+papers and magazines throughout the entire country, so that if ever she
+had possessed any personal vanity Jack considered that it would have
+been hopelessly lost. Now and then she used to carry the newspapers
+containing her pictures to members of her family, asking them if it were
+really true that she looked as the pictures indicated? Sometimes the
+family cruelly said the likeness was perfect and at others they were as
+annoyed as Jack herself.
+
+But she really did not enjoy the political meetings as she had expected,
+or the notoriety, or the personal enmity oftentimes directed toward her.
+
+Since the afternoon of her meeting with Peter Stevens by the Rainbow
+creek he had declined to do more than bow to her in public. The reason
+Jack did not fully comprehend. She had not intended to be frivolous or
+ungrateful concerning his proposal. She had not believed for a moment
+that he really cared for her. Peter was a confirmed old bachelor and
+always freely expressed himself as disapproving of her from the
+afternoon of their first re-meeting after many years. At the time she
+had been engaged in an escapade which had annoyed Peter Stevens almost
+as much as her present one.
+
+Peter had not resigned as her political opponent. The only remark he had
+made to Jack which was at all friendly was to say to her one day when
+they were passing each other on the street in Laramie, that the greatest
+kindness he could pay her was to defeat her in the present election.
+
+Yet notwithstanding all the worry and the work, Jack did not agree with
+him. She did not intend to be defeated. She meant to win, else why the
+struggle and the fatigue and, more often than she confessed, the
+heartache?
+
+Frieda had never forgiven her. This Jack had not at first believed
+possible, yet as the days passed Frieda did not relent. Instead she
+appeared more annoyed and more unyielding, continuing to insist Jack was
+disgracing not alone herself but her family by running for a political
+office as if she were a man.
+
+In fact, had it not been for her little girl, Jack feared that Frieda
+would have declined speaking to her. But Peace continued to adore her
+and Frieda would do nothing to frighten or grieve the child. The year or
+more spent at the ranch for the sake of the little girl's health had not
+been successful. Peace seemed to grow more ethereal, more fairylike with
+each passing day. She was like a spring flower, so fragile and delicate
+one feared the first harsh wind would destroy her. Yet if she were at
+all seriously ill, it was Jack she wanted, Jack who seemed able to give
+a part of her vitality to the child, when Frieda was oftentimes too
+frightened to be helpful.
+
+Therefore during the spring and summer of Jack's political campaign, if
+Frieda was not entirely estranged from her sister, it was only because
+Peace was occasionally ill and needed her.
+
+Moreover, Jack had to endure Jim Colter's regret. Little as Jack had
+known what experiences she would be forced to pass through in a
+political campaign, Jim apparently had known even less. Now, although he
+was not given to looking backward when no good could come of it, more
+than once he had been driven to confess to Jack that he wished to heaven
+he had opposed her acceptance of the political nomination with every bit
+of influence he possessed.
+
+Jack could see that it was agony to Jim to hear her name and character
+discussed as it had to be discussed were she to win enough popularity to
+elect her to office.
+
+Not that he talked to her upon the subject during the few evenings when
+they were at home and saw each other a short time alone.
+
+"You need a rest from the plagued thing, Jack, and so do I. To think
+that I actually agreed to allow one of my little Rainbow ranch girls to
+enter a campaign for office in Washington, D. C!" If Jim Colter had
+been speaking of a much worse place his tone could not have been
+drearier.
+
+However, what worried Jack even more was that Jim insisted upon
+accompanying her wherever and whenever she was forced to attend any kind
+of political meeting. For this purpose he was neglecting his own work on
+the two ranches, and growing older and more haggard, chiefly, Jack
+thought, through boredom and the effort to hold his temper.
+
+He did not always manage to keep his temper, however; on several
+occasions, although Jim never reported the fact, he came to blows over
+remarks he overheard. When Jack asked questions he simply declined to
+answer, and as Jim Colter was the one person in the world of whom
+Jacqueline Kent was afraid, she did not dare press the matter.
+
+Naturally Jack made enemies, as every human being does who enters
+political life, and she was unusually frank and outspoken with regard
+both to her principles and ideas. But there was one enemy she made whom
+both she and Jim Colter especially disliked and distrusted. He was a
+young man who had been employed as a private secretary by Senator
+Marshall and was helping to manage Peter Stevens' election to Congress.
+
+Senator Marshall had made a friendly call upon Jacqueline Kent at the
+time of her nomination, protesting in a fatherly fashion against her
+permitting herself to be put up as a candidate.
+
+Afterwards he declared he had the right to oppose her election in favor
+of Peter Stevens. This right Jack never disputed. Mrs. Marshall led the
+opposition against Jacqueline Kent among the conservative women in
+Wyoming.
+
+In fact, among her own family and her more intimate friends and
+acquaintances Jack possessed only three staunch and always enthusiastic
+supporters, her own small son, Jimmie Kent, who accompanied her to most
+of the day-time political meetings, Billy Preston, the young Kentucky
+mountaineer who after soldiering in France had decided to try his fate
+as a cowboy in Wyoming, and John Marshall, Senator Marshall's son.
+
+Billy Preston assured Jack that he was making it his business to see
+that every cowboy in Wyoming voted for her. John Marshall declared that
+he proposed showing his father who had the greater influence in the
+state. He protested that his father had lost all chivalry by assisting a
+man when a woman was his opponent. If he would not descend to the
+tactics employed by Alec Robertson, his father's secretary and Peter
+Stevens' campaign manager, nevertheless, he was backing Mrs. Kent to win
+against all odds.
+
+"The boy is falling in love with Jacqueline Kent, I am afraid, my dear,
+as he has never showed the slightest interest in politics in his entire
+life until recently," Senator Marshall confided to his wife toward the
+latter part of the summer.
+
+"Nonsense, Mrs. Kent is older than John, and is not an especially
+attractive woman!"
+
+And although Senator Marshall did not agree with his wife, he pretended
+to accept her opinion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT
+
+
+"But I do think it would be wiser of you not to be present, not this
+afternoon. I could take a message saying you were not well."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"Yet the fact is I am perfectly well, John Marshall, and besides I am
+not a coward, or at least if I am a coward there are other things of
+which I am more afraid."
+
+Jacqueline Kent and her neighbor, John Marshall, were having an early
+luncheon on the front porch of the Rainbow Lodge upon a fairly warm day.
+Jack, however, appeared to be dressed for a journey. She was wearing a
+seal brown tailored suit and a light chiffon blouse. Her hat and gloves
+were lying on the railing of the veranda.
+
+"Besides," she added lightly, "I do not believe anything uncomfortable
+will happen. The story has been spread abroad merely because I am a
+woman and am supposed to be easily frightened."
+
+As luncheon was over, with a little nod for permission, John Marshall
+arose and began walking up and down the porch.
+
+"You may be right, of course, and yet I confess I feel nervous. It is
+nonsensical that so much excitement has been aroused by this campaign,
+makes one think perhaps we are less civilized than we thought we were! I
+myself believe there won't be any actual rumpus. But I would not be
+surprised if a few ruffians, hired for the occasion, do try to interrupt
+your speech by making a lot of noise. I must say I am surprised that
+Peter Stevens allows such tactics to be employed against an opponent,
+especially a girl who had been his friend."
+
+Jack shook her head.
+
+"Peter Stevens says that the kindest thing he can do for me is to defeat
+me, and sometimes I think perhaps he is right. So from that viewpoint he
+does not consider it makes any difference what methods he uses. However,
+I am not so sure Peter himself knows everything that is going on. He may
+or he may not. He does not come to the meetings of my supporters and
+friends and I suppose his manager, Mr. Robertson, does not tell him
+everything that takes place. But please do not confide to any member of
+my family, if you should see one of them before we leave, what you have
+just told to me. You probably won't see any one. They are too worn out
+and bored to pay attention these days to my goings out or my comings in.
+My sister scarcely speaks to me and the remainder of the family are busy
+with their own affairs. Fortunately for me, Mr. Colter is away for
+several days on business. But to show you I really don't think there is
+going to be any disturbance this afternoon, I am going to take Jimmie
+along with me to the meeting as usual. Poor Jimmie, he is dreadfully
+tired hearing me talk, and yet seems to have an instinctive feeling that
+he has to stay by and look after me. You have pretty much the same
+feeling, haven't you, and I want you to know I am extremely grateful,"
+Jack added. "I'll go now and find Jimmie, as we ought to start in a few
+moments if we are to be on time."
+
+"Very well," John Marshall returned. "But if you don't mind I'll ride
+down to the ranch house first. I want to speak to Billy Preston. He
+telephoned I would find him at about lunch time."
+
+Jack frowned for an instant and then nodded agreement.
+
+She guessed that her two young men friends were to discuss the self-same
+news that John Marshall had just repeated to her. It seemed unnecessary,
+still she did not feel that she had the right to object.
+
+The word John Marshall had brought was that an effort was to be made to
+break up the meeting at which she was to speak during the afternoon. The
+meeting was to occur in a fairly large sized village not far away in
+which she was supposed to have but few friends. The village was one of
+the manufacturing towns in the state, and her friends were among the
+ranchmen.
+
+But Jack honestly did not believe any serious outbreak would occur. She
+was not always foolhardy, although this was occasionally one of her
+weaknesses of character; she simply thought this afternoon that an
+effort was being made to frighten her away. Afterwards it would be easy
+to say that a woman candidate to an important political office who could
+be so easily frightened should hardly be entrusted with the service of
+the state.
+
+Within half an hour, John Marshall having returned, he and Jack and
+Jimmie and the chauffeur were motoring toward the desired destination.
+
+"Billy Preston will be at the meeting with a few of the cowboys from the
+Rainbow ranch and from a few of the other ranches in this neighborhood,
+so if there _is_ trouble there will be some people on _our_ side," John
+Marshall insisted with boyish satisfaction when the car had taken them
+several miles from the lodge.
+
+"What?"
+
+Jack clutched her companion's sleeve for an instant, her voice and
+manner for the first time revealing alarm. "You don't mean you and Billy
+Preston have actually made arrangements for a difficulty. I did not
+think there could be one simply because an effort might be made to make
+me stop talking. I can do that readily enough and I intend to stop if
+any trouble begins. Now I think I had better give up after all and go
+back home. John, you were foolish."
+
+"You can't go back now, it is too late," the young man argued. "The
+crowd will already have started to the meeting and if you don't turn up
+and they are disappointed it may lose you heaps of votes. And it is
+going to be pretty close if you do win. Everybody says it depends upon
+your personality and good sense and your magnetism. You have got to win
+people over and to make them forget the prejudice against you. You have
+got to show them that you have been studying this whole question of
+government and really know a thing or two. Funny to be calling yourself
+an 'Independent' and belonging to no old-time political party. I don't
+know whether the idea is a good one or a bad one. But don't be worried
+about Billy Preston and his little party. There won't be more than a
+dozen in all and Billy has promised they won't make as much noise as a
+whisper if things go well and the game is a straight one."
+
+Shaking her head, Jack glanced nervously at Jimmie.
+
+"But suppose they don't go well? I shan't even begin to make a speech,
+John Marshall, until you promise me on your word of honor that you will
+see Billy Preston and tell him from me that he and my other friends are
+to say nothing and do nothing, whatever takes place. If there is any
+difficulty Jimmie and I will quietly come out and climb into our car and
+start back to the ranch. And if my speech is no better than they usually
+are, I cannot feel that the audience will be deeply disappointed."
+
+"Very well, I promise," the young man answered.
+
+The frame building where she was to speak, a rough one-story shack,
+sometimes employed for revivals, was larger than any hall in which
+Jacqueline Kent had ever attempted talking before.
+
+As she stepped up on the platform she found that her audience was also
+larger than the ones to which she had tried to grow accustomed in these
+last few months.
+
+But the people were quietly seated and there appeared no unusual
+excitement or confusion.
+
+Gratefully Jack observed that the larger number were women. The men were
+at the back toward the rear of the hall.
+
+There were to be no other speakers during the afternoon, so as soon as
+she had been introduced Jack began her speech.
+
+From the beginning she was fearful that she was going to interest this
+audience even less than she believed she interested most audiences. And
+in her heart of hearts Jack was always puzzled why anyone should be
+influenced by what she had to say.
+
+[Illustration: NOT A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS, BUT OF UGLY, EVIL-SMELLING
+WEEDS AND TIED WITH A RAG INSTEAD OF A RIBBON]
+
+Her causes were to increase the size and number of the ranches in
+Wyoming, increase the number of the livestock, and bring the
+producers of food and the consumers closer together. She frankly stated
+at all times that she was not interested in politics. She simply wanted
+the chance to make human beings happier by giving them the kind of
+government they desired and ought to have.
+
+"I am afraid you will have some difficulty in hearing me," Jack stated,
+"but that need not trouble you as much as it does me, because after all
+you will not have lost a great deal. There are a good many reasons why
+it is harder for a woman to be a candidate for an office than a man, and
+I suppose having to make speeches is one of the hardest."
+
+"Louder!" some one shouted at the back of the building.
+
+Jack tried again.
+
+"Louder!" the voice repeated. "How do you think you are going to make
+yourself heard in Washington if you can't be heard here?"
+
+The joke was at her expense and Jack laughed good-naturedly.
+
+"Ain't going to make any difference, she ain't never going to get
+there," another man shouted.
+
+"Perhaps not, but I am going _to try_," Jack answered, still with entire
+good nature.
+
+But she flinched unconsciously at this instant and stepped backward. A
+large bouquet had been thrown directly at her, not a bouquet of flowers,
+but of ugly, evil-smelling weeds and tied with a rag instead of a
+ribbon.
+
+As it fell several feet away from her, Jack soon continued her speech as
+if she had not noticed what had occurred.
+
+"Shame! Put him out!" some one interrupted.
+
+"Please don't. It is not important," Jack replied.
+
+Yet if her manner failed to reveal the fact, she was nervous. By turning
+her head she could see Jimmie seated upon the platform beside the
+principal of the public school, who had just introduced her to the
+audience.
+
+Jimmie had jumped up indignantly when the bunch of weeds fell beside
+her, but had been persuaded to sit down again.
+
+The persons in the rear of the building were undoubtedly becoming
+noisier.
+
+Jack flushed so hotly that the tears came into her eyes and her cheeks
+were flaming.
+
+Never had she been treated with anything like this discourtesy before.
+Evidently she was not to be allowed to make a speech, scarcely to begin
+one.
+
+Swiftly Jack thought of Jim Colter, of his anger and disgust should he
+behold her in such a plight. She had not expected this nor anything like
+it.
+
+There was scuffling now in the rear of the building, as well as shouting
+among her audience.
+
+Jack suffered a feminine desire to weep over the unkindness and the
+humiliation of her present situation, yet she was not in the least
+afraid. At no time in her life was Jack ever a physical coward.
+
+The uproar continued, growing greater. Women were crying out in terror.
+
+Yet Jack Kent stood her ground. Quietly, as if nothing were happening
+and in spite of her humiliation, knowing that no one could hear, she
+went on with her speech. Jimmie had come and was now standing beside
+her, holding tightly to her hand.
+
+"It's a shame! She is so young and pretty and is not half the coward any
+man is who doesn't give her a fair show!" a woman shouted in a voice
+which chanced to be heard.
+
+The next moment Jack felt a hand placed on her elbow.
+
+"Please come away. It is as I feared; they don't mean to hear you,"
+John Marshall urged.
+
+Jack shook her head.
+
+"No, I'll stay till I finish."
+
+It was an autumn afternoon and unexpectedly a storm had broken. Outside
+were flashes of lightning and the rain beating against the small
+windows. In the building some one suddenly switched off the electric
+lights, and before they were switched on again there was an uproar that
+was deafening.
+
+"For Jimmie's sake you must get away," John Marshall insisted.
+
+"Very well, for Jimmie's sake I do give up," Jack returned, "but for
+goodness' sake don't think either of us is afraid."
+
+Drawing back from her companions Jack again went to the edge of the
+platform.
+
+"You won't listen to me this afternoon, and I don't want to make anybody
+uncomfortable or frightened by going on with my speech in the midst of
+so much noise, nevertheless I am coming back some other afternoon to try
+again, so good-by to my friends, and I trust my enemies may have better
+manners next time."
+
+There was a little burst of applause from the spectators who could hear,
+and immediately after Jack, Jimmie and John Marshall slipped away.
+
+The car was waiting at the back of the building with the starter already
+in action. Before Jack was able to realize exactly what was taking place
+she was several miles on the journey home toward the Rainbow ranch.
+
+"Do you suppose things quieted down as soon as I disappeared?" Jack
+inquired. "You were right, I should not have gone. I wish I were not one
+of the most hard-headed people in the world. After all, I don't suppose
+women do belong in political life. I hope there may not be any serious
+trouble over me."
+
+"But you were awfully game, Mrs. Kent," John Marshall replied, "and I'm
+not so sure women don't belong in politics to keep things like this
+afternoon's proceedings from happening."
+
+It was not six o'clock when Jack and her companions arrived safely at
+the Rainbow lodge. John Marshall had too much good sense to come in, in
+answer to Jack's invitation.
+
+Personally, as soon as she got indoors Jack felt she never had been so
+tired in her life.
+
+After undressing and putting on a house dress she lay down in the
+hammock and remained there, eating her dinner on a small table with
+Jimmie seated beside her. When Jimmie had gone to bed, still she did not
+stir.
+
+At about eight o'clock, however, she arose and picked up a white crêpe
+shawl, winding it about her, as it was growing cooler. She intended
+walking over to the big house before she finally went to bed.
+
+No member of her family had been near her all day and it was strange
+that she had seen and heard nothing of Olive or Jean.
+
+Frieda never came down to the Rainbow lodge any more unless she were
+obliged to come.
+
+Yet the family must know of her intended speech that afternoon, although
+they discussed her affairs as little as possible. At least she could
+hope they would never hear of the scene that afternoon in which she had
+been obliged to appear as a central figure. Especially she hoped Jim
+Colter would never hear.
+
+In fact, Jack wanted to see her family before trying to sleep that
+night. She believed she was still both too excited and too tired to
+sleep for several hours. Moreover, she wanted to find out if Jim had
+returned home and if not when he might be expected.
+
+She must see Billy Preston the first thing in the morning and beg him to
+use his influence with the other cowboys never to mention to Jim what
+had occurred during the afternoon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+CONSEQUENCES
+
+
+Jack found the veranda of the big house deserted, which was most unusual
+at this hour of the evening.
+
+Only a dim light was burning in the drawing-room. But the front door was
+open and she walked in without knocking or calling.
+
+Undoubtedly there was a subdued atmosphere about the place. Not yet
+half-past eight, so surely not all the family could be in bed. At this
+hour one could at least count upon finding the two oldest of the four
+new Rainbow ranch girls, Lina and Jeannette. Lina was extremely studious
+and given to doing a great deal of reading at odd hours. She bore no
+resemblance to the oldest of the four original Ranch girls, but was like
+her mother.
+
+Ordinarily one could find her in the library at this time, when she
+could count upon being fairly undisturbed.
+
+Jack went from the drawing-room to the library on the left side of the
+house. If not Lina, Professor Russell might be discovered there. He and
+Jim Colter's oldest daughter had developed a shy friendship from the
+fact that they often remained together in the big room reading for hours
+without speaking or disturbing each other.
+
+But to-night there was not even a dim light in the library.
+
+At the foot of the stairs Jack waited, puzzled and frowning for an
+instant. Then she called softly, "Jean, Jean, what has become of
+everybody? Certainly you cannot all be asleep!"
+
+As no answer followed, Jack started up the stairs. After having gone a
+few steps she called a second time.
+
+Instead of Jean, however, Frieda appeared.
+
+"Please don't make any noise," she admonished, "Peace is ill."
+
+Jack ran up swiftly to where her sister was standing.
+
+"How long has she been ill and why haven't you let me know?"
+
+With a slight gesture of nervous irritability the younger of the two
+sisters drew away.
+
+"Since yesterday, but not seriously so until to-day."
+
+"Then why didn't you let me hear this morning? No member of my family
+has been near me all day. Do the others know?"
+
+Frieda nodded.
+
+"Yes, but I thought it best not to disturb _you_ with the news. You are
+fond of Peace, I suppose, even if you do prefer a public career to the
+affection of your family. I knew, of course, that you were going
+somewhere this afternoon to address an audience and I thought you would
+wish not to have anything interfere even mentally with your speech."
+
+"I see," Jack answered, with her usual gentleness and good temper. She
+was wounded, but Frieda's attitude toward her had been like this for
+some time, and to-night, when she appreciated that her sister was
+especially troubled, was scarcely the moment to refer to their
+differences. "Of course I should have preferred to know. Is Peace very
+ill?"
+
+Frieda shook her head.
+
+"No, not at present, but I am uneasy and we have sent for a nurse."
+
+"Won't you let some of the other little girls come down to the lodge and
+stay with me?"
+
+A second time Frieda shook her head.
+
+"No, they have gone to Olive. Jean has gone with them. You know Olive
+and Captain MacDonnell have an extra sleeping tent and I thought it best
+you should not be annoyed by them either."
+
+This time Jack was unable wholly to restrain herself.
+
+"Why should I have been annoyed, Frieda? I am not so impossible a
+person, am I? And the work I have been trying to do lately, even if you
+do disapprove of it, has not turned me into an ogre. But I won't worry
+you to-night, although I do believe, Frieda, you really intend to be
+unkind. Has Jim come back? I have not seen him for several days and if
+he is at home and not busy I thought perhaps he would walk back to the
+lodge with me."
+
+Never in her life from the time she was a small girl had Frieda accepted
+reproof in an humble spirit, except under a few and very exceptional
+circumstances. The truth was that she had been spoiled all her days,
+first because she was the youngest of the four Rainbow ranch girls, her
+mother having died when she was little more than a baby, and later by
+her husband, who was a good deal her senior.
+
+Now in spite of her sister's long self-restraint, Frieda showed
+resentment.
+
+"It is your own fault and your own choice, Jack, that you no longer seem
+one of us as you did in the past. You can't have everything, you know,
+be a public character and a----"
+
+"And a human being? I think you are mistaken, dear. I am very far from
+being a 'public character' as you express it, and I don't like the
+expression. Yet it seems to me that the celebrated women I have read
+about or known have been rather more human than most people, and not in
+the least anxious to be discarded by their families because they have
+found other things to occupy them outside of domestic life. I'll see you
+in the morning. Is Jim in his room, or has he gone with Jean and the
+little girls?"
+
+Frieda frowned.
+
+"Jim has not come back and that is another thing that is worrying us,
+although not a great deal. He wrote to say that he would return home
+this afternoon before dinner and we waited dinner for him an hour. But
+no word and no Jim. I suppose it is foolish to be uneasy, but Jim so
+rarely breaks his word even in the smallest matters, and he might have
+telephoned. It would not be pleasant to have Jim disappear as Ralph
+Merritt has, would it? It is funny, but now we are grown up, we seem to
+depend upon Jim as our guardian as much as we ever did. I don't see how
+we could get on without him."
+
+Frieda ended her remarks without any special significance; nevertheless,
+her last few words continued to repeat themselves in Jacqueline Kent's
+mind during her walk back to the lodge.
+
+The storm of the afternoon had passed over and it was turning a good
+deal colder. Jack was not ordinarily impressionable and yet it seemed to
+her that to-night the sky possessed a peculiar hard brilliance, as if
+the mood of the outside world and the persons she loved were both harsh
+and unsympathetic.
+
+Even Jean and Olive had not been near her in twenty-four hours, and if
+they should pretend they were trying to spare her, she knew that in
+former times they would not have wished to keep her shut out either from
+their happiness or sorrow.
+
+Jim Colter would be different. Never at any moment in her life could
+Jack recall that he had been either harsh or unsympathetic, although
+stern he might be and had been when he thought it necessary. How
+infinitely kind he had been concerning this latest adventure of hers,
+regardless of his own disapproval.
+
+About her difficulty of the afternoon he must never hear if she could
+keep the news from him. Yet of course if he had to know, Jack felt she
+would prefer to describe the situation herself, making as light of it as
+possible. All of her family and friends would be angry should they learn
+of it, even if some of them believed she deserved what she had received.
+But Jim would take the matter far more to heart.
+
+How stupid of Frieda to talk of their ever having to get on without Jim
+Colter's guardianship! In any case it could not mean so much to Frieda,
+who had her devoted if eccentric husband always at her service. Besides,
+Frieda and Jim had never been devoted friends. Jim had cared for Frieda,
+of course, as her guardian and for Jean and Olive, but the other Rainbow
+ranch girls had never shared his interests and tastes as she had done.
+
+Jack drew her shawl more closely about her and started to run toward
+home. She was feeling uncommonly forlorn and depressed. Yet surely the
+day had been a sufficiently trying one to depress almost any human
+being!
+
+The following morning Jacqueline was in the act of dressing when she
+heard Jean's voice calling her from below.
+
+"Jack, hurry, will you, and come up to the big house. Peace is ever so
+much worse and the news has just reached us that Jim was hurt yesterday
+afternoon. No one understands exactly what has happened. Billy Preston
+telephoned, saying he was with Jim and would remain with him. We are not
+to go to him for the present. I answered the telephone myself and tried
+my best to find out how badly Jim was hurt. Billy says he was not run
+over and had not had a fall, only there had been some kind of an
+accident. He would not say what kind and I guessed by his voice that he
+was not telling all the truth."
+
+"I'll be with you in half a moment if you'll wait for me, Jean,"
+responded Jack.
+
+A little later she joined Jean. "I wonder if you can tell me the name of
+the town where Jim was hurt yesterday?" she asked. "Surely Billy
+Preston told you as much as that! I must go to him of course."
+
+The name of the town was what she had expected to be told. It was the
+village where she had attempted making a speech the afternoon before and
+been interrupted. Jim must have known of her plans and also learned of
+what might take place. How like him to have gone quietly to her
+protection without letting her hear of his presence! Yet in what way had
+he been hurt and how serious was his injury? Whatever other consequences
+she might hope to escape, for Jim's hurt she was entirely responsible.
+Whatever Frieda might say of her selfish interest in her own future, of
+her desire for a career outside her own home and family, she would never
+be able to deny that Jim Colter had suffered because of her.
+
+"Will you see that a car is ready for me immediately, please, Jean. I
+won't come back to the lodge. Jim will want me if anyone and I have the
+first right to go to him, because I am responsible."
+
+Jean was scarcely listening.
+
+"You won't be able to leave just now, Jack. After all Frieda's
+antagonism toward you she has been begging to have you come to her
+since dawn. You seem to be the only person she wants."
+
+Jean nodded.
+
+"There is only one hope. The doctor means to try a transfusion of blood.
+I don't know from whom. We have all offered."
+
+"Oh, Jean," Jack's voice shook, "I am the one person who will be best. I
+am stronger than any one else and Peace has always responded to my
+vitality. Yet if I am chosen I can't go to Jim."
+
+"The choice is pretty hard, Jack. If you can not go Olive and Captain
+MacDonnell and I will. And some one will come back with the news as soon
+as possible. Yet you may not be the one."
+
+However, as Jean Merritt looked at her cousin she had little doubt. In
+spite of the fatigue and chagrin of the day before, even of her anxious
+night, Jack walked with the swinging grace of perfect health and poise.
+At this moment of dreadful double anxiety, harder upon her than any one
+save Frieda, she was for the time when the need was greatest, perfectly
+self-controlled. No one had ever seen Jack break down until the moment
+for action had passed.
+
+"It is because I have been so unkind to you, Jack darling, _this_ is my
+punishment," Frieda confessed brokenly, meeting her sister outside
+Peace's door. "But I have wanted to make up more times than you can
+dream, only I am so dreadfully spoiled and do so hate to give in, and I
+have despised your running for a public office chiefly I suppose because
+I realized it would separate us. Peace won't know you."
+
+Two hours later Frieda and Jack were in Frieda's bedroom, Jack undressed
+and in a loose white wrapper, her hair braided in two heavy braids.
+
+"Now you must not be a goose, Frieda, dear," she expostulated. "I am not
+in the least danger from the blood transfusion, as the doctor has just
+told you. I may be laid up for a little while afterwards, perhaps not
+long. And there are many chances that Peace will get better at once. You
+know how glad I am of the opportunity to help. What is the use of being
+a healthy person if one cannot be useful."
+
+"But, Jack, you may be more exhausted than you dream. You may be forced
+to give up your political work for several weeks. And Henry said only
+yesterday that these were the most important weeks of all, if you are
+to be elected. At the very last people will probably have made up their
+minds one way or the other."
+
+"Oh, well, perhaps the question of my election is not so important to me
+as you may think, Frieda. In any case it does not count the tiniest
+little bit in comparison with either you or Peace, now that you actually
+need me. When I accepted the nomination for Congress I did not know that
+anybody needed me especially except Jimmie. I thought perhaps I was
+freer than most women."
+
+Jack was talking to distract Frieda, who had not been told of Jim
+Colter's injury and so did not realize the extent of the sacrifice her
+sister was making.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE ELECTION
+
+
+"When do you think we will hear, Jack?"
+
+"Toward late evening, Jim. At least I was told that at about eight
+o'clock a fairly good guess could be made. But suppose we don't talk of
+it. Let me read to you."
+
+Jim Colter, who was lying on a couch in a large sunny, empty room moved
+a little impatiently.
+
+"If you lose the election, Jack, it will be because of the demands we
+have all made upon you in these last weeks. You had nothing much to go
+upon but your personality, your chance of pleasing people and convincing
+them of your sincerity, and here you have been shut up at the Rainbow
+ranch for weeks. It has not been in the least necessary for you to take
+care of me, any one of the girls could have looked after me equally
+well. You are not a born nurse, Jack, as the saying goes. So when you
+recovered and I was safe at home you should have gone on with your
+election campaign."
+
+"Really, Jim, 'ingratitude, more fierce than traitors' arms, quite
+vanquished him,' or her, in this case. If I'm not a 'born nurse' you
+don't dare say that of late I have not become a cultivated one.
+Moreover, if the other girls could have taken equally good care of you,
+please remember that they have been doing their share, they and every
+member of this household! Do you suppose a man can continue in perfect
+health for as many years as you have and then in case of illness not
+require a regiment of nurses to look after him? But confess, if I am not
+a good nurse, you can growl more successfully at me than at any one
+else."
+
+"Am I growling, Jack? Perhaps I do pretty often, but at present it is
+because I regret so deeply that you have to devote yourself first to
+Frieda and Peace and afterwards to me, when you have needed all your
+time and energy for your political work. If you are defeated I shall
+always feel responsible."
+
+"Vain of you, don't you think?" Jack answered. "Besides, Jim Colter, you
+are well enough now for us to talk of something that I have been
+thinking of for a long time. Never have you confessed to me or to any
+one else, so far as I know, how in the world you happened to be so
+seriously hurt. In the first place, what brought you to town on that
+especial afternoon when you were supposed to be miles away attending to
+some business connected with the ranch? Then arriving there, how did you
+manage to get into the midst of a rough-and-tumble fight? Billy Preston
+did tell me this much. But I presume you must have ordered him to keep
+quiet, else he would not have been so non-committal."
+
+Jim Colter stared at the opposite wall rather than toward the figure of
+the girl sitting near him, or through either of the two large windows
+with wide outlooks over the Rainbow ranch. It was mid-afternoon of an
+early autumn day with a faint haze in the air, unusual in the prairie
+country.
+
+"I don't believe I feel equal to talking, Jack, not just at present, or
+for any length of time," he answered a trifle uneasily. "Perhaps I'd
+better try to sleep."
+
+"Very well," Jacqueline Kent agreed, smiling and at the same time with a
+serious expression in her eyes. "But, Jim, when you wake you might as
+well decide to tell me the truth. Don't you suppose I have guessed the
+greater part of it?"
+
+There was a silence for some time in the big room, Jim Colter closing
+his eyes, Jack staring out the window at the familiar scenes she loved.
+
+By and by, when he did not believe she was aware of what he was doing,
+Jim opened his eyes and stared at his companion's profile.
+
+Jack looked more fatigued than he often remembered to have seen her; she
+had less color, less her old suggestion of vitality. There were circles
+under her eyes, little hollows in her cheeks. Yet she did not look ill
+and one could scarcely marvel at the change in her after the past trying
+months, first the strain of her effort at electioneering on her own
+behalf, and more recently the tax which he and Frieda's little girl had
+put upon her.
+
+If she were elected to Congress would she ever be the old-time Jack
+again? Jim Colter had to suppress a sigh of dissatisfaction over the
+thought, which may have sounded more like a groan. To think of Jack with
+her youth and charm shut up within the Legislative halls in Washington
+was not only an absurdity, but something far worse! Well, of course if
+caught by a wave of enthusiasm and desire for change, Jack should be
+elected to the United States Congress he must arrange to spend part of
+the year with her. The two older of the new little Ranch girls must go
+to school and Jean Merritt would look after the others. The Rainbow
+ranch and his own adjoining ranch would have to be turned over to one of
+his assistants, since Jack would need him more than any other person or
+any other thing.
+
+Then Jim Colter closed his eyes. Would she actually need him more, or
+was it because he cared more for her need than for any possible human
+demand that could be made upon him? Always he had been tremendously fond
+of Jack, unhesitatingly more fond of her than of the other three Ranch
+girls in her gallant but wilful girlhood. Now, since his own loss and
+hers, and since Jack's return to the Rainbow ranch, surely there was no
+point in denying to himself that the affection which held him to her was
+stronger than ever, stronger than any other emotion in his life.
+
+"Jim, you are not asleep, you are only pretending," Jack said suddenly.
+"Now tell me, didn't you go over to the village on the day you were
+hurt because you heard I was to make a speech and there might be
+trouble? And didn't you arrive so late you felt it best not to tell me
+to go home, because I had already started to speak? And after the rumpus
+began and Jimmie and I were safely on the way home didn't you try to
+find out who was responsible for the discourtesy to me? Afterwards what
+happened, Jim?
+
+"Jack, I suppose I forgot a good many things I should have remembered,
+first and foremost that I did not wish you made conspicuous and that I
+was older than I used to be, and that I ought by this time to have
+learned to control my temper."
+
+"Yes, but Billy Preston declares that when he arrived you seemed to have
+half a dozen persons against you and that you were managing pretty well.
+It was disgraceful of you, Jim; you who have been preaching for as many
+years as I can remember that there was to be no fighting on the Rainbow
+ranch for any cause whatsoever and that no excuse would be accepted by
+you as a justifiable one. What influence do you suppose your sermons
+will now have among the cowboys? As for making me conspicuous, it seems
+rather a funny thing that neither you nor I recognized that running for
+a public office is apt to make one conspicuous. One can hardly vote for
+a person one has never heard of."
+
+Jim sighed.
+
+"Yes, you are right, Jack, but it is too late now to discuss this side
+of the situation. If you are elected it won't be any better; sure to be
+worse, in fact. I suppose you realize that if you live in Washington the
+greater part of the year, you'll have to bear with my society most of
+the time."
+
+Jacqueline Kent bit her lip for an instant and then shook her head.
+
+"Good of you to suggest it, Jim, but out of the question of course.
+Jimmie and I'll have to manage somehow, trusting members of the family
+will visit us now and then to see how we are getting on. But as for you,
+you are too much needed here at the ranch, besides having to look after
+the new little ranch girls. I could never accept the sacrifice."
+
+"Yes? But I don't see how you are going to prevent it, Jack," Jim
+answered abruptly and in a tone Jack had never contradicted in her life.
+Always Jim Colter had been the one person whose will was stronger than
+her own, even in the important matters in which she always felt she had
+the better right to judge.
+
+"Oh, well, we won't quarrel on the subject yet, Jim, because of course
+there are ninety-nine chances to one that I won't be elected. I must go
+now and dress for dinner. Here comes Professor Russell to sit with you.
+I'll come back later if I hear the returns to-night."
+
+A little after eight o'clock on this same evening, a group of Jacqueline
+Kent's friends, her own family, and Jacqueline herself, were standing
+talking together in the drawing-room of the big house; occasionally one
+or two of them disappeared to come back with the latest news of the
+election returns.
+
+Earlier in the afternoon the reports from the neighborhood districts had
+given a majority to the feminine candidate. Later, when the counting
+began to take place in the cities, there appeared a change in the
+results, with Peter Stevens leading. Then Jacqueline Kent's victory
+seemed assured by a sudden spurt in the figures giving her an important
+lead throughout the western portion of the state.
+
+"Do you think we will know to-night without doubt?" Frieda Russell
+inquired of John Marshall, who had driven over and had dinner with his
+friends at the Rainbow ranch.
+
+"One cannot be positive in any election until the next day, Mrs.
+Russell," he assured Frieda, "but I think between ten o'clock and
+midnight we can be pretty positive, at least that is the view my father
+takes, and he has been in politics nearly as long as I can remember. He
+told me to tell 'Jack' as he calls her, that he congratulates her
+whatever occurs, whether she is defeated or elected."
+
+"Well, I don't know what to hope," Frieda murmured. "For months I have
+been praying Jack would _not_ win, and now to-night I feel I may hate it
+if she is not elected. You know I shall also feel responsible in a way
+since so many of Jack's friends insist that her taking no part in the
+campaign during the last weeks has made such a difference."
+
+"Oh, that could not be helped! And sometimes I think, though I have done
+my best to help Mrs. Kent win, that she is too young and that an older
+and perhaps a different kind of woman might be more suitable. See, even
+after all she has been through, she looks like a young girl to-night. I
+don't believe she cares very much."
+
+Frieda glanced toward her sister, who was standing before the
+drawing-room fire laughing and talking to several friends and appearing
+less perturbed than she herself felt.
+
+Jack was paler than usual and there were circles under her eyes which
+Frieda knew were uncommon, notwithstanding her eyes and lips were both
+smiling. She wore a white serge dress trimmed with silver braid, her
+hair was slightly parted on one side and coiled low on her neck.
+
+"One cannot always tell how Jack feels, she is braver than most persons.
+Frankly, I don't know any more than you do how much she is interested in
+winning. I do think she scarcely realized what it meant when she was
+originally nominated. It isn't like Jack to turn back once she has
+started, although I believe she did find the publicity harder to bear
+than she anticipated. You see, an older person, or one who had had more
+experience in political life, would have understood, but Jack has lived
+in England for the past years. On her return home it appeared a
+wonderful experience to play some part in American politics, as the
+women are beginning to do in England. I don't think Jack realized she
+might not be fitted for a political career when other people began
+urging her forward."
+
+John Marshall laughed.
+
+"No, I don't feel she is unsuited to a great career, but it was of her
+personally I was thinking. If you'll excuse me for a few moments I will
+go to the telephone again. It is growing late and my father has promised
+to telephone me from headquarters at a little before ten o'clock. Even
+if he has been working for Peter Stevens because he wants a man to be
+elected rather than a woman, we can count on his figures being
+accurate."
+
+John Marshall disappeared. A quarter of an hour passed and he did not
+return. In the meantime three or four other persons went away to join
+him.
+
+The clock on the mantel was striking half-past ten when Jack herself
+heard the noise of a horse galloping toward the house. It was she who
+walked quietly to an already open window and stretched forth her hand to
+receive the telegram.
+
+"This telegram comes from Cheyenne, I suppose it will be official and we
+shall know the best or the worst," she announced. Then opening it she
+read aloud:
+
+"Victory conceded to Peter Stevens. Better luck next time."
+
+Afterwards, in the brief silence which followed, Frieda Russell burst
+into tears.
+
+"But, Frieda," Jack expostulated, slipping an arm about her sister and
+smiling as she faced the group of people gazing directly at her, "I
+thought you wanted me to be defeated. You have never wished for anything
+else." She turned to the others. "I can only say that I am deeply
+grateful for everybody's kindness, yet the voters of Wyoming probably
+have acted wisely. All women may not need longer preparation before
+holding public office, but I am afraid I do. Now if you will pardon me,
+I confess I am tired and would like to say good-night."
+
+Running swiftly upstairs, Jacqueline Kent paused for an instant outside
+her former guardian's door. She had been staying in the big house during
+his illness.
+
+"Is that you, Jack?" a voice asked instantly. "Well, what is the news?"
+
+"I was defeated, Jim. Peter Stevens is the next Congressman from
+Wyoming."
+
+"Well, Jack, I'd hate to tell you how glad I am. Are you very deeply
+disappointed?"
+
+"No, Jim, I am not. I believe I feel relieved. But please don't tell
+other people. Good-night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE HEART'S DESIRE
+
+
+"Mrs. Kent, there is some one down at the ranch house inquiring either
+for you or for Jim Colter. He will not give his name. Since you do not
+wish Mr. Colter to be disturbed I thought it best to bring the message
+to you. The man looks as if he had been ill for some time and his
+clothes are pretty shabby, but otherwise he seems all right."
+
+The man who was speaking was one of the new ranchmen on the Rainbow
+ranch whom Jacqueline Kent had lately employed.
+
+As Jim Colter had not recovered from his injury so rapidly as might have
+been expected, Jack had taken upon herself the entire management of the
+Rainbow ranch and was assisting with the management of the adjoining
+place, which belonged to Jim Colter.
+
+"Yes, thank you, I am glad you came to me; I'll ride down to the ranch
+house as soon as I can get away. I have some things that must be
+attended to first. You'll see that the man is properly cared for until
+I can get there."
+
+"Yes."
+
+Smiling after he had turned his back, the ranchman rode away.
+
+It suddenly had struck him that Mrs. Kent looked absurdly young for the
+responsibilities of her present position, but that they did not seem to
+trouble her in the least, in fact she appeared to enjoy them. Moreover,
+she was extremely popular with all he employees on the place, who would
+do a good deal to win her thanks.
+
+This morning Jack's costume was an extremely businesslike one, a dark
+brown corduroy riding habit with a short skirt and trousers and a fairly
+long coat. It was a cold morning in early December. She had not yet put
+on her hat and gloves, as she was waiting to consult with a neighboring
+ranchman in regard to the purchase of a thousand head of cattle.
+
+Jimmie had gone off to school an hour earlier with the four little new
+ranch girls and Jean's two daughters. These daily excursions to school
+were an annoyance to Jimmie and he would have preferred to have walked
+or ridden his pony instead of being driven in the family motor car with
+so many girls. However, as the school was five or six miles from the
+Rainbow ranch, this appeared one of the crosses he was forced to endure.
+
+Half an hour later, following a talk with her neighbor, Jacqueline Kent
+was on her way to the ranch house.
+
+A busy day lay ahead of her. First of all she had agreed to buy the
+cattle for the Rainbow ranch at the price offered, subject to Jim
+Colter's approval. But as Jim rarely interfered with her recent control
+of the ranch she did not expect him to object to her latest venture. In
+the afternoon, escorted by Billy Preston, whom she had promoted to being
+one of her chief assistants, she intended riding over to look at the
+cattle. In the meantime, beside her housekeeping, which was already
+finished for the day, she had to look at some fencing that needed
+repairing, consult with a veterinary surgeon concerning an injury to one
+of the finest mares on the ranch, and hear reports from several ranchmen
+who had charge of details of the work upon the place.
+
+Nevertheless, Jack felt extremely fit and not in the least perturbed by
+the number of her duties, as this was the character of outdoor life she
+had always loved and been trained to since her childhood.
+
+The question of the man who was waiting to see her at the ranch house
+did not particularly absorb her attention. Frequently of late men had
+wished to see her either to ask for employment on the Rainbow ranch or
+to discuss projects for new agricultural schemes to raise grains in
+greater abundance by a more scientific development of the soil.
+Moreover, there were always persons who insisted that the Rainbow gold
+mine could be made to yield a fresh output of gold by the application of
+new methods in mining. But at least Jack had nothing to do with the
+Rainbow mine, always referring any such enthusiasts to her scientific
+brother-in-law, Professor Russell, now that Jim Colter was taking a
+temporary rest from the affairs of the place, the first he had ever
+taken for as long as Jack had known him.
+
+Billy Preston was standing on the front porch of the ranch house in
+spite of the coldness of the day and as Jack rode up he came forward to
+help her dismount.
+
+"The fellow waiting to see you is rather a queer looking beggar, so I
+thought I'd hang round till you'd had a talk with him," Billy grinned
+boyishly. "We don't want another of the Rainbow ranch managers knocked
+out in a fight at present."
+
+"But I was knocked out in a fight, a big one, Billy Preston, by failing
+to be elected, and you have all been awfully good not to reproach me
+after taking such a lot of trouble in my behalf."
+
+"Oh, but we cowboys are glad you lost, though as long as we thought you
+wanted to win the boys on the Rainbow ranch and a good many other
+ranches were for you to the last man. No one of us really liked the idea
+of your either being elected or being licked. But now it can't be
+helped, it's kind of pleasanter to think of you just trying to run the
+old ranch."
+
+"Trying, Billy? But I thought I _was_ running it," Jack returned,
+"although I suppose you realize the men are still doing the work and
+trying to humor me at the same time. Well, it is kind of you and it is
+fun. Now show me my man and stand outside, Billy, to see nothing
+happens. But please remember you are an assistant ranch manager these
+days and hide that dreadful Kentucky mountain pistol."
+
+Inside the ranch house living-room, a crude enough place but bright and
+comfortable, there was a fire burning in the fireplace and a man sitting
+slumped before it in such a position that Jack upon entering the room
+could not see his face.
+
+He heard her, however, and got up and stumbled forward with both hands
+outstretched.
+
+"Ralph Merritt, but we thought you were lost forever, thought you
+were--" Jack hesitated and stopped an instant. "Why, we have sought for
+you all over the United States in every possible place and in every
+possible fashion! But you have been ill. Do sit down, you can't know how
+glad I am to see you. Don't try to talk to me, let us go first to Jean.
+It is cruel to keep her in ignorance another moment."
+
+Ralph Merritt shook his head.
+
+"No, Jack, I want to talk to _you_ first. I am glad it is you rather
+than Jim Colter. Then you can tell me what I should do next. I have been
+ill and in a strange way and so perhaps I need advice more than one
+usually does. I will sit down, if you don't mind and you'll be seated."
+
+It was one of Jacqueline Kent's good qualities that she did not talk
+when talking was unnecessary.
+
+Now she dropped into the nearest chair, opened her coat and took off her
+hat and gloves.
+
+"Try and tell me from the beginning if you can remember, Ralph. We have
+heard nothing of you or from you since the news that you appeared to
+have been slightly hurt at the mine in New Mexico and then disappeared."
+
+Ralph Merritt nodded.
+
+"I will try to tell as much as I can remember although it is remarkably
+little. I remember the fall at the mine and also that I did not seem to
+have been much hurt, only bruised and shaken up a bit and that my head
+ached a good deal from a blow I had received. I recall going into my own
+tent a little after dusk and lying down because my head ached. Then, you
+may not believe me, yet the truth is, I know of nothing else that has
+taken place in my life for over a year, nothing until a few months ago."
+
+"Yes, go on," Jack answered. "The blow on your head occasioned a loss of
+memory?"
+
+"A complete loss of memory. How I ever got my living in the meantime,
+whether I worked or whether I was cared for through other people's
+kindness I am not sure, except that I did work on a farm for a time and
+probably worked on others. I know this from some one who befriended me
+and partly guessed what my trouble was. Through this friend I was taken
+to a hospital and an operation performed and my memory partially
+restored. I now remember perfectly everything that took place before my
+injury, but nothing in the interval between then and now."
+
+"But that is not important, Ralph dear; perhaps it is better not to be
+able to recall what must have been days of suffering. The wonderful
+thing is now that you are alive and at home again, and with Jean and the
+little girls well and waiting for you."
+
+Ralph Merritt shook his head.
+
+"I am afraid returning in the plight I am in at present will not be a
+pleasant surprise for Jean. Remember I told you, Jack, that I would not
+come back until I had earned money enough to make Jean happier. I told
+her the same story. And I haven't the money, in fact I haven't even the
+chance of making it until I am stronger. So I want you to tell Jean for
+me that I am alive and care for her and the little girls as much as I
+ever did, and have not yet given up hope of accomplishing what she has a
+right to expect of me. Then if you'll tell me about the family I'll be
+off again. I'll write Jean, but I thought it might be best that you
+speak to her and explain what has occurred first."
+
+"I will do no such thing, Ralph Merritt," Jack returned more sharply
+than she was in the habit of speaking. "You'll see and talk to Jean
+yourself in a quarter of an hour. Don't you think Jean has had a long
+enough period of agony and suspense? The desire of her heart is to know
+you are alive. She asks for nothing else, has asked for nothing else all
+along. I do wish men were not so stupid. You always believe the wrong
+things girls and women say. Jean did care for wealth and position, most
+people do, but that is no reason to think that she did not always care
+more for you than anything or anybody else. I'll ride up to the big
+house this instant and try to prepare Jean a little for seeing you. But
+right away you are to follow me. If you are strong enough to ride
+horseback Billy Preston will saddle a horse and ride up with you."
+
+Jack was already up and half way to the door.
+
+"Don't be long. Jean already has been waiting a long time, and I shall
+tell her nothing except that you are here."
+
+"All right, Jack," Ralph Merritt answered and squared his shoulders,
+appearing fifty per cent more like his former self than before Jack had
+spoken.
+
+At eight o'clock that night Jacqueline Kent was walking up and down the
+front porch of the Rainbow lodge alone. There was a light snow falling
+outside and she had slipped on a fur coat, but her head was uncovered.
+
+At a little distance away she heard a familiar whistle.
+
+"Do hurry, Jim, I can't wait any longer," she called out. "You promised
+to come over immediately after dinner."
+
+"Yes, and I'm here," Jim returned, "dinner has not been over ten minutes
+at the big house, and please remember I am a semi-invalid and cannot
+walk with white hot speed. I can only report, 'all is well.' Jean and
+Ralph both appear extraordinarily happy and Ralph Merritt does not look
+so ill, not half so badly off as I do. I won't have the honor of being
+the family invalid taken from me. He and Jean expressed themselves as
+being disappointed at your not coming up to dinner, but I told them you
+wanted them to have the dinner to themselves, which they managed to have
+along with Professor Russell and Frieda and six small girls clamoring
+for attention beside your humble servant. You might have asked me to
+dine with you."
+
+"Why, I never thought of it, but then you would have if you had wished
+to anyhow. Besides, you should of course have been at home to welcome
+Ralph. I trust you told him right away that we were going to start work
+on the old Rainbow mine so Ralph can stay here at home and have
+something to do at the same time. I have decided on this; there must be
+gold enough in the old mine to pay expenses and to give Ralph a good
+salary, and otherwise it does not matter. Oh, Jim, please do come in out
+of the snow. I want to tell you also that I am going to buy a thousand
+new head of cattle for the Rainbow ranch. It is all right, isn't it?"
+
+"It is _not_, Jack. Rainbow ranch has all the cattle it can take care of
+at present. We have stocked up as far as we ought to go unless we can
+buy more land for grazing and raising grain, and I don't see any
+prospect of that in this immediate neighborhood."
+
+"But I have almost made a bargain for the cattle, Jim."
+
+"How far has the bargain gone?"
+
+"Oh, the agreement was not positive until I had consulted with you, but
+I thought I was being allowed to run the Rainbow ranch. Of course if you
+interfere with what I think best, why it is not managing the ranch at
+all."
+
+"But I never agreed to allow you to run the ranch into debt, Jack, and
+that is _what would_ happen if you have to pay for feed for a thousand
+new head of cattle this winter."
+
+In silence the man and girl continued to walk up and down the porch of
+the Rainbow lodge.
+
+"Want me to give up trying to manage the ranch, Jim? Now you are better,
+I suppose I am only a nuisance."
+
+"I want you to keep on if the work interests you and if you are willing
+to listen to my advice now and then. You have some ideas for running
+things that are considerably better than mine, but I have had a good
+deal longer experience."
+
+"All right, Jim, I am sorry," and Jack slipped her hand through her
+companion's arm. "Good gracious, what a hard-headed person I am and
+always have been, Jim Colter. I wonder if that is why life seems to find
+it necessary to give me so many knocks?"
+
+"Has it given you more than most people, Jack? Are you more disappointed
+over that wretched election than you have been willing to confess? If
+you like, go ahead and buy your cattle then. I only don't want you to
+lose money, because the ranch belongs to you girls and I suppose I
+always shall feel more or less responsible. If it were mine----"
+
+"I have no desire to lose the family money," said Jack, "and I am
+properly penitent. I even no longer _desire_ one thousand new cattle
+purchased for the Rainbow ranch."
+
+"But what do you desire then, Jacqueline Kent? Suppose just for an
+experiment you tell me your greatest desire. We were speaking on the
+subject at dinner to-night. Jean of course felt that she had received
+hers in Ralph's return. Frieda announced that she was in a fair way to
+be fully satisfied now Peace was growing strong and well and Professor
+Russell had succeeded in his latest scientific experiment, and also I am
+obliged to state that Frieda added the negative fact that she was
+particularly pleased that you had failed in your recent political
+enterprise."
+
+Jack laughed. "How exactly like Frieda! It is the things she has that
+she is grateful for and the mistakes I am not permitted to make because
+of her excellent advice. But don't worry over me, Jim, at present my
+greatest desire is to walk up and down the lodge porch with you and see
+the sky and the prairie beneath the stars and feel the damp sweetness of
+the wind with the little eddies of snow. What is your heart's desire,
+Jim Colter?"
+
+"To be always with you, Jack, I suppose," Jim Colter answered as
+unexpectedly to himself as to the girl beside him. His voice did not
+hold the light raillery of hers. "Queer ambition, isn't it, for a man
+old enough to be your father, who has been your father after a poor
+fashion! I don't know, Jack, I have not meant to tell you this, but I
+always have told you pretty much everything that was in my mind, and
+after I say this I want you to forget it. I care for you differently
+from the old days, Jack. Of course I appreciate the differences between
+us more than any living human being can appreciate them, the distance
+from the earth to the stars is small in comparison. And I want you to
+care for me always, Jack, in the old friendly, daughterly fashion."
+
+"But I don't feel like a daughter to you, Jim, and never have, certainly
+not as a little girl, so why should I begin now? I simply like you
+better than any one else in the world except Jimmie, now you have made
+me think of it, and we understand each other better. I suppose I would
+have taken this for granted if you had not spoken. What do you suppose
+we ought to do about it, Jim?"
+
+"Nothing, Jack."
+
+"But suppose I should want to do something? And suppose what I wanted to
+do should become my heart's desire? Would you withhold it from me, Jim?"
+
+"Yes, if I thought it would do you harm."
+
+"But suppose it would not do me harm, but bring me great happiness, what
+then?"
+
+Jim Colter made no reply.
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"Ah, Jim, you never can make me believe that you will refuse to travel
+with me to the Land of the Heart's Desire, since it is a journey one can
+rarely take alone."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+THE "RANCH GIRLS" SERIES
+
+BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK
+
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS AT RAINBOW LODGE
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS' POT OF GOLD
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS AT BOARDING SCHOOL
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS IN EUROPE
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS AT HOME AGAIN
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS AND THEIR GREAT ADVENTURE
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS AND THEIR HEART'S DESIRE
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's
+Desire, by Margaret Vandercook
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS--THEIR HEART'S DESIRE ***
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire, by 
+Margaret Vandercook
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire
+
+Author: Margaret Vandercook
+
+Illustrator: Wilson V. Chambers
+
+Release Date: August 30, 2011 [EBook #37271]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS--THEIR HEART'S DESIRE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/>
+</div>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+
+
+<h2>THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES</h2>
+
+<h1>The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire</h1>
+
+<h2>BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK</h2>
+
+
+<p class="center">ILLUSTRATED BY<br />
+WILSON V. CHAMBERS</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY<br />
+PHILADELPHIA</p>
+
+<p class="center">Copyright, 1920, by<br />
+<span class="smcap">The John C. Winston Co.</span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a>
+<img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt=""/>
+</div>
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Before Leaving, She Explained to the Old Half-Indian
+Woman That She Would Not Return Until Dinner Time</span></h3>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+<table width="50%">
+<tr><td align="right">I. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span class="smcap">The Branch of the Tree</span></a></td><td align="right">9</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">II. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span class="smcap">The Younger Set</span></a></td><td align="right">20</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">III. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span class="smcap">Old Pastimes</span></a></td><td align="right">32</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IV. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span class="smcap">A Former Acquaintance</span></a></td><td align="right">47</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">V. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span class="smcap">Jean, Olive and Frieda</span></a></td><td align="right">58</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VI. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span class="smcap">Jean and Ralph Merritt</span></a></td><td align="right">75</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VII. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><span class="smcap">The Tea Party</span></a></td><td align="right">91</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VIII. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><span class="smcap">An Interview</span></a></td><td align="right">104</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IX. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><span class="smcap">A Year Later</span></a></td><td align="right">117</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">X. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><span class="smcap">A Maiden Speech</span></a></td><td align="right">129</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XI. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><span class="smcap">The Proposals</span></a></td><td align="right">140</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XII. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><span class="smcap">A Decision</span></a></td><td align="right">152</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIII. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><span class="smcap">The Campaign</span></a></td><td align="right">169</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIV. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><span class="smcap">In the Thick of the Fight</span></a></td><td align="right">178</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XV. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><span class="smcap">Consequences</span></a></td><td align="right">192</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVI. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><span class="smcap">The Election</span></a></td><td align="right">204</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVII. </td><td><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><span class="smcap">The Heart's Desire</span></a></td><td align="right">217</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2>
+
+<table>
+<tr><td><a href="#illus1"><span class="smcap">Before Leaving She Explained That She
+Would not Return Before Dinner Time</span></a></td><td align="right">      <i>Frontispiece</i></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><a href="#illus2"><span class="smcap">With a Single Swift Motion She Lifted
+Little Peace into the Saddle</span></a></td><td align="right">72</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><a href="#illus3"><span class="smcap">Jack Reined in Her Horse and Sat Still,
+Silhouetted Against the Sky</span></a></td><td align="right">149</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><a href="#illus4"><span class="smcap">Not a Bouquet of Flowers but of Evil-Smelling
+Weeds and Tied With a Rag Instead
+of a Ribbon</span></a></td><td align="right">186</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p>
+<h2>The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire</h2>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2>
+
+<h3>THE BRANCH OF THE TREE</h3>
+
+
+<p>Across a wide prairie a man and woman were riding side by side at an
+hour approaching twilight on a September afternoon. Moving slowly they
+appeared to be studying the landscape.</p>
+
+<p>Toward the west the sky was banked with gold and rose and purple clouds,
+while the earth revealed the same colors in the yellow sand of the
+desert spaces, the wide fields of purple clover, and the second blooming
+of the prairie roses.</p>
+
+<p>"Strange to have you living at the old Rainbow ranch again, Jack, and
+yet under the circumstances perhaps the most natural thing in the world!
+Long ago when I was a young fellow I learned that when human<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> beings are
+hurt they follow the instincts of the homing birds who seek the nest.
+You have always loved the old ranch better than any place in the world,
+more than the other girls ever loved it, so with the news of your
+husband's death I knew you would return from England and bring your son
+with you, Lady Kent, once Jacqueline Ralston of the Rainbow ranch.
+Somehow I never have learned to think of you, Jack, by your title of
+Lady Kent."</p>
+
+<p>"No, Jim, and why should you?" the girl answered. "I never learned to
+think of myself in that fashion. I am going to confide something to you,
+Jim Colter. I always have confided my secrets to you since I was a
+little girl. I never learned during the years of my married life in
+England to feel that I was anything but a stranger there. Yet for my
+husband's sake I did my best to like England and try to make English
+people like me. I was never specially successful. I presume I am
+hopelessly an American and, what may be worse, hopelessly western. At
+present I feel that I wish to spend all the rest of my life in Wyoming.
+But one is not often allowed to do what one wishes. This morning I
+received letters from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> England, all of them asking when I intended to
+return and settle down as Dowager Lady Kent at Kent House, to bring up
+little Jimmie in a manner becoming a future British Lord. The worst of
+it is I don't want to go back and I don't want to bring up my son as an
+aristocrat. My husband was an Englishman, but I am an American and have
+never believed in titles. Frank had no title when I married him. I want
+little Jimmie to be half an American anyhow and wholly a democrat. What
+must I do, Jim Colter, stay here on the ranch with my own people and
+lead the life I love, or go to England and spend half my time amid the
+conventional society existence I loathe, and the other half playing Lady
+Bountiful to the poor people of a small village?"</p>
+
+<p>Jacqueline Ralston, who <i>was</i> Lady Kent, regardless of her own protest,
+now reined in her horse, and rising in her saddle let her glance sweep
+the wide horizon.</p>
+
+<p>In the wide, gray eyes, in the low, level brow, in the full, generous
+lips and abundant vitality one might have recognized the pioneer spirit,
+infrequent in human beings, but more infrequent in women than in men.
+Yet this Jacqueline Ralston Kent, one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> the original four "Ranch Girls
+of the Rainbow Lodge," possessed. All her life she had loved personal
+freedom, wide spaces, a simple, every-day, outdoor existence without
+formality. She felt a natural intimacy with the people who attracted her
+without consideration for their social position. Yet in so contrary a
+fashion does fate deal with us that Jack had spent the greater part of
+her married life under exactly opposite conditions.</p>
+
+<p>"For my part I don't dare advise you, Jack, I so want you to stay on at
+the Rainbow lodge, more than I wish anything else in the world at
+present. With Ruth gone, I don't see how I shall ever get on with my
+four new little Rainbow ranch girls without you to help mother them. Yet
+I had pretty much the same experience once before! Odd how circumstances
+repeat themselves! You must first do what you think best for Jimmie.
+What does the boy himself wish to do, stay here at the ranch and learn
+to be a ranchman under my training, or go back to Kent House?"</p>
+
+<p>Laughing Jack shook her head, crowned with gold brown hair; she was
+without a hat, after her old custom.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You know the answer to that question as well as I do, Jim. Jimmie
+adores the ranch. He is named for you, and you have done everything in
+your power to make him love it. Then I must have implanted my own
+affection for the freedom of our western life in my little son. Jimmie
+insists that he wants nothing better in the future than to stay on here
+and run the ranch and the mine when you and I have grown too old to be
+troubled with such responsibilities. He is only eight years old at
+present and so we need not feel laid on the shelf at once."</p>
+
+<p>"No, but I am not young as I was, Jack, hair is turning pretty gray
+these days," Jim Colter answered. "I have never mentioned this to the
+boy, but I have wanted the same thing he does. I would like Jimmie to
+live here and perhaps marry one of my four girls and keep the old ranch
+in the family through another generation or so. Sentiment of course, yet
+so far Jimmie is the only son on the horizon! Here I am with four
+daughters, Jean and Ralph Merritt with two, Olive and Captain MacDonnell
+with no children, and Frieda's and Professor Russell's little girl so
+frail that it is hard to count on any future for her."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At this Jack's expression clouded. A moment later she again arose in her
+saddle, this time pointing toward the eastern portion of the Rainbow
+ranch. To the west and north lay the gold mine discovered years before,
+though no longer yielding a supply of gold as in its early days.</p>
+
+<p>The mine had never interested either Jacqueline Ralston or Jim Colter as
+it had the other members of the family. They had been horse and cattle
+raisers before a mine was ever dreamed of, and it was the rearing of the
+livestock for which Jim and Jack cared intensely to this day.</p>
+
+<p>Riding through the ranch, every half hour or so they had passed a herd
+of cattle browsing amid the purple alfalfa grass, seen the sleek brown
+cows standing with their young calves close beside them. Less often they
+had run across a small drove of horses and young colts, as horses were
+no longer so good an investment as in the old days. Yet the present
+Rainbow ranch owners would prefer to have lost money than be without
+them, the horses having always received Jack's especial affection and
+attention as a girl and upon her occasional visits home to the ranch
+after her English marriage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Can that be a herd of horses or cattle stampeding there toward the
+east, Jim? We are too far off to see distinctly; suppose we ride in that
+direction," Jack said unexpectedly.</p>
+
+<p>Wasting no time in words Jim Colter nodded. The following moment both
+horses, their noses pointing eastward, were galloping across the open
+prairie fields and away from the road.</p>
+
+<p>Experienced ranchmen, he and his companion appreciated that the cloud of
+dust and the grouping of dark bodies advancing toward them with unusual
+rapidity represented trouble of some kind. At this time of the year it
+seemed scarcely possible that a wolf had stolen from the pack and
+frightened one of the herds. Yet there was no accounting for the tricks
+of nature. Moreover, frequently a number of horses or cattle suffered
+from group fear, the one transmitting the fright to the other without
+apparent reason.</p>
+
+<p>Half a mile away the drove of young horses, which Jim Colter had finally
+located with his field glasses, turned and swerved south.</p>
+
+<p>Almost as swiftly the two riders moved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> off in the same direction,
+hoping they might be able to divide the frightened animals and drive
+them apart.</p>
+
+<p>A quarter of a mile farther along, riding at no great distance from each
+other, Jim Colter heard an exclamation from his companion, so sudden, so
+terrified and so unexpected that he reined his own horse sharply until
+for an instant it stood trembling on its hind legs, its slender nose
+snuffing the soft air.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me, Jim, is that Jimmie's pony ahead of us? The saddle is on the
+pony, but no one is riding. Jimmie can't have ridden over here alone? He
+can't be anywhere near-by?"</p>
+
+<p>Yet even as the question was being asked, the man and woman saw and,
+seeing, understood.</p>
+
+<p>The pony which Jack had spied with the bridle dangling over its head was
+moving from place to place nibbling at the most luxurious patches of
+clover. Beyond, and closer to the trampling herd of panic-stricken
+animals, lay a small figure, outstretched on the ground and probably
+until this moment asleep.</p>
+
+<p>Whether he now heard the oncoming horses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> or the cries of his mother and
+guardian, in any case, awakening, he jumped to his feet and the same
+instant turned, beheld, and understood his own danger. In a few moments,
+seconds perhaps, the frightened animals would be upon him, trampling,
+snorting, unconscious of his presence in their frenzy.</p>
+
+<p>As the boy ran across the field toward his pony, he had the
+consciousness that the two persons for whom he cared most in the world
+were coming toward him to save him from harm. Yet he also appreciated
+this would not be possible, as they could not reach him in time.</p>
+
+<p>But Jimmie Kent was not to make the whole effort alone. As he ran he
+called his pony's name.</p>
+
+<p>"Whitestar! Whitestar!" The boy's tones remained firm and commanding.</p>
+
+<p>Whitestar had observed her own danger. The pony's head went up, showing
+the mark upon her pretty nose which had given her the name. A single
+time she pawed the earth in front of her, appearing about to rush <i>away</i>
+without her master, and then she cantered toward the boy.</p>
+
+<p>The oncoming drove of terrified animals was now only a few yards away.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Don't lose courage, Jack, he is your son, remember! He will win out,"
+Jim Colter shouted, his own horse scarcely appearing to touch the earth
+as it ran.</p>
+
+<p>"Drive straight toward them, Jimmie, don't try to cross their path," Jim
+called, his voice sounding unfamiliar to his own ears.</p>
+
+<p>Yet either the boy heard or recognized his one chance.</p>
+
+<p>Without hesitation the little figure lying close to his saddle was
+riding straight toward the center of the drove of twenty or thirty
+frightened animals. The leader, a few feet in advance of the others,
+apparently ran in a direct line with the boy.</p>
+
+<p>Her eyes never turning for an instant from the little figure, now not
+thirty yards away, Jack understood what must take place. Should the
+leader come on without swerving Jimmie would be unseated, his pony
+struck down and the other horses would pass over them both. But, should
+Jimmie possess the courage or, greater than courage, the strength of
+will to force the horse in advance of the drove to swerve either toward
+the right or left, the others would follow.</p>
+
+<p>A moment later and Jack's arms were about her son.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You've turned the trick, Jimmie," Jim Colter was saying roughly. "But
+it is the front yard of the Rainbow lodge for you for the next week. How
+dared you ride over the ranch alone when I have told you it was
+forbidden? Now you and your mother get home as soon as you can and send
+whatever men you come across in this direction. I suppose the horses
+will have tired themselves out after a few more miles of running, but it
+is just as well to see they are quieted down."</p>
+
+<p>So Jim Colter rode away in one direction and Jimmie and his mother in
+the other toward the Rainbow lodge.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2>
+
+<h3>THE YOUNGER SET</h3>
+
+
+<p>The front yard of the Rainbow lodge appeared an extremely small
+playground for a boy accustomed to covering many miles of the broad
+ranch and the adjoining country in the course of each day. Yet as Jim
+Colter's word was law on the Rainbow ranch Jimmie Kent had no thought of
+breaking parole.</p>
+
+<p>He glanced up at the double rows of tall cottonwood trees which led from
+the lodge to the gate. Almost impossibly difficult trees to climb
+because of their tall, smooth trunks and the branches so high overhead!
+A warm September day and Rainbow creek not half a mile away! Jimmie
+taxed his imagination until he could well-nigh feel himself swimming
+about in the cool freshness of the little stream, deeper than usual at
+the present time because of the abundant September rains. When one's
+swim ended, not far away were his mother, his Aunt Jean and her husband
+Ralph Merritt, a clever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> mining engineer. The family was to meet this
+afternoon to discuss the possibility of sinking a new shaft into the old
+Rainbow mine with the hope of striking a new lode.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover, Jim Colter (and Jimmie and the big man were so intimate as to
+use each other's first names) was attending to the branding of a herd of
+calves at one of the ranch houses. Any one, or all, of these
+entertainments might have been his, except for an unfortunate impulse to
+investigate the Rainbow ranch alone a few afternoons before.</p>
+
+<p>A week of the front yard of the lodge appeared an interminable time to
+Jimmie Kent, yet even a week would pass in time. And one had better be
+half a prisoner at the old ranch than free in any other part of the
+world.</p>
+
+<p>Six weeks before having arrived at the ranch after a long journey from
+England, at present this was Jimmie Kent's earnest conviction. Was there
+anywhere else in the world such a wide sweep of country, such plains and
+prairies and desert sands covered with sage brush and cacti? In the
+prairies there were wolves and deer and bear. Since his arrival at the
+ranch Jimmie believed he had heard one night the call of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> a wolf, the
+leader of the pack, and coyotes he had seen with his own eyes, sniffing
+about the edge of the woods not far from Rainbow creek. Jim Colter had
+suggested that the buffalo were not all destroyed, but might be found
+roaming in certain western portions of the state, now inhabited only by
+wandering Indian tribes. He had hinted at mountain lions as not wholly a
+figment of a boy's dreams, but as realities, creatures Jim Colter had
+beheld with his own eyes long years before, when the west was the west
+indeed.</p>
+
+<p>Yet here he was, Jimmie Kent, late of Kent House, Kent county, England,
+suddenly transformed into an American boy, but shut up within an acre of
+ground for a week and, moreover, face to face with the tragic
+possibility that within a month or more he might be forced to return to
+England. He had nothing against England except that it was too small for
+a boy's energies and hopelessly devoid of wild animals outside the
+London Zoo.</p>
+
+<p>India of course was a possession of the British Empire, and South
+Africa, but Jimmie felt that probably for a number of years he might not
+be permitted to explore these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> regions. So why the present discussion?
+If he and his mother both desired to remain at the Rainbow ranch at
+least for a number of years, they ought to be able to decide for
+themselves. Nevertheless his mother had explained that she must continue
+to think the situation over and to ask the advice of her family.
+To-night the grown-up members of the family were even to dine together
+for this purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Discovering a cottonwood tree not far from the gate, Jimmie now climbed
+up and seated himself upon one of the lower branches. Here he was
+enabled to have a wide outlook.</p>
+
+<p>Behind him was the Rainbow lodge where he and his mother were living at
+the present time. So often Jimmie Kent had been told its history! Here
+his mother with her sister, Frieda Ralston, and her cousin Jean Bruce,
+had lived when the three of them were little girls and under the
+guardianship of Jim Colter, the manager of their father's ranch after
+his death. Later the fourth ranch girl had found refuge with them,
+escaping from an Indian woman in whose charge she had been for so many
+years that her early childhood was enshrouded in mystery.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>From his present viewpoint Jimmie Kent was able to observe two figures
+not at a great distance away. They were Captain MacDonnell and his wife,
+who had been Olive to the other ranch girls until the discovery of her
+parentage.</p>
+
+<p>Captain MacDonnell, injured in the great war, later had developed his
+talent as an artist. Jimmie possessed the ordinary small boy's attitude
+toward pictures, nevertheless he had something to say in favor of
+Captain MacDonnell's, since <i>his</i> reputation had been acquired through
+his painting of western scenes.</p>
+
+<p>At the present moment he was sketching a mustang pony, which one of the
+ranch boys was leading back and forth in an effort to persuade the pony
+to remain within the range of the artist's vision. Jimmie would have
+enjoyed changing places with the other boy. In spite of Captain Bryan
+MacDonnell's lameness he had an especial understanding and love of the
+outdoors, to such an extent that he and his wife were spending a year or
+more at the Rainbow ranch, living in a tent, regardless of the fact that
+at the great house built after the discovery of the Rainbow mine there
+was room for any number of guests.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Jimmie now glanced over toward the splendid mansion which had been
+christened "Rainbow Castle" by Frieda Ralston years before. His Aunt
+Frieda and her distinguished if eccentric husband, Professor Henry
+Tilford Russell and their one little girl were at present visitors at
+Rainbow Castle, having arrived only a day or so before.</p>
+
+<p>Jimmie was no more interested in relatives as relatives than most small
+boys. Yet had his preference been asked he would have said freely that
+he liked best his Aunt Jean and his uncle Ralph Merritt, possibly
+because a famous engineer who had been not only the engineer of the
+Rainbow mine but of several other mines would appeal to any masculine
+imagination. Then possessing no sons of her own and greatly desiring
+one, his Aunt Jean was particularly kind to him.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment Jimmie became especially grateful to fate for his exalted
+position in the tree top. Advancing toward him he beheld his seven girl
+cousins.</p>
+
+<p>"Eight cousins!" Some one was always muttering this tiresome
+exclamation, as if there was any special point in it. Personally Jimmie
+considered the one drawback to his residence in the United States was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>
+the possession of such an affliction. Not that he disliked the seven
+girls; two or three of them were fairly agreeable. One could not dislike
+the little girl, who was scarcely more than a baby, and whose name was
+Peace, she was so pretty and so gentle. She had been called Peace though
+named for her mother, because no one wished to repeat the name Frieda
+during the war.</p>
+
+<p>The seven cousins and two nurses were now entering the yard of the
+Rainbow lodge and Jimmie Kent wondered if he preferred not to be
+discovered. He guessed their errand: they intended gathering violets
+from the violet beds on either side of the house, planted years before
+by Frieda Ralston in an effort to increase the family fortunes, and now
+famous throughout the neighborhood.</p>
+
+<p>In advance were the four daughters of Jim Colter, whom he described as
+the four new Rainbow Ranch girls and whose names were also Jacqueline,
+Jean, Olive, and Frieda, although called Lina, Jeannette, Olivia, and
+Eda, to distinguish them from the original "Ranch Girls of the Rainbow
+Lodge." The three visitors with the maids were following.</p>
+
+<p>An instant Jimmie considered whether it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> might not be a good idea to
+allow Jeannette Colter to observe his present elevation. She was the one
+of the seven girls he most disliked. A few months his elder, she boasted
+that she could ride and run and climb equally well with the new English
+boy visitor. She could learn to shoot equally well if her father offered
+her an equal opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>The truth was that if Jimmie considered he disliked Jeannette, she
+cordially hated him. Before Jimmie's coming she had been her father's
+constant companion, riding with him about the ranch as Jacqueline
+Ralston had done in the years past. But three times of late had her
+father left her at home with her sisters, saying that he wanted to ride
+alone with Jimmie in order better to make his acquaintance.</p>
+
+<p>Now Jimmie felt a reasonable pride in the fact that Jeannette would not
+be able to occupy such a position as his present one without assistance.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello," he called down. The other girls waved and returned his
+greeting, but Jeannette Colter laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"Up a tree, aren't you, in more ways than one, Jimmie Kent! I am sorry
+you cannot leave the front yard for a week," which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> was not kind or
+truthful in Jeannette, who was especially pleased by Jimmie's captivity
+since it restored her to her father's uninterrupted companionship.</p>
+
+<p>At the close of the day, having finished his solitary dinner&mdash;his mother
+was dining at the big house&mdash;Jimmie came out on the veranda of the lodge
+and went to bed in the big porch hammock where he often spent the night.</p>
+
+<p>Several hours later, half awakened by the return of his mother and Jim
+Colter from the family dinner party, but too drowsy to speak,
+nevertheless Jimmie overheard his mother announce in a tone of relief:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Jim, thank goodness I have been able to make up my mind at last!
+Indecision, you know, always has annoyed me more than anything else in
+the world. So it is to be the Rainbow ranch and my own country for as
+many years as I can arrange it. And may they be as many years as you
+need me, Jim."</p>
+
+<p>His friend's reply made Jimmie Kent smile and settle himself more
+comfortably in his hammock bed. The reply gave one a pleasant sense of
+permanency.</p>
+
+<p>"Then if you never leave the United States<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> until I cease to need you,
+Jack, you won't go away until I am removed to broader fields than the
+Rainbow ranch. But do you think you will be happy, that is the main
+thing? What will you do with yourself? These are restless days for most
+women and you have more energy than any woman I have ever known. Want a
+career, Jacqueline Ralston Kent? Are you staying in your own country
+because you wish to be a famous woman some day and the United States
+offers the best opportunity?"</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose we sit down a while, Jim," Jack answered. "You are not sleepy,
+are you? It is too lovely a night!"</p>
+
+<p>Walking over to the hammock, Jack pulled up a warm covering over her son
+and as he smiled up at her, whispered,</p>
+
+<p>"We won't disturb you, will we, Jimmie?" and Jimmie only shook his head,
+not wishing to speak, yet enjoying the distant sound of the two voices
+he loved best.</p>
+
+<p>A moment later Jim Colter and Jack were sitting together upon one of the
+front steps of the Rainbow lodge as they had sat together so many times
+in years past, always preferring to be in some spot where there were no
+walls closed about them but where there was a wide view of sky and
+land.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Don't laugh, Jim, but I don't know, yet laugh a little if you like, as
+it may be good for me. Yes, I have sometimes thought since Frank's death
+that I should like a career of my own, besides just being Jimmie's
+mother, proud as I am of that honor. Inside the secret corners of my
+mind the thought has influenced me a little in my desire to remain at
+home."</p>
+
+<p>"But what is the great career to be?" Jim Colter answered smiling, and
+yet with a sufficient interest in his tone to take away any lack of
+sympathy that might have been conveyed by his amusement. "You aren't
+going to turn poet, or painter, or actress, Jack, after displaying no
+fondness for the arts in all these years?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, Jim Colter, and no talents either," Jack returned. "I appreciate
+your veiled sarcasm. No, the good fairies who bestow the artistic gifts
+were not present at my birthday. What do you think I might be able to
+do, Jim? Tell me."</p>
+
+<p>There was a short silence and then the man answered:</p>
+
+<p>"Help me manage the Rainbow ranch, Jack, or a larger ranch if you like."</p>
+
+<p>Jack shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"No, Jim, you have managed the ranch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> successfully without me and though
+I may bore you by interfering now and then, to help you when you do not
+need help will not be the thing I am after. Would you hate it if I
+should take an interest in politics? It is an exciting world these days
+and after all Wyoming was the first state to give the vote to women! I
+wonder if I am still an American citizen. In marrying an Englishman I
+know I became a British subject while my husband was alive, but now he
+is dead and I have returned to my own country, the point is, what am I,
+Jim? A woman without a country?"</p>
+
+<p>"Jack, I don't know. However, I should dislike your entering political
+life, but suppose you are old enough to decide for yourself." Jim Colter
+laughed. "You always did decide for yourself in the end, Jack, even when
+you were pretty young. But you will marry again some day! Suppose we ask
+an old friend of yours, Peter Stevens, whether at present you are an
+American citizen or a British subject? Stevens has become one of the
+distinguished young lawyers in the state, or in the west for that
+matter. But look out for him, Jack, he is an old bachelor and a woman
+hater. Now it must be nearly midnight. Good-night."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2>
+
+<h3>OLD PASTIMES</h3>
+
+
+<p>One Saturday afternoon several days later Jacqueline Kent, escaping from
+her family, rode alone down to the great ranch house a mile or more from
+the Rainbow lodge. She had not had an opportunity to visit the ranch
+house since her arrival at her former home. Yet as a young girl she
+always had enjoyed slipping off to the big ranch house unaccompanied by
+the other Ranch Girls and usually without Jim Colter's knowledge or
+consent. In the ranch house lived the ranchmen, or the cowboys who
+looked after the livestock on the great place.</p>
+
+<p>To-day as Jack rode up to the house only three or four of the ranchmen
+were visible and they were standing on the rough log porch smoking and
+talking to one another.</p>
+
+<p>But the four sombreros were immediately lifted, and one of the men came
+forward.</p>
+
+<p>"Glad to see you, Lady Kent. Is there any order you wish to give, or any
+message?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> Sorry the greater number of the fellows are not here at
+present. This is Saturday afternoon, you see, and a half holiday. They
+are off entertaining themselves, but we'll have the laugh on them when
+we tell them that we have had a visit from you."</p>
+
+<p>The Wyoming cowboy spoke with a courtesy and self-possession Jack had
+often seen lacking among more distinguished persons. However, perhaps
+"distinguished" is not the proper adjective, since her present companion
+possessed, stored inside his kit, among the personal treasures in his
+rough, pine-wood chamber a Distinguished Service Medal presented him by
+the United States Government and a Croix de Guerre, the gift of a
+grateful France.</p>
+
+<p>Jack shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I haven't a message or an order. I merely wanted to see the old
+ranch house and be introduced to the men. But don't call me Lady Kent. I
+am Mrs. Kent; now that I have returned to my own country a title strikes
+me as an absurdity. It is hard enough to remember, these days, that I am
+not Jacqueline Ralston; the ranch is so like it used to be when I was a
+young girl. I am sorry not to find the other men, as I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> rode over this
+afternoon knowing it was Saturday and hoping I might meet them. May I be
+introduced to the three men who are here, if they don't mind?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack spoke with a mixture of shyness and friendliness entirely natural
+to her, but in the present circumstances, perhaps unusual.</p>
+
+<p>The man to whom she was speaking was John Simmons, one of the assistant
+managers of the Rainbow ranch to whom Jim Colter had introduced her
+shortly after her arrival at her old home.</p>
+
+<p>At a summons from him, the three other men rushed forward as if only
+awaiting the opportunity, and leaning from her horse, holding the bridle
+in her left hand, Jack shook hands cordially with her new acquaintances.</p>
+
+<p>"More sport this, ma'am, than lassoing a wild colt!" one of the cowboys
+drawled, as Jack smiled upon him. His three companions, after first
+shouting with laughter, proceeded to frown upon the young fellow. He was
+only a boy not yet twenty-one, from the Kentucky mountains, who
+nevertheless had served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France
+for eighteen months.</p>
+
+<p>"But are the men practicing lassoing this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> afternoon? If they are,
+please do take me to see what is going on. Is there to be a contest?"
+Jack inquired. "I used to know something about the business myself, long
+ago when I was a girl. I have even tried using the lasso, although I was
+never a great success according to Jim Colter, who did his best to teach
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"If you'll wait until we get our horses," John Simmons replied.</p>
+
+<p>A few moments later Jack and her four masculine companions were
+galloping toward one of the farther boundaries of the Rainbow ranch.</p>
+
+<p>After half an hour's steady riding they came upon from twenty to thirty
+young ranchmen gathered about an open stretch of country. A third of the
+men were employees of the Rainbow ranch, the others were from
+neighboring places.</p>
+
+<p>The men were grouped together, some of them on horseback, others at
+present afoot. Not far away were a dozen western ponies still unbroken
+either for riding or driving, but captured and brought to this
+particular spot. Firmly tethered to stakes, they were now pawing the
+earth, tossing their pretty heads in the air and kicking and bucking if
+any one approached.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>If the men were astonished by the appearance of Jacqueline Kent upon the
+scene, they were sufficiently polite to make no mention of the fact. If
+they exchanged glances of surprise or whispered comments, Jack was too
+little self-conscious and too interested in the spectacle before her and
+what was about to take place to consider her own position.</p>
+
+<p>Apart from the group, facing a broad, flat prairie field were two of the
+ranchmen, a few yards separating them. Over their right arms hung their
+long lariats, coils of rope with a slip noose at the end.</p>
+
+<p>A pony unloosed at a given signal would make a plunge for liberty. Then
+the two men with the lassos would be after him. The pony has a fair
+start in open field, and the race for freedom lies before him.</p>
+
+<p>In her eager interest, scarcely realizing what she was doing, Jack made
+her way to the front line of the group of spectators, the men giving way
+to her partly from amusement and partly from courtesy. The larger number
+of them had no personal acquaintance with her, yet she was well enough
+known by reputation. One of the owners of the famous Rainbow ranch,
+herself a Ranch girl<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> until her marriage to an Englishman, the fact that
+since her husband's death Jacqueline Ralston Kent had returned home with
+the avowed intention of resuming her American citizenship was already
+become a subject for gossip, for approval or disapproval among her
+neighbors.</p>
+
+<p>Staring at her secretly when the chance offered, there was in all
+probability the usual difference of opinion concerning her among the
+onlookers. But with one fact they would all have agreed: Lady Kent, or
+Mrs. Kent, as she was said to prefer being called, looked younger than
+any one who had heard her history could have thought possible.</p>
+
+<p>In truth, this afternoon, in her usual informal fashion, Jack was
+wearing an old corduroy riding habit which she had left behind her at
+the Rainbow lodge several years before upon the occasion of her previous
+visit home. It was of dust color, plainly made with a long, close
+fitting coat and divided skirt. Her riding boots and gloves, however,
+were of the softest and most beautiful English manufacture; her hat of
+brown felt, with a broad brim.</p>
+
+<p>This afternoon Jack's cheeks were a deep rose color, her eyes were
+glowing, her full<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> red lips were parted from excitement and pleasure as
+she watched.</p>
+
+<p>Away toward the outermost bounds rushed the little untamed colt, his
+pursuers close on his track. Then a long rope swung through the air,
+coil on coil unloosed, rose beautiful as bubbles afloat, with the noose
+ready to capture and bring the pony to a standstill.</p>
+
+<p>The first man is unsuccessful and the bystanders raise a shout of
+derision. This changes to applause when the second man slips his noose
+easily over the pony and gently draws it until the four protesting feet
+are held fast.</p>
+
+<p>Then the pony is brought back, again tied to its stake and a second
+contest begins anew.</p>
+
+<p>There was no cruelty in this sport, only a test of courage and skill,
+since sooner or later the wild ponies must be captured and tamed and
+taught to do their portion of the world's work.</p>
+
+<p>Had she forgotten how exhilarating, how thrilling the lassoing was? Jack
+felt her heart pounding, her blood coursing more swiftly in her veins as
+she half stood in her saddle waving her applause at each victory.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose I should not dare attempt to find if I have altogether lost
+my skill?" she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> asked of her companion, the assistant manager of the
+Rainbow ranch, who had managed to keep near her all afternoon. "Would it
+bore the men dreadfully to have me take part, do you think? Of course I
+ought not to be willing to disgrace myself before so many people."</p>
+
+<p>As a matter of fact, Jack was talking to herself, arguing with her own
+desire, as well as asking the advice of her companion.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. Do you realize that if one is out of practice roping is a
+fairly dangerous sport, Mrs. Kent? I don't think I would undertake it,"
+John Simmons protested.</p>
+
+<p>But Jack found an unexpected ally.</p>
+
+<p>Without her being aware of it, the young Kentuckian whom she had met for
+the first time at the ranch house a short while before, had remained as
+faithful an escort as the assistant manager of the ranch, and a more
+devoted one, since John Simmons regarded the protection of Mrs. Kent
+under the present circumstances as his duty, while with Billy Preston
+there was no question of duty but of pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't mean you've got the nerve to git into the present game, Mrs.
+Kent?" he queried, his manner perfectly respectful,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> in spite of the
+oddity of his speech. "I've been ridin' all my days, was pretty nigh
+born on a horse, anyhow used to hang on when I couldn't 'a' been more'n
+two or three years old, 'cause there wasn't no other way of gittin' up
+or down our hills in them days. But this here lassoing game, I'm not on
+to <i>it</i> yet. Seems like it would be kind of worth while to see you go
+after one of them colts and rope her and lead her in same as one of the
+men. I can't come to believe a woman could ever manage it."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe I could not," Jack answered, but both her interest and vanity
+were stimulated. It was a curious fact that she had so little personal
+vanity in most things, and yet like a boy had a boy's ambition if not a
+boy's vanity with regard to outdoor pastimes.</p>
+
+<p>Disappearing a moment, Billy Preston rode up again soon after with one
+of the other ranchmen, who happened to be in charge of the afternoon's
+contest.</p>
+
+<p>"If you would like to try your hand, Mrs. Kent, and are not afraid of
+getting into trouble, why of course there is no objection. Any one of
+the fellows will be glad of the chance to ride beside you and give you
+the first throw."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed, hesitated and weakened. As a matter of fact, she should
+have known better than to make an exhibition of herself before a group
+of strange young men; her instinct, her experience, her judgment, should
+have taught her better. They did whisper their protest, it was Jack's
+fault that she did not heed them, this being her particular failure in
+life that she could not see that things which were not intrinsically
+wrong in themselves were oftentimes wrong when done at the wrong time
+and in the wrong place.</p>
+
+<p>"You don't think I would be too great a bore? Then may I borrow some
+one's horse? My own is not accustomed to the lassoing."</p>
+
+<p>A short time after, actually unconscious of the unconventionality of her
+behavior, Jacqueline Kent with the lariat swung over her arm, before an
+audience of perhaps thirty or more amused and absorbed spectators, was
+awaiting the moment to ride forward.</p>
+
+<p>The soft prairie winds blew against her face, bringing their familiar
+fragrances, the circle of mountains far away on the dim horizons had
+their summits crowned with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> snow. About her, whinnying and neighing,
+their slender nostrils quivering with interest in the sport, were the
+western horses she had loved almost as she loved people from the time
+she was little more than a baby. As for her audience, Jack really gave
+it scarcely any thought so keyed was she to the business in hand. Had
+she altogether forgotten her past prowess? A moment before she had not
+been entirely truthful, for she had possessed an unusual skill in every
+phase of western riding as a young girl, and especially skilful in what
+she was about to undertake.</p>
+
+<p>Yet at present the rope hung slack on her arm with an odd feeling of
+unfamiliarity. An instant later Jack flung it in the air, saw it coil
+and uncoil, heard the singing noise it made, and then drew it back into
+place, feeling an added confidence.</p>
+
+<p>The following instant she was after the pony, her companion riding a few
+feet behind her, but making no effort with his own lasso.</p>
+
+<p>Jack had asked for no quarter, yet was to be afforded every chance. Once
+her rope rose, sailed forward and then dropped slack to the ground, the
+pony cantering on ahead undisturbed, and uncaptured.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In her accustomed fashion laughing at her own failure, Jack settled more
+firmly to her task, spurring her horse ahead.</p>
+
+<p>A second time her rope shot forward and now the pony crumpled and went
+down upon its forelegs, Jack drawing the lasso and holding it until her
+companion took the rope from her hand.</p>
+
+<p>Then she turned to ride back to her former place.</p>
+
+<p>Now Jack felt herself blushing warmly and for the first time became
+aware of her conspicuous position.</p>
+
+<p>Her audience was laughing and shouting their surprised applause, hats
+were being waved in the air. There in front of the others and on foot,
+Jack beheld Jim Colter, and only a few times in her life could she
+recall having seen his face reveal such an expression of disapproval.</p>
+
+<p>"Making an exhibition of yourself, Jack?" he asked after she had
+dismounted and stood beside him. Then he turned to one of his own
+ranchmen. "Will you bring Mrs. Kent's horse back to the Rainbow lodge?
+She will drive home with me."</p>
+
+<p>Led away as if she were a disgraced school-girl, Jack suffered a number
+of conflicting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> emotions&mdash;anger, rebellion, embarrassment, and
+repentance and some amusement. Surely the time had arrived when her
+former guardian should recognize that she was a woman and not a child.
+Then Jack appreciated that she should have recognized the fact herself
+and not made an exhibition of herself as Jim had just said.</p>
+
+<p>"You won't tell the family what I have done, will you, please, Jim?"
+Jack asked when they were a safe distance away. "I know I have behaved
+badly and I suppose it does no good to say that I never appreciated the
+fact until I had the first look at your face. I hate to have you angry,
+Jim."</p>
+
+<p>"You will be the talk of the countryside, Jacqueline Kent, and who knows
+where else?" Jim Colter answered. "It's incredible that you did not
+realize this. In less than an hour it will be on every tongue that Lady
+Kent has returned to Wyoming to seek the society of the cowboys and
+ranchmen and to engage in their rough sports, and please remember it
+also will be reported that she seeks their companionship with no other
+women present. Fine beginning, Jack."</p>
+
+<p>"You are pretty hateful, Jim. I thought you used to tell me not to mind
+idle gossip."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I did, Jack, but not when the gossip was justified by your behavior. As
+for my keeping your recent act a secret from the rest of the family, it
+is not possible. Frieda and Professor Russell, Olive and Captain
+MacDonnell, and your former acquaintance, Peter Stevens, are in the
+motor car waiting for you, unfortunately so near as to be aware of your
+proceedings. We motored over to Laramie this afternoon and asked Stevens
+if he knew what steps you should take in order to resume your American
+citizenship. He was not altogether sure and explained he thought it
+would be wiser to look the question up. As he was free for the evening
+Frieda invited him to motor to the ranch with us and meet you again.
+Finding you had gone down to the ranch house, we went in search of you.
+Ching Lee, who is the present cook at the ranch house, informed me you
+had ridden over here with Simmons, which was in itself sufficiently
+unconventional, Jack, without the unexpected addition I saw when I left
+the motor and came to look for you."</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious, Frieda will never let me hear the last of this!" Jack
+exclaimed. "It is rather too much to have an old acquaintance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> like
+Peter Stevens, who never liked or approved of me even in my youth, as
+another witness to my discomfiture. Perhaps you would prefer I return to
+England after all, Jim! Can't you forgive me before I join the others;
+I'll have sufficient disapproval to endure then without yours. I wonder
+if I dare face Frieda. I'll never make a mistake like this again."</p>
+
+<p>But for once Jim Colter refused to yield to Jack's pleading, being more
+deeply disturbed by her action because of its consequent reaction upon
+her than he had been in some time past. Beautiful, young and daring,
+with unusual wealth, perhaps it might be wiser if Jack should marry
+again, hard as it would be for him to give her up a second time.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+
+<h3>A FORMER ACQUAINTANCE</h3>
+
+
+<p>"I was never so ashamed of any one in my life."</p>
+
+<p>Jack flushed, but, ignoring her sister's speech, extended her hand to
+the young man who was seated in the motor car beside her.</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid you don't remember me," she began, "it has been a long
+time, and we never knew each other intimately in the past. But it is
+kind of you to have driven over to the ranch."</p>
+
+<p>Then getting into the car, Jack sat down in the vacant place which had
+been saved for her between her sister and their visitor.</p>
+
+<p>"Just the same, I believe I should have known you," Peter Stevens
+returned, looking at her with what Jack considered was certainly not an
+expression of admiration. "Do you think, Mrs. Kent, a fellow is apt to
+forget a girl who could ride and hunt and shoot better than nearly any
+young man in Wyoming? I was a bookworm in those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> days and have remained
+one, but that did not prevent my jealousy of you."</p>
+
+<p>"Please don't refer to my dreadful outdoor accomplishments," Jack
+murmured, "not after I have gotten myself into such disfavor with my
+family." The little glance, half of appeal, half of humor which she at
+this instant bestowed upon her companion made the muscles of his face
+suddenly relax and his blue eyes less cold, so that Jack caught at least
+a fleeting likeness to the boy she had once known.</p>
+
+<p>As a matter of fact, Peter Stevens, who was still in the early twenties,
+had appeared so much older than she had dreamed possible that Jack would
+not have recognized him without first having been told his name.</p>
+
+<p>Then his face hardened again.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, most of us grow up, Mrs. Kent, but perhaps you are one of the
+persons who do not. I am told you prefer not to use your title in the
+United States."</p>
+
+<p>To Jack's mind, as there was plainly no answer to this speech with its
+scarcely courteous reference to her recent impulsive action, she turned
+toward her sister.</p>
+
+<p>Frieda Ralston had developed into the type of matron one might have
+expected from her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> spoiled girlhood and&mdash;more important&mdash;her childish
+and self-satisfied temperament. She dearly loved her older sister;
+except for her husband and baby, she loved no one so well; but she also
+loved the opportunity to assume an attitude of offended dignity which
+usually had succeeded in making the members of her family do as she
+wished.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover her sister's recent escapade had seriously shocked and annoyed
+her, not for her own sake, but for her sister's. She had wished Jack to
+make a charming impression among their neighbors and old friends. No
+one, as she believed, could be handsomer or more delightful than her
+sister, Lady Kent, and Frieda declined to lay aside the title. Yet here
+was Jack, after having probably disgraced herself by her latest
+performance, meeting one of the most prominent of the younger men in
+Wyoming, dressed in an old, discarded riding habit, dusty, her hair
+blown about her face, looking at least ten years younger than she
+actually was; in fact, as if she had never left the ranch, never been
+married or seen anything of the outside world.</p>
+
+<p>As a matter of fact, Frieda now and then felt slightly resentful of the
+suggestion, occasionally made by strangers, that she was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> older of
+the two sisters. But this Frieda thought must be because she was getting
+just the tiniest bit stouter than she would have preferred to be.
+However, she did not care seriously. This afternoon, as Jack tried to
+catch her sister's eye, she thought that Frieda looked prettier than
+usual, in her beautifully made blue cloth tailor suit and the little
+blue feather hat which made her eyes appear even bluer and the fairness
+of her skin more conspicuous.</p>
+
+<p>She also considered that Frieda was partly justified in her anger, but
+that she must not be allowed to display her temper or to lecture her
+older sister before a stranger.</p>
+
+<p>The next instant, leaning over, Jack whispered a few words to Olive
+MacDonnell, who with her husband, Captain MacDonnell, was occupying the
+seat in front of her own. Professor Henry Tilford Russell, Frieda's
+husband, was next to Jim Colter, who was driving the car.</p>
+
+<p>What Jack whispered was:</p>
+
+<p>"You'll stand by me, Olive, you and Bryan; as usual, I seem to have
+gotten into more troubled waters than I realized."</p>
+
+<p>And Olive had nodded with the sympathy and understanding which Jack had
+always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> been able to count upon from the days of their earliest
+acquaintance when Olive had taken refuge at the Rainbow lodge and
+Jacqueline Ralston had sheltered and protected her.</p>
+
+<p>The following moment Jack stretched out her arms toward Frieda's little
+girl, who was sitting in her mother's lap.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me hold the baby, please, Frieda dear, you must both be tired."</p>
+
+<p>Then as Peace climbed over into her aunt's lap, Jack pressed her cheek
+for an instant against the little girl's head.</p>
+
+<p>She and Peace had a deep affection and understanding of each other. But
+then the child was captivating to everybody. Inheriting Frieda's
+exquisite blonde coloring, Peace had a spirituality her mother never
+possessed. She was several years old, but so frail that she seemed
+younger in spite of her wise, old-fashioned conversation.</p>
+
+<p>"Tired?" she murmured.</p>
+
+<p>Jack shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"There is nothing the matter." It often troubled her and Frieda, the
+little girl's curious knowledge of what was going on in the minds of the
+people about her without an exchange of words.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Frieda now glanced at her sister and her own little girl and her
+expression altered. She loved seeing them together and had no feeling of
+jealousy. Indeed she used to hope that some of Jack's vigor, the
+extraordinary and beautiful vitality which made her different from other
+persons might be transferred to her own little girl.</p>
+
+<p>"We will leave you at the lodge, Jack, to dress for dinner, if you will
+come up to the big house later;" Frieda remarked with a change of tone.
+"Mr. Stevens has been kind enough to say he will remain all night and
+motor back to Laramie in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>Was it natural vanity on Jacqueline Ralston's part or an effort to
+reinstate herself in the good graces of her family that she bathed and
+dressed with unusual care, brushing every particle of dust from her
+long, heavy, gold brown hair which waved from her temples to the low
+coil which she wore at the back of her neck?</p>
+
+<p>Jack's evening dress was black chiffon without an ornament or jewel and
+was the first change she had made from her mourning. To any one less
+physically perfect than Jacqueline Kent, the severity of the dress might
+have been trying. But her skin was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> clear, her color, without being
+vivid, gave a sufficient flush to her cheeks, her lips were a deep red,
+her eyes gray and wide and with a singular sincerity. Moreover, Jack's
+outdoor tastes, into whatever indiscretions they might lead her, had
+kept her figure erect, beautifully modeled and well poised, and a
+beautiful figure is far more rare than a beautiful face.</p>
+
+<p>Walking up with Jimmie as her escort to the big house, Jack confessed to
+herself that she felt slightly bored. Unexpectedly she had grown a
+little tired, or if not tired, not in the mood to endure any more family
+criticism at the present time, and would much have preferred spending
+the evening alone with her son.</p>
+
+<p>She had confessed her offence to Jimmie, wishing him to hear from her
+what she had done. But Jimmie, not appreciating the social error she had
+committed, had appeared immensely proud, even jealous of her prowess,
+insisting that she should begin to give him lessons in the art of
+lassoing early the following morning.</p>
+
+<p>Personally Jack wondered just to what extent her family had been
+unnecessarily critical in their attitude. Would her neighbors<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> judge her
+action so harshly that it would interfere with their friendliness toward
+her? It was always hard for Jack to live in an atmosphere of
+unfriendliness.</p>
+
+<p>So far as her former acquaintance was concerned she had no vestige of
+doubt. Peter Stevens had been absurdly shocked and offended by her
+exhibition of what had seemed to him unwomanliness. But personally Jack
+did not care a great deal for his opinion, she had not liked him
+particularly, and it had occurred to her that it might be just as well
+if he were shocked occasionally. He looked prim and too much an old
+bachelor for so comparatively young a man.</p>
+
+<p>However, what really startled Peter Stevens was Jacqueline Kent's
+appearance, when he came into the drawing room a few moments before
+dinner and found her standing alone before a small fire.</p>
+
+<p>He controlled with difficulty an exclamation of surprise, having not
+thought her even handsome earlier in the afternoon. And he had
+disapproved of her action more keenly than he believed himself to have
+revealed. Now as Jack began talking to him he appreciated not only her
+beauty, but the fact that she had become a charming woman of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> world
+and probably had seen more of life than he had seen in spite of his
+success in his profession and his political ambitions.</p>
+
+<p>"You are a Republican, aren't you?" Jack asked, and then added: "I
+believe you have been elected a member of the State Legislature in
+Wyoming and the people are talking about you for one of our United
+States Congressmen. Politics seem to me a great career, perhaps the
+greatest of all careers, these days, so may I congratulate you?"</p>
+
+<p>Peter Stevens smiled, pleased of course, as any one might have been.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps it is a bit premature to talk of my running for Congress, Mrs.
+Kent, but if I do may I count on your support?"</p>
+
+<p>Laughing, Jack shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"No, at least I can make no promises. You see, I don't know whether I am
+a Republican or a Democrat, or what my politics may be until I have been
+in my own country sufficiently long to study conditions. Maybe my vote
+will go to a woman candidate, if there happens to be one in my
+district."</p>
+
+<p>"You don't intend by any chance to be my opponent?"</p>
+
+<p>Smiling over the impossible aspect of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> suggestion but in an
+unusually pleasant frame of mind, Peter Stevens pushed a large chair
+over toward the fire so that Jack might sit down. An instant later he
+drew his own chair up beside her.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, perhaps I may be your opponent some day, who knows?" Jack returned,
+accepting the challenge good-naturedly. "But first it might be as well
+for me to learn whether I am an American citizen. May an American woman
+who has married a foreigner after the death of her husband assume her
+former nationality if she so desires?"</p>
+
+<p>"You do desire it, wish to give up your title and all it means in
+England, and even in the United States for that matter? You will be much
+admired in any case, I am sure, Mrs. Kent, but after all, Lady Kent has
+a more romantic sound! You feel sure you will not regret your decision?
+I have not yet had an opportunity to look up the question you have just
+asked me and I don't want to answer you without being positive as to the
+exact law in the matter. My impression is, however, that the choice lies
+with you; that a woman may resume her former citizenship in the United
+States if she so wishes and returns to her own country to live."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At this instant Frieda and Professor Russell entered the drawing-room,
+and a little later, when the rest of the family had joined them, dinner
+was announced.</p>
+
+<p>Afterwards, although sitting beside each other at dinner, as the
+conversation was general Peter Stevens had no opportunity for any
+further personal conversation with Jacqueline Kent.</p>
+
+<p>He was by no means convinced that he liked her. He found most girls and
+women tiresome after a short acquaintance. However, the girl he had
+formerly known had at least developed into what appeared to be two
+conflicting personalities.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2>
+
+<h3>JEAN, OLIVE AND FRIEDA</h3>
+
+
+<p>One afternoon about ten days later Jean Bruce, who was Mrs. Ralph
+Merritt; Olive, who was Mrs. Bryan MacDonnell; and Frieda Ralston, the
+wife of the eminent scientist, Professor Henry Tilford Russell, were
+sitting with their sewing under one of the big trees not far from the
+big house, built after the discovery of the gold mine on the Rainbow
+ranch and christened the "Rainbow Castle."</p>
+
+<p>Jack, as was often the case when they were thus quietly engaged, was not
+with them, but was riding somewhere over the ranch with her son, Jimmie,
+and Jeannette, one of the four new Ranch girls, to some spot where Jim
+Colter was apt to be found, in order that he might ride back home with
+them.</p>
+
+<p>The other little girls were playing at no great distance away, except
+little Peace, who was sitting in a small chair watching them.</p>
+
+<p>"I do think Jack might have remained at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> home with us," Frieda remarked
+petulantly. "Here I have traveled all the way from Chicago, closed my
+home for a year, partly of course because the doctors thought it best
+for Peace to be in the west and outdoors as much as possible, and
+because Henry needed a change, but also because Jack was to be with us
+at the old ranch and I had not seen her since Frank's death. And yet
+nearly every afternoon off she goes riding like a whirlwind and
+deserting the rest of us as if she cared nothing for our society. Jack
+has changed a great deal I think, or else is more like she was as a girl
+than as a married woman, now her husband's influence is removed. I
+particularly wished her at home this afternoon because, as it is such a
+perfect afternoon, some of the neighbors are sure to call. After Jack's
+unfortunate performance the other afternoon I am convinced people are
+talking about her, so I would like her to make a pleasant personal
+impression upon some of the best people."</p>
+
+<p>Leaning back in a big wicker chair, Jean Merritt put down her embroidery
+for a moment.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Jack will make a pleasant impression upon some people and not upon
+others, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> she used to do as a girl and has probably done all her life.
+Of whatever else one may accuse Jack, no one can say that she has not a
+forceful personality, so that people either like or dislike her. I often
+think of the contrast between Jack and me, now we are women, although I
+presume it was just as conspicuous when we were girls. I create no such
+affection and no such antagonism as Jack does, but a kind of mild liking
+or mild admiration as the case may be." Jean laughed, adding:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know whether I am glad or sorry, whether I envy Jack or feel
+she should envy me. One thing I am sure of, I should never have turned
+my back upon the title and position Jack could have continued to hold in
+England for the simplicity of the old life here at the Rainbow ranch, at
+least not for any great length of time. I believe I was always a little
+envious of Jack's opportunities, the very things for which she cared so
+little. I would like to have been Lady Kent, to have entertained in Kent
+House, to have been a leader in English society. People talk of Ralph as
+a successful engineer, but I wonder if they realize this means we have
+never had a home, and I have simply dragged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> myself and the children
+after him wherever he has been employed. Then, Ralph never has made the
+money most persons believe he has; as a matter of fact, he is a much
+more successful engineer than he is a business man. Not that I am
+intending to complain," Jean said, hastily resuming her work, "but of
+course one cannot help thinking of how strange life is and how often it
+gives things to the people who don't wish for them and withholds from
+those who do. I have wanted to be a prominent society woman all my life
+and Jack has always had an aversion to such an existence, therefore the
+opportunity has been hers, not mine."</p>
+
+<p>"Jean, please do not speak in such a pessimistic fashion," Olive
+interrupted. "The truth is that you have the social gift and Jack,
+charming and brilliant as she is, has not. Of course I think this is
+because she does not care to possess it. Jack loved her husband more
+than the character of life she was obliged to live on his account,"
+Olive continued in the tone which always created a calmer atmosphere in
+any family discussion. "As for Jack's riding off and leaving us at home,
+you must try and understand, Frieda dear, that Jack is possessed of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>
+infinitely greater energy than the rest of us, and that all her days
+when she has been troubled she has not kept still and brooded as most
+girls and women do. At present, in spite of what she has been through,
+she remains cheerful and agreeable whenever she is with us, and when she
+is unhappy tries to wear herself out with physical exercise. I wonder if
+any one of us would be as courageous in her present circumstances? As
+for what Jack did the other afternoon, Frieda, of course you know I
+agree with you that it was indiscreet of her, but suppose we do not
+mention the fact any more."</p>
+
+<p>Frieda's red lips closed in a finer line than one might have expected of
+her dimpled countenance.</p>
+
+<p>"One is obliged to continue to mention one's attitude on such matters to
+Jack, else she forgets and does again exactly what she likes regardless
+of consequences," Frieda replied with primness. "But of course, Olive, I
+appreciate that you have never found any fault in Jack for as long as
+you have known each other. I wonder sometimes how your husband feels,
+except that he has pretty much the same point of view. But I have not
+been disagreeable to Jack over her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> latest escapade except because of
+its possible effect upon her. I am sure you understand this, Jean, if
+Olive does not. Jack is planning to live in this neighborhood for a
+number of years, until Jimmie should be taken home to England, therefore
+it is most important that she should have a good reputation among our
+neighbors and friends. I am sure I love Jack better than either of you
+can, as she is my own sister. Even she realizes that it is for her sake
+that I have been so annoyed."</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly, Frieda," Jean Merritt returned soothingly, having always had
+more influence upon the youngest of the original four Ranch girls than
+the others even in their girlhood, "Olive does understand your attitude
+and has said she agreed with you. But I also agree with Olive that we
+must not scold Jack any more for this particular offence. I have never
+seen Jim Colter so displeased with Jack before. After all, it was
+nothing more than an indiscretion, which my wretch of a husband refuses
+to take seriously and declares was rather sporting of Jack. He insists
+Jack is one of the few persons in the world who dares to do what she
+wishes when there is no harm in it and therefore other people must come
+round to her way of thinking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> in the end. Now, if there is gossip,
+Frieda, don't you think it might be wiser to have Jack's family take the
+position that she has done nothing so extraordinary? Goodness, is that
+one of our formidable neighbors approaching? Shall we go indoors to
+enjoy her visit? I agree with you, Frieda, I wish Jack <i>had</i> stayed at
+home this afternoon. If she could have made a friend of Mrs. Senator
+Marshall half the battle in this neighborhood would have been won. At
+least we shall be able to find if what we have been fearing has come
+true. If I remember the lady at all well, if she has been told of Jack's
+indiscretion, we are sure to learn of it."</p>
+
+<p>Before Jean had finished speaking she had arisen, laid her work aside
+and was moving graciously forward to greet a woman who was driving up
+the avenue toward the house.</p>
+
+<p>She was driving a new electric machine beautifully upholstered in a
+bright blue. Mrs. Marshall was herself dressed in a costume of almost
+the same color, and was rather stout with a mass of sandy colored hair
+turning gray, and a florid complexion. She was the second wife of a
+United States senator.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I should of course prefer to remain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> out of doors. You do look too
+comfortable and delightful," she began in a manner which was perhaps a
+little too cordial to be perfectly sincere. Then when she had shaken
+hands with Frieda and Olive, she murmured: "So Lady Kent is not at home.
+I am so sorry. You will understand if I say my visit is made especially
+to her, as I hear she intends remaining among us for the present. But
+there, I had forgotten. I was not to say Lady Kent, so my stepson
+informed me. Strange for an American woman voluntarily to resign a
+title! I am so little of the time in Wyoming and so much of the time in
+Washington perhaps I fail to understand Mrs. Kent's more western point
+of view. But as we are to be in Wyoming for some time now, in fact until
+my husband is renominated and I presume re-elected to the Senate, he was
+anxious I should meet Mrs. Kent, whom I believe he knew as a girl."</p>
+
+<p>"You are very kind," Frieda murmured. "I am sure my sister will be
+disappointed at not seeing you and will look forward to the pleasure a
+little later. Indeed, I hope she may return before you leave."</p>
+
+<p>But whatever Frieda's tone and manner, she was not so convinced that her
+sister Jack<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> would enjoy the acquaintance of their present visitor. Mrs.
+Marshall was as unlike Jack as one could well imagine two persons being.
+She had the reputation for being both a gossip and a snob and yet a
+woman of whom for these very reasons a number of persons were afraid.
+Personally Frieda felt a little afraid herself and preferred that she
+should be their friend rather than enemy.</p>
+
+<p>"Your sister seems to spend a great deal of her time on horseback since
+her arrival in the neighborhood," Mrs. Marshall remarked in a casual
+fashion. Nevertheless both Frieda and Olive experienced slight
+sensations of discomfort, wishing that Jean Merritt, who was better able
+to answer their guest, had not disappeared at this moment to ask one of
+the maids to serve tea.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, my sister has been devoted to horseback riding all her life,"
+Frieda answered a little too warmly. "She rode always as a girl and
+never gave up riding after marrying and living in England."</p>
+
+<p>"Yet she must have ridden in a very different fashion. One can scarcely
+imagine an English lady riding with a lot of cowboys and ranchmen and
+engaging in a lassoing contest with no other women present. My husband<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>
+and I were much amused when we heard the story. Mrs. Kent is known to be
+such a western enthusiast there is a report that she may be intending to
+enter a wild west show. However, I believe the commonest report of the
+story is that Mrs. Kent is thinking of joining the movies. Well, it is
+the most popular thing one can do these days!" And the older woman
+laughed as if she only half believed her own suggestions. Nevertheless,
+she could hardly have failed to realize that neither of her companions
+were enjoying her remarks.</p>
+
+<p>Frieda had flushed until her big blue eyes were half full of tears which
+she was doing her best to restrain. Her voice shook during her reply,
+yet she also endeavored to summon a smile.</p>
+
+<p>"One is so glad to find something or some one to talk about in a small
+community, isn't one?" she returned. "I should have supposed you would
+have lost interest in gossip yourself, Mrs. Marshall, living so much of
+your time in a city like Washington," Frieda added. "Of course you must
+know personally that my sister is not interested in any of the
+picturesque suggestions you seem to have had brought to your attention.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>
+As a matter of fact, she has not yet entirely given up wearing mourning.
+She has a rather large fortune and later must find some way of
+interesting herself, although at present she appears content merely with
+her own family. Yet I am sure after a time people must realize what her
+coming into a community like this one may mean."</p>
+
+<p>Then realizing that she was not making the situation any better, and
+that their visitor was annoyed by the suggestion she had intended to
+convey, that her sister, Mrs. Kent, might become a more important person
+in the neighborhood than Mrs. Marshall herself, Frieda grew suddenly
+silent. After all, why was Jack not at home to explain her own
+eccentricity?</p>
+
+<p>Now as Olive entered the conversation Frieda experienced a sensation of
+relief. Olive's manner was so gentle and quiet one was seldom
+antagonized by it.</p>
+
+<p>"We are <i>so</i> glad of what you have just told us, Mrs. Marshall," she
+began. "I confess we have been interested to know whether Mrs. Kent's
+action the other afternoon was of sufficient importance to interest her
+neighbors and what story had been told concerning it. Mrs. Marshall, I
+am sure, will be glad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> to hear what actually took place and tell other
+people the exact truth. You are quite right; Mrs. Kent did ride over
+with several of our ranchmen to watch a lassoing contest among the
+cowboys. She used to take a deep interest in all western sports as a
+girl and never has lost her interest apparently. Then I confess, to our
+regret, Mrs. Kent did try to discover if she had forgotten her old-time
+skill with a lasso. We were frightened, as she might so easily have been
+injured. But nothing of the kind occurred and there is no more to the
+story. Mrs. Kent will be sorry to disappoint her neighbors if they have
+imagined a more interesting set of circumstances."</p>
+
+<p>Returning at this instant, followed by a maid with tea, the conversation
+altered. A short time after, without any further reference to Jacqueline
+Kent except to repeat that she was sorry to have missed her, the visitor
+withdrew.</p>
+
+<p>However, the three former Ranch girls did not immediately go indoors. It
+was still not five o'clock in the afternoon of a beautiful late
+September day. Beyond the broad fields of wheat and oats were golden and
+ripe for harvesting. Nearby the new little Ranch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> girls were still at
+play, spinning around in a gay circle at the game of "drop the
+hand-kerchief," little Peace in her chair looking on.</p>
+
+<p>"It is just as I feared, Jack is going to be the talk of the
+neighborhood before any one has even seen her or been introduced to her.
+I presume the cowboys discuss her skill around their camp fires at night
+as well as our richer neighbors; Mrs. Marshall probably spared us as
+much of the gossip as possible," Frieda declared irritably.</p>
+
+<p>But at this instant glancing up, she saw the figure of a woman on
+horseback outlined against the blue horizon and at the same instant Jack
+waved to her and came cantering in their direction.</p>
+
+<p>No one, except an extremely stupid or self-absorbed person, ever beheld
+Jacqueline Kent on horseback without a distinct sensation of pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>Frieda, in spite of the many times she had seen her in such a position,
+was not proof against the fascination. "How wonderfully Jack rides! No
+wonder she loves it," she exclaimed. "I am glad she is at home at last!"</p>
+
+<p>A few moments after, having cleared the gate of the farther field
+without descending to open it, Jack rode swiftly up the avenue.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The eyes of Frieda, Olive and Jean remained fastened upon her.</p>
+
+<p>Having added to the disapproval of her family by being seen in an old
+and discarded riding habit upon the afternoon of her unfortunate
+adventure, Jack had since appeared only in an extremely new and smart
+riding costume made for her by her London tailor shortly before sailing
+for the United States. It was of black cloth with a close fitting coat
+and riding trousers. This afternoon she also wore black riding boots of
+soft leather and a little derby hat. Her hair in the yellow afternoon
+light was much the same color as the ripened wheat.</p>
+
+<p>So intent was the small audience upon watching Jack's return and so
+intent were the new little Ranch girls upon their game, that no one saw
+a small figure rise suddenly from her chair, clap her hands together and
+then dart across the little space of grass toward the rapidly galloping
+horse. A moment later, and she was directly in the horse's path, not
+three feet away.</p>
+
+<p>There the baby stood stock still, her little white frock fluttering in
+the wind, her yellow curls flying, her face upturned, frightened now and
+quite still. The horse seemed to rear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> so high above her head that she
+caught no vision of the loved figure she had run forward to greet.</p>
+
+<p>Her mother saw her, and Olive and Jean, and they were not many yards
+away, and also the other children, who suddenly had quit their play and
+remained standing in a long line, still holding one another's hands,
+breathless, intent, terrified, unable in the surprise and terror of the
+moment to offer aid.</p>
+
+<p>"Baby!" Frieda called and darted forward, yet knowing instinctively she
+could not be in time. Olive and Jean would have run after her except for
+a swift call from Jack.</p>
+
+<p>They saw Jack hold her bridle easily in one hand, and then lean over
+from her saddle until her arm could sweep the ground, when with a single
+swift motion she lifted little Peace into the saddle, as she drew her
+horse to a standstill.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't frighten Peace, please, Frieda," she said, as she gave the little
+girl safe and smiling and pleased with her adventure into Frieda's
+outstretched arms.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a name="illus2" id="illus2"></a>
+<img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt=""/>
+</div>
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">With a Single Swift Motion She Lifted Little Peace Into
+the Saddle</span></h3>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p>"And to think, Jack dear," Frieda murmured, still tearful half an hour
+afterwards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> although Peace was safe in bed, "that I sometimes have
+criticized you for keeping on with your riding when you might be doing
+such stupid indoor things as Jean and Olive and I enjoy. Had you been
+one of us, why, Peace might have been killed or worse this afternoon. I
+never saw any one do anything so quickly or so skilfully, Jack, as you
+lifted little Peace out of danger. Why, I&mdash;I had forgotten that you used
+to be able long ago to lean from your horse and pick up anything you
+wished from the ground. One would not have supposed that such an
+accomplishment could be so valuable as actually to save my baby's life.
+Say you forgive me for being so hateful about that other thing for the
+past ten days."</p>
+
+<p>Jack's arm was about her sister as they walked up and down before the
+house waiting for Professor Russell's return from the small hut situated
+about a mile away where he spent the greater part of each day engaged in
+scientific investigations.</p>
+
+<p>"But, Frieda dear, I was to blame and I am sorry," Jack replied. "Jim
+has not forgiven me yet. I was to blame this afternoon too, for I should
+not have ridden up to the house so swiftly when I knew the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> children
+were playing near. But I grew suddenly lonely for you and Olive and Jean
+and left Jimmie and Jeannette with Jim and rode quickly home to find
+you. Here comes your husband, I'll leave you and go home to the lodge.
+No, I don't want any one to come with me and I won't see you again this
+evening. Good-night."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+
+<h3>JEAN AND RALPH MERRITT</h3>
+
+
+<p>The marriage between Jean Bruce, the cousin of Frieda and Jacqueline
+Ralston and one of the four original Ranch girls, and Ralph Merritt, the
+young engineer of the Rainbow mine, had only taken place after a long
+and frequently interrupted friendship, since between them there were
+many differences of opinion, of taste and of ideals.</p>
+
+<p>Frankly as a young girl Jean always had cared greatly for wealth, for
+social position and for fashionable people, a viewpoint which had not
+altered with the years, as Jean freely announced.</p>
+
+<p>True that her husband had made a reputation for himself as an expert
+mining engineer and at different times in a small way had shared in the
+profits of the enterprises which his skill and ability had made valuable
+to the owners. Yet never at any time had Ralph Merritt acquired a large
+fortune for himself and his family. Notwithstanding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> his many fine
+traits of character he suffered from one weakness. In his effort to
+gratify and please his wife now and then he had speculated with Jean's
+private fortune and with his own, and although never confessing the
+fact, his speculations more often than not had been unsuccessful.</p>
+
+<p>In returning to the old Rainbow ranch to spend a few months, Jean and
+Ralph had been glad to say that the opportunity to be reunited for a
+short time with their old friends and former associations was not to be
+resisted. However, there was another motive, if they preferred not to
+speak of it. At the time of Jacqueline Kent's homecoming from England to
+the ranch after the death of her husband, Jean and Ralph were passing
+through a period of financial stress so that the visit to the big house
+with their two little girls would be a relief as well as a pleasure.
+There was a chance ahead, in which Ralph Merritt thoroughly believed,
+sure to put him on his feet again. Like most other patriotic Americans,
+at the outbreak of the war in Europe he had volunteered for service
+overseas and been captain in a mining corps in France. Returning home,
+if he were rich in experience, he was poor in worldly goods.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> There was
+nothing unusual in this, but unfortunately Jean and Ralph were not
+willing to begin over again by living simply and economically until
+Ralph could make new business connections. And the fault was actually
+more Jean's than her husband's, although she was not aware of the fact.
+Nevertheless, among the four Ranch girls, Jean, who loved money more
+than any one of them, was the only one without it. Naturally the war and
+the high taxes it entailed had decreased the value of the English estate
+which Jacqueline Ralston Kent had inherited from her husband, yet the
+estate was still large enough for Jack and her son to be entirely
+comfortable apart from her own private fortune, due to her share of the
+output of the Rainbow mine, which had been wisely and conservatively
+invested. Moreover, Jack's own tastes were simple and she wished to
+bring up her son in a simple fashion.</p>
+
+<p>Captain MacDonnell possessed only a small estate of his own, but Olive
+had inherited wealth from the grandmother who had appeared so
+mysteriously in her life during the year spent by "The Ranch Girls at
+Boarding School." Moreover, Captain MacDonnell and Olive apparently
+cared only for each<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> other, for Captain MacDonnell's art, and the effort
+to forget his injury in the war in his new work and life. The truth was
+that a large part of her fortune Olive had devoted to the establishment
+and upkeep of an Indian school not far from the neighborhood of the
+Rainbow ranch. She and her husband preferred to live out of doors in a
+tent in the western country whenever the weather made it possible,
+partly because of Captain MacDonnell's health and also that he might
+constantly study the western types and scenes which he was painting to
+the exclusion of all other subjects.</p>
+
+<p>Frieda and her husband, Professor Henry Tilford Russell, were not rich;
+in fact, Professor Russell, having resigned his professorship at the
+University of Chicago, was at present making no income. Yet his parents
+were wealthy and adored Frieda and her little girl, and moreover,
+Professor Russell was at this time engaging in scientific experiments
+which might bring him fame and fortune or else achieve no result of
+importance. An expert chemist who had made several valuable discoveries
+during the war, Professor Russell believed that he had earned a year's
+holiday at the ranch and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> opportunity to indulge in one or two of
+his private hobbies. So Jim Colter had offered him one of his small
+unused ranch houses in a comparatively isolated spot where the Professor
+could conduct his experiments with danger only to himself.</p>
+
+<p>Frieda worried over this possibility, but in the main allowed her
+Professor husband to have his way, having found out that without his
+work he was restless and miserable. There was a new Frieda in her
+relation to her husband following their disagreement and reconciliation
+told in "The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure," and the birth of
+their little girl. Now Frieda seemed to care only for her husband and
+child, and had become an almost too punctilious married woman and
+housekeeper in that she wished everyone else to conform to her ideas.</p>
+
+<p>Money problems therefore did not at this time trouble Frieda, whose
+interest was concentrated in her little girl's health and in her
+husband's success, not for any possible wealth it might bring them, but
+that he might enjoy the honors Frieda felt so sure he deserved. In the
+meantime she had her own income and knew that at any moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> Henry's
+mother and father were more than anxious to supply any of their wishes
+or needs.</p>
+
+<p>So it was a little cruel that Jean, who cared so much for money, was the
+only one of the Ranch girls to endure not alone the pinch of a present
+poverty but a painful uncertainty with regard to the future. In fact,
+during the weeks of the reunion of the Rainbow Ranch Girls, Jean Merritt
+had been under a good deal more of a strain than the others dreamed,
+for, except for her few general remarks to Olive and Frieda, she had
+made no mention of her anxieties.</p>
+
+<p>Ralph Merritt had accompanied his wife and little girls to the ranch and
+remained with them a few days. Afterwards he had gone away, announcing
+that he had important business which must be looked into, but that he
+might come back at any time. There was nothing exceptional in this, as
+Ralph's interests had always required that he move about from place to
+place, seeing a number of men who oftentimes wished him to look at a
+mine before agreeing to undertake the engineering work in connection
+with it. At present among the interests that called Ralph away was the
+discovery of a gold mine concerning which his advice was desired.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Ralph Merritt was a decided favorite with Jim Colter, the former manager
+of the Rainbow ranch and one of its present owners. Among the husbands
+of the four Ranch girls he always had liked Ralph best. But even he had
+not suspected that Ralph was in any difficulty, since the younger man
+had said nothing which might cause one to suspect the fact.</p>
+
+<p>One day, about a week after the visit from Mrs. Marshall, a note arrived
+asking that the former Ranch girls drive over to her home and have tea
+with her and a few of their neighbors.</p>
+
+<p>At first Jack insisted upon declining the invitation, saying that she
+had not been out of mourning for any length of time and felt a hesitancy
+in meeting strangers. But Frieda protested, declaring her sister must
+accept or appear unfriendly. Mrs. Marshall had stated that her other
+guests would be neighbors, some of whom Jack had known as a girl, and
+the others she should learn to know as she contemplated living at the
+ranch. So Jack had yielded as she ordinarily did to Frieda in all small
+matters, in a way trusting Frieda's judgment rather than her own,
+besides not wishing to appear selfish.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> Without the subject being
+mentioned between them again, Jack understood that her sister wished her
+to counteract if possible a former unfortunate impression.</p>
+
+<p>But Jean Merritt's refusal of the invitation was more unexpected and
+more determined, as usually Jean welcomed every social opportunity.
+However, she had a much better excuse to offer than Jack. She announced
+that she had received a letter from her husband saying that he might be
+expected to reach the ranch some time during the afternoon chosen by
+Mrs. Marshall, for her tea party and so there was no question but that
+Jean must not be argued into leaving home if she preferred to remain
+rather than run the risk of not being able to greet her husband upon his
+arrival.</p>
+
+<p>Apparently in her usual state of mind, Jean helped the other girls to
+dress, talking to Frieda about a number of casual subjects and walking
+half way toward the lodge to meet Jack, who came up to the big house a
+little earlier than the hour for starting. Senator and Mrs. Marshall's
+summer home was only a few miles away in the direction of the city of
+Laramie.</p>
+
+<p>After the others had gone and Jean was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> alone in her own room, her
+nervousness began to reveal itself first in a number of small ways.
+Restlessly she walked up and down her large and beautiful bedroom, which
+had been especially designed for her as a girl when Rainbow Castle was
+built after the discovery of the gold mine and before the marriage of
+any one of the four Ranch girls. The room was upholstered in rose,
+Jean's favorite color, with cretonne hangings of rose and white and a
+low couch by the window filled with cushions of the same material. The
+rooms set apart for Frieda, Olive and Jack in the big house were kept as
+nearly as possible as they had been arranged in the old days and Frieda
+was at present occupying her own apartment. But Jack had never loved the
+new place as she had the Rainbow lodge of the days before their fortune,
+and moreover preferred her own private establishment. Olive and Captain
+MacDonnell chose to enjoy more freedom and seclusion in their tent than
+had they lived with the rest of the family.</p>
+
+<p>This afternoon Jean for a time made no pretense of sitting down. When
+the motor had disappeared down the avenue of cottonwood trees she
+continued to walk up and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> down, now and then glancing out her open
+window. Ralph had written that no one was to attempt making an effort to
+meet him, as he was uncertain upon what train he would arrive. He would
+either find some one to drive him over to the house or else telephone.</p>
+
+<p>Jean had not dressed since lunch, yet her costume chanced to be a pretty
+brown skirt and a cream voile blouse, open at the throat and rather
+unusually becoming.</p>
+
+<p>However, in the midst of her restless movement, stopping for an instant,
+she gazed at herself in the mirror with distinct disfavor.</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid I am losing the small claim I once had to good looks," she
+announced to herself with a frown of disapproval. "Certainly I am the
+least good looking of the four of us! I wonder if Jack is the beauty
+these days or Olive? Frieda is pretty, but she has not the air or the
+distinction of Jack, or Olive's rare coloring. Oh, well, I suppose I
+ought not to mind except for Ralph's sake! Yet if Ralph only brings home
+the good news I expect him to bring, I know I shall become a more
+attractive person! Sometimes I am afraid I have made things harder than
+I intended, yet Ralph knew my weakness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> before we married. He understood
+that I cared more for worldly things than I suppose one should. Oh, at
+the time we were engaged perhaps I did seem to care less for them and to
+think only of our life together, but one can't always live up to the
+best in one. Now I do intend to be more loving and considerate."</p>
+
+<p>Rapidly Jean began changing her simple costume for an afternoon dress, a
+rose-colored crêpe de chine, by no means new, but one which her husband
+especially liked. And as Jean dressed, in spite of the fact that pallor
+was usual with her, a warm, cream-colored pallor extraordinarily
+attractive with her dark-brown hair and eyes, this afternoon her cheeks
+flushed to a deep rose. At the same time her eyes turned from the mirror
+to the window, hoping she might see her husband driving toward the
+house. Her ears also were listening for the sound of a telephone which
+might announce the fact that Ralph was at the station waiting to be sent
+for. She had decided not to drive over to meet him herself, as she would
+prefer to hear the news he must bring when they were alone.</p>
+
+<p>It could not be possible that the news would be bad news! Jean put this
+idea<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> away from her at once. This could not be! Ralph had been so sure
+of the new gold mine in which he had lately invested almost everything
+they possessed. Perhaps he should not have made the investment before
+examining the mine himself, yet he had not been able to wait. The owners
+had insisted that he must take the same chance along with them or they
+would find some one else to make the investment. If the new mine was
+what they hoped and believed, large fortunes would accrue to them all;
+if not Ralph Merritt must share the fortunes of war.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon passed, yet Jean continued to await in vain the appearance
+of her husband or the sound of the telephone. Not once did it ring
+during the long hours. Four o'clock and then five and still no Ralph.
+"After all, it would have been wiser to have gone with the others to
+Mrs. Marshall's tea, as it would have been far more interesting, and she
+would have felt less nervous than waiting alone," Jean concluded.</p>
+
+<p>Then by and by, woman like, Jean began feeling aggrieved. If Ralph were
+unable to return home as he had anticipated why had he not telegraphed?
+Surely he must appreciate her anxiety!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Picking up a magazine, Jean dropped down upon the couch by the window,
+attempting to read. At first she found it impossible to concentrate her
+attention, but later became fairly interested.</p>
+
+<p>A quarter of an hour after, her door opening abruptly, Jean looked up
+with a quick exclamation.</p>
+
+<p>"Ralph!"</p>
+
+<p>"What's the trouble, Jean?" Ralph Merritt demanded with an irritation in
+his voice and manner most unusual with him, "I have been trying to
+telephone the house for the past two hours and finally gave up and have
+walked over from the station&mdash;three or four miles, isn't it? It felt
+like ten. Seems as if some one might have been interested enough to
+answer the telephone, especially as I wrote you I'd try to get the house
+in case I could not find any one to drive me."</p>
+
+<p>"But, Ralph, the telephone has not rung, I have been listening and
+expecting to hear it all afternoon. The connection must be broken. Yet
+what does it matter, now you are at home? What is the news?"</p>
+
+<p>"Matter is that I am dead tired," Ralph Merritt answered, flinging
+himself down upon the couch Jean had just vacated. His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> shoes were
+covered with dust, his face and hands were soiled, his clothes rumpled.
+In a flash Jean thought of the Ralph who had returned to the ranch in
+this same condition a number of years before and of their interview
+together on the porch of the Rainbow lodge. Ralph had promised her then
+never to speculate again, never to risk his hard earned money in a
+gamble, which is all that speculation is. Then Jean put the memory
+quickly away from her, as there could be no reason to recall it upon
+this occasion.</p>
+
+<p>She was standing looking down upon her husband.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me quickly, Ralph, things are all right; they must be," she
+argued, her voice hoarse, her eyes having a peculiar hard brightness
+unlike their usual velvety softness.</p>
+
+<p>"Think I would not already have told you, Jean, if they were?" Ralph
+Merritt answered. "Suppose I would have spoken first of being tired,
+although I am tired straight through, if things had worked out as we
+hoped? The new mine is not worth the money it has required to buy the
+machinery. It is my fault. I should have known better and taken more
+time to consider and investigate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> I was suffering from the same trouble
+that's taken hold of a good many young American fellows these days,
+trying to get rich in too great a hurry. I am sorry, chiefly for your
+sake, Jean dear, and the little girls, but more for you because the
+little girls won't mind seriously. I'll be able to make a living all
+right, but for a while I'm afraid not a big one, and these are hard
+times to make money go very far. I have an offer to go into New Mexico
+and look over another mine, and if it's any good I am to have the job of
+engineer."</p>
+
+<p>Ralph was now sitting up, his look of fatigue and discouragement a
+little less apparent as he continued to talk. He was a splendid looking
+young fellow, a typical American with a fine, clear-cut face, a strong
+nose and a sensitive mouth. The eyes he turned toward Jean were wistful
+at this moment.</p>
+
+<p>But Jean was white with disappointment and anger.</p>
+
+<p>"The old story with you, Ralph, always something in the future, nothing
+for the present. I trust you are not expecting the little girls and me
+to go with you on your wild goose chase into New Mexico. I suppose when
+I tell Jim Colter and Jack that we have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> not a cent to live upon, they
+will allow us to remain at the ranch for a time anyhow. If I were only
+as clever as Jack perhaps I might be able to support the family without
+your help. I have little faith left in you."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+
+<h3>THE TEA PARTY</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Jack, you will try to make yourself as agreeable as possible."
+Jacqueline Kent laughed: "Frieda dear, don't I always try? And is it
+fair of you to blame me when I am unsuccessful? But I know you want me
+to be as staid and well behaved this afternoon as if I were the Dowager
+Lady Kent, in order to conquer the reputation I seem already to have
+acquired in the neighorhood. Do they think me a kind of wild west show?
+Well, I will make my best effort."</p>
+
+<p>The motor in which Olive, Frieda and Jack were driving had by this time
+entered the grounds of the summer home of Senator and Mrs. Marshall. The
+house was a big frame building with a wide porch filled with attractive
+porch furniture and shaded by striped awnings of brown and yellow. The
+afternoon was a warm and lovely one and apparently the guests were
+preferring to remain out of doors, as several of them were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> wandering
+about in the yard before the house and a number were seated upon the
+veranda.</p>
+
+<p>As the motor from the Rainbow ranch stopped, Senator Marshall himself,
+accompanied by Peter Stevens, came forward to greet the newcomers. He
+spoke cordially of his pleasure in seeing them to Frieda and Olive, but
+his attention was attracted by Jacqueline Ralston Kent, whom he had
+known as a young girl.</p>
+
+<p>Senator Marshall was a middle-aged man of distinguished appearance, over
+six feet tall, with white hair, bright blue eyes and an aquiline nose.
+Ordinarily his expression was one of good-humored tolerance. Yet Senator
+Marshall had the reputation for being a dangerous enemy and a man of
+strong will whom no one dared oppose upon a matter of importance.
+Notwithstanding the fact that his wife was feared by her neighbors as a
+woman whose authority no one was allowed to dispute, it was said that,
+although her husband gave way to her in all small issues, in larger ones
+she was compelled to do as he wished.</p>
+
+<p>To-day Jack was wearing an afternoon dress of black tulle over black
+silk, and a large black hat, which made her skin appear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> exceptionally
+clear and fair and her hair a deeper gold brown.</p>
+
+<p>"It was kind of you to come to see us the other afternoon, Mrs.
+Marshall, and I am sorry to have missed you," Jack said a little shyly a
+few moments later, when Senator Marshall had taken her to speak to his
+wife, leaving Peter Stevens to follow with Frieda and Olive. It was a
+misfortune from which Jacqueline Ralston had suffered as a girl and
+which she never had entirely conquered, that she was apt to feel less at
+ease with women than with men, as if they understood her less well and
+criticized her more severely.</p>
+
+<p>Now as Mrs. Marshall returned her greeting, although perfectly polite
+and cordial, Jack had an instinctive impression that the older woman saw
+something in her which she did not like, or else had heard something
+previously which had prejudiced her.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad to meet you at last, Mrs. Kent. Considering the fact that you
+have been in the neighborhood so short a time I seem already to have
+<i>heard</i> a great deal of you."</p>
+
+<p>If there was no double meaning in the words which were simple in
+themselves, nevertheless Jack flushed slightly.</p>
+
+<p>"But I am not a stranger in this neighborhood,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> Mrs. Marshall. I knew
+your husband a long time ago when my father was alive and I was a little
+girl trying to help manage our ranch. I don't think I forgave you for
+many years, Senator Marshall, because you were one of the lawyers on the
+other side when we had a difficulty over the boundary line of our
+ranch."</p>
+
+<p>"No, you were quite right not to forgive me, but remember you won the
+case and I lost, so that should make it easier for you to forgive and
+forget. I am sure I shall never have the bad taste or the poor judgment
+to take sides against you a second time upon any subject."</p>
+
+<p>Smiling, Jack glanced around her. Seated upon the porch were half a
+dozen or more persons whose faces were dimly familiar, some of whom she
+had not seen in a number of years, others fairly intimate friends, and a
+few complete strangers.</p>
+
+<p>Leading her about the circle, Mrs. Marshall introduced her to the
+persons whom she had never met and Jack herself paused to shake hands
+and talk to the others.</p>
+
+<p>There was something in her manner which the older woman observed with a
+sensation of envy, never having seen anyone before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> apparently so
+sincere and straightforward as Jacqueline Kent.</p>
+
+<p>An hour later Jack found herself at one end of the long veranda
+surrounded by a group of half a dozen persons including her host.</p>
+
+<p>"It is growing late, I am afraid we shall soon have to say farewell,"
+Jack suggested, looking about to discover Frieda and Olive. She had done
+her best to make herself appear as agreeable as possible according to
+her sister's direction, but already she was a little tired and anxious
+to be back at the ranch, seldom really enjoying conventional society as
+she believed she should.</p>
+
+<p>"But you must not think of leaving us, Mrs. Kent, until you have seen my
+son," Senator Marshall insisted. "He was forced to go to Laramie this
+afternoon upon some business for me, but I promised to keep you until
+his return. I suppose you don't realize that the girls in the
+neighborhood are already beginning to be a little jealous of you, now
+that you have the reputation of being the best horsewoman in the state.
+I am glad you are not a young man instead of a young woman, or you might
+become Stevens' or my political rival some day. Do I hear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> correctly
+that you mean to resume your American nationality as soon as you can go
+through the necessary formalities?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Mr. Stevens has been helping me, telling me what I must do. Yet I
+think it is not gallant of you, Senator, to suggest a woman has no
+chance in politics in Wyoming, the first state in the Union to allow
+women the vote."</p>
+
+<p>Senator Marshall leaned back in his chair, eyeing Jack with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>"So you are thinking of playing Lady Nancy Astor in the United States?
+Who knows but the idea is a good one. If the British Parliament accepted
+an American woman married to a British peer, I don't see why an American
+woman married to an Englishman, resuming her former allegiance to her
+own country because she loves it best, would not make a first-class
+member of Congress, perhaps defeat you, Stevens."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not you, Senator, if Mrs. Kent is elected to office from Wyoming?
+For that matter, I do not see why she should not have the highest honor
+in the gift of the state."</p>
+
+<p>As the two men were joking with one another, Jack rose and at the same
+instant saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> a young man of about twenty-one coming hurriedly across the
+porch in their direction.</p>
+
+<p>She held out her hand at once, recognizing him as John Marshall, Senator
+Marshall's son, although never having met him at any time.</p>
+
+<p>"I am so glad you have not run away, Mrs. Kent, I want to ask you a
+great favor. I hear you can beat any ranchman in Wyoming swinging a
+lasso. Try it with me some day, won't you? It is great sport, but I've
+yet to see a girl outside the circus or a wild west show who is any good
+at it."</p>
+
+<p>Absurd under the circumstances, yet Jack blushed furiously and then
+laughed:</p>
+
+<p>"Am I never, never to cease to hear of my ridiculous exploit? You see,
+Mr. Marshall, I thought I was safe from observation that day, or perhaps
+it is more than probable I did not think what I was doing at all. And
+since that ten minutes of simply having a good time and trying to find
+out if I had forgotten what I learned as a girl, I have heard of little
+else. But you are mistaken in thinking I have any great skill with a
+lasso. I have forgotten the little skill I once possessed."</p>
+
+<p>"But you will let me see you attempt it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> again? It is the greatest sport
+in the world, beats tennis or baseball, or even polo. The girls in this
+part of the country are either afraid or else insist lassoing isn't
+ladylike or proper, some funny nonsense! A good many of them say it was
+shocking of you and that no well-bred girl would ever have been alone
+with a lot of cowboys watching their contest, let alone taking part. But
+I&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"See here, don't you think you have said enough, John?" Senator Marshall
+protested.</p>
+
+<p>But Jack only laughed and held out her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"I deserve nearly anything that may be said of me, but I thought I had
+come home to live in the west where one did not have to be conventional.
+Apologize for me, won't you? Yes, I'll ride with you with pleasure if
+you don't mind my bringing Jimmie and several little girls along to act
+as our escort. You see, I ordinarily ride with them every afternoon. I
+do wish we could try the lassoing, but I am afraid I don't dare."</p>
+
+<p>"Still, you will some day. I've an idea you would dare anything that you
+thought the right thing to do," John Marshall added so enthusiastically
+and making so little effort<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> to conceal his admiration for Jacqueline
+Kent, who was several years his senior, that the group of older people
+about them laughed.</p>
+
+<p>A few moments later, thrusting his father and Peter Stevens aside, he
+insisted upon seeing Jack to the motor and handed her in with amusing
+and most unnecessary gallantry, as she was more than able to look after
+herself.</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes later, leaning back in the car with her eyes closed, Jack
+demanded:</p>
+
+<p>"Were you pleased with me this afternoon, Frieda Ralston Russell?
+Goodness knows, I am tired enough with the struggle to be agreeable! I
+wonder why society wears me out and I can be outdoors and busy all day
+without fatigue."</p>
+
+<p>"You got on pretty well, Jack, only I was not with you all of the time
+and don't know everything you said. I do hope you said nothing
+indiscreet; but I am afraid Senator Marshall and his son liked you
+better than Mrs. Marshall did, and that is a pity."</p>
+
+<p>Jack yawned.</p>
+
+<p>"Olive, was there ever so much worldly wisdom possessed by any one
+person as by Mrs. Henry Tilford Russell? I am sorry if you think Mrs.
+Marshall did not like me,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> but she cannot be blamed for the fact and
+neither can I. As for the son, John Marshall, he is a nice boy, nicer
+than his father. I don't know why, but I never altogether trust Senator
+Marshall. However, I am talking nonsense; one talks so much nonsense at
+a tea party it is hard to stop immediately after. I hope Ralph is safely
+at home by this time. I was sorry Jean was not with us. It is so
+wonderful for the four Rainbow Ranch girls to be living together at the
+old ranch after all these years and all our experiences that I don't
+like our being parted except when it is unavoidable."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't talk as if we were patriarchs, Jack, and as if John Marshall were
+a small boy and you were old enough to be his mother," Frieda protested.
+"You are only a few years older than he is, after all! But it is nice to
+be together and I trust Ralph's arrival will cheer Jean up. She has
+tried not to show it, but Jean and I always have understood each other
+and I have seen lately that she is more worried over something than she
+wants anyone to know."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, please give my love to Ralph if he has returned and say I shall
+look forward to seeing him in the morning. No, I won't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> come to the
+house. Jimmie and I want to have dinner together and an evening alone,"
+Jack answered.</p>
+
+<p>About ten o'clock she was sitting out on the porch of the Rainbow lodge
+feasting her eyes on the golden glory of the October moon floating in a
+heaven of the deepest blue, when she heard some one walking toward the
+house.</p>
+
+<p>Jack was rarely afraid of the conventional things which most women fear,
+yet the steps seemed furtive and uncertain, so that she got up hastily.</p>
+
+<p>A moment later the figure of a young fellow appeared wearing the costume
+of a cowboy. The moonlight shone full upon his face, yet Jack did not at
+once recognize him.</p>
+
+<p>"'Pears as if ye didn't know me, yet I ain't surprised," he drawled. "I
+ain't seen you but the once when we rid over to the lassoing from the
+ranch house. My name's Billy Preston, come from the Kentucky mountains.
+The boys sent me up here to make you a little present. I was going to
+leave it on your front porch and sneak away again, expectin' to find you
+indoors or mebbe not at home."</p>
+
+<p>"Why a present for me? What is it?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> No one ever gives me a present any
+more, and who is it from?" Jack demanded as eagerly as a little girl.</p>
+
+<p>The young mountaineer thrust something toward her, rather a large bundle
+it appeared in the moonlight.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a new lasso, made of the finest horsehair in the market and sent
+you by the fellers who saw you ride that time. They say with a little
+more practice you'll learn what you set out to do. Anyhow, the fellers
+want me to say they are with you in anything you may be thinkin' about
+undertakin' out in these here parts. And say, you needn't be afraid, no
+matter what happens. We are all your friends; we like a woman who don't
+put on side and who kin ride straight and think straight and act
+straight. You know, I was brought up in the Kentucky mountains, and
+besides I fit two years in France. So I kin shoot, as we used to say
+down south, I kin shoot a fly off a telegraph pole, so if ever you
+should need any one to look after you, why, count on me."</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious, thank you and thank everybody!" Jack murmured. "I am
+delighted to own the new lasso, although I'm afraid I shall never learn
+to use it properly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> But if the Rainbow ranchmen wish me to know they
+are glad I am at home again, I don't know how to thank them enough.
+Please say I love every inch of this old ranch in the greatest country
+in the world. But I'm not thinking of any special undertaking except to
+live here and help a little with the care of the ranch as I once did as
+a girl. Just the same, I am deeply grateful for the honor you have paid
+me and the protection I feel sure every one of you would offer me if I
+should ever need it. I don't know what I should say to express my
+gratitude, but you'll see that the men understand."</p>
+
+<p>Billy Preston nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you worry, Miss&mdash;Mam," he added quickly. Yet he must be forgiven
+his mistake for Jack looked so like a young girl standing there on the
+old porch in her soft black dress in the yellow radiance of the moon.
+"I'll see they know you're pleased, but you ain't to disremember the
+rest of what I said. One ain't ever able to guess how things may turn
+out in this world or what troubles folks may git into."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+
+<h3>AN INTERVIEW</h3>
+
+
+<p>Immediately following breakfast the next morning Jack and Jimmie went
+out to the tennis court near the Rainbow lodge, which they had recently
+been trying to get into condition. There they began batting balls back
+and forth across the net. Not old enough to play a good game of tennis
+for the present, nevertheless Jimmie Kent was determined to make as good
+a beginning as possible and to learn whatever his mother might be able
+to teach him. He was very like Jack rather than his English relatives, a
+straightforward, determined little fellow, self-willed and frank, with a
+vigorous body and an ardent love of outdoor sports.</p>
+
+<p>"You've missed that ball and it was such an easy one!" he called out in
+an annoyed tone, and then saw his mother run across the court waving her
+racquet.</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me for the present, Jimmie, but here comes Frieda from the big
+house and it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> is so early for her to be out that I am afraid there is
+something the matter."</p>
+
+<p>Frieda Russell was walking a little more rapidly than usual and seemed
+to be slightly out of breath when her sister joined her and slipped an
+arm through hers.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing has happened, Frieda? Peace is all right, and Professor Russell
+and the others?"</p>
+
+<p>The younger woman nodded and yet her face remained grave and there was a
+suggestion of a frown between her large clear blue eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes and no, Jack. Oh, I know you hate any one to speak in so
+non-committal a fashion and yet one can not always be so direct and so
+certain about things as you are. Everybody is well at the big house,
+physically well I mean, and yet there is something I felt I wanted to
+discuss with you this morning before any one else sees you. I
+particularly want to talk to you alone, so suppose we sit down in the
+hammock on the front porch and you can see and tell me if any one draws
+near."</p>
+
+<p>A moment later, Frieda spread out her plaid blue gingham skirt with as
+much care as if it had been of silk and took off her big<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> blue shade
+hat, holding it in her lap. She had always been extremely careful of her
+costume and her physical appearance as a young girl and now devoted even
+more attention to them, with the result that she had an air of
+daintiness which was very pleasing and that her skin remained as fair
+and soft as a baby's.</p>
+
+<p>"You are rather a comfort, you know. Jack, when one is in a difficulty,
+not that I always rely upon your judgment, but I do like to talk things
+over with you and get your point of view," she began. "The truth is I am
+worried about Jean and Ralph. Ralph returned to the ranch late yesterday
+afternoon and saw Jean while we were away. I did not see either of them
+until later when they came in to dinner together and then I have never
+seen Ralph or Jean look as they did. Even Henry noticed it, and you know
+he notices very little that has to do with human beings. He actually
+inquired if they were feeling ill, which was most unfortunate, since
+they both said 'no,' and then tried to behave as if there was nothing
+the matter. They were neither of them successful. I know Jim saw there
+was some trouble, but Jim is so wonderful, he never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> has interfered in
+any way with us since we married. We must first give him our confidence,
+and even then he is very careful.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I do not understand whether the trouble is between Jean and
+Ralph or whether it is due to some outside cause. But I must say, Jack
+dear, that though she has confided nothing to me, I did think Jean's
+manner toward her husband a strange one. And yet perhaps I am a little
+suspicious or just over anxious because&mdash;well, because," Frieda
+hesitated a fraction of a second and then went on, "because Henry and I
+had that misunderstanding after we were married which made us both so
+dreadfully unhappy and except for an accident might have wrecked our
+lives. It's a funny thing, isn't it, Jack, when one marries one thinks
+one's problems are over. I suppose that is because one is very young,
+and then naturally one finds out that if the old problems are over,
+there is an entirely new set. Even you and Frank used to have little
+differences now and then! And yet here you are still little more than a
+girl, and a widow, with a wholly different life to live until you marry
+again. Don't shake your head. One never knows. You always insisted,
+Jack, that you would not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> marry when you were a girl, and yet you were
+married before any one of us.</p>
+
+<p>"But I am wandering from my subject. You see, about Jean and Ralph, I
+don't know what to do, or whether any one of us has the right to attempt
+to secure their confidence unless they first offer it to us. At
+breakfast this morning Ralph Merritt announced that he was leaving the
+ranch again to-day and might be gone for some time. He was going to some
+frightfully hot place in New Mexico to see about a lately discovered
+gold mine, but Jean and the children would not go with him. And Jean
+made no protest of any kind. She did not even try to persuade Ralph to
+stay on at the Rainbow ranch for a few days until he had a chance to
+rest and they could be together for a little while. I never saw Jean
+behave so queerly or look so strangely. She was white and cold and
+severe, although she does look so unhappy, almost as if she were ill.
+You know she has always cared for me more than for you or Olive, and yet
+when I put my arm around her this morning and asked if she felt badly,
+she almost pushed me away and said that I would soon grow too tired of
+her to care whether she were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> well or ill. Of course she will probably
+talk to me later on, yet it is funny. One might not think it, yet Jean
+is really more reserved than the rest of us.</p>
+
+<p>"But what I am worrying over is, that by the time Jean makes up her mind
+to confide in any member of her family, Ralph will have gone. And if he
+goes, somehow I have a strange presentiment that it may be a long while
+before we see him again. Do you suppose you could speak to him? Ralph
+said this morning that he was coming to the lodge to have a talk with
+you as he really has never seen you alone since your arrival in this
+country. You and Ralph are pretty good friends! I don't know why it is,
+Jack, but boys and men talk to you more freely than they do to most
+girls or women, so will you undertake to find out what is the difficulty
+between Jean and Ralph before Ralph goes away? Try to learn if the
+trouble is some outside thing in which we could be useful. I know Jim
+Colter wants to offer to help Ralph, if he needs help, he admires and
+likes him so much, but I don't think Jim dares, Ralph looks in such an
+uncomfortable mood."</p>
+
+<p>Without even an exclamation to interrupt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> her sister's story, Jacqueline
+Kent had listened intently, her gray eyes a little clouded, her
+sympathetic face responding to every suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>"Yet, Frieda, you feel I ought to question Ralph when Jim, who is his
+dear friend, is unwilling? I am afraid not, Frieda dear. You realize I
+have seen so little of Ralph and Jean since their marriage, as I have
+been living in England and they have been in the United States except
+while Ralph was in service in France. Secretly I confess I am a little
+afraid of Ralph, more than I am of either your husband or Olive's, Ralph
+is so quiet and apparently so self-sufficient. If he has made up his
+mind to a certain action I cannot believe that any one save Jean <i>could</i>
+influence him."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but Jean won't <i>try</i> to influence him this time, at least this is
+my impression," Frieda added hastily, "and Ralph feels sorry for you at
+present, Jack dear, and admires the way you are facing things. He said
+so last night at dinner, said quite plainly that he admired you more
+than any one of the former Ranch girls, which was not especially polite
+of him, although I did not mind, even if Henry was there and might feel
+he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> had made a mistake in marrying me instead of you, not that he could
+have married you, as you were engaged already. But I must get back home
+now, or else Ralph may arrive and perhaps believe I have been gossiping
+about him."</p>
+
+<p>Hastily Frieda jumped up.</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious, Jack, isn't that Ralph on his way here this instant? It
+is either Ralph or some one like him! Let me slip into the house and
+stay there until you persuade Ralph to go for a walk, then I'll run
+home. I hope Jean will be too much engaged to miss me, I did not mention
+to any one I was coming over to the lodge. Good-by, dear; anyhow, you
+can do your best to follow my advice."</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely a moment after Frieda had disappeared Jacqueline Kent went
+quickly forward to greet Ralph Merritt, who was walking slowly across
+one of the fields in the direction of the Rainbow lodge. At once Jack
+believed that even had Frieda not forewarned her, she must nevertheless
+have observed the trouble in Ralph's face.</p>
+
+<p>"I have come to say good-by and hello at the same time, Jack," he
+announced. "Sorry not to see more of you, but I'm off for New<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> Mexico
+this afternoon, I don't know for how long a time."</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps there are occasions in this life when frankness may not be
+desirable. But the spiritual frankness of Jacqueline Kent, which did not
+consist of saying unkind things to people under such a guise, but of
+going directly to the heart of what she felt and believed and of
+expecting the same thing of other human beings, nearly always served.</p>
+
+<p>She did not hesitate at this instant.</p>
+
+<p>"Ralph, I believe you are in some kind of difficulty. I think I have
+guessed partly by your expression and also because you would not leave
+the ranch so abruptly and with the suggestion that you may not return
+for many months without an important reason. I wonder if the trouble is
+a money one, Ralph, because if it is, you must let me help you. You know
+I have a fairly large estate and it is costing Jimmie and me almost
+nothing to live here at the lodge, and Jean,&mdash;Jean has been like my
+sister since the days when we spent our girlhood here as the 'Ranch
+Girls of the Rainbow Lodge.'"</p>
+
+<p>Ralph shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"You're a trump, Jack, but that is out of the question. Suppose we walk
+down to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> the Rainbow mine. I had not intended talking to any one, but
+perhaps it is best I should, and somehow, Jack, it is not so hard to
+confess one's mistakes to you as to most persons. I can't take your
+money because I have already lost most of Jean's and all of my own. Jean
+hates poverty and has lost faith in me besides. I don't altogether blame
+her, yet it has been hard for a good many of us to get started in the
+old fashion since the war ended, and these days the Government has so
+many regulations about mining gold that only where the output is large
+does the work pay. What I want to ask you, Jack, is to look after Jean
+and the little girls while I am away. I'll come back when I have made
+money, not before."</p>
+
+<p>The man and girl had come to the neighborhood of the old Rainbow mine
+and stood near the edge of one of the disused pits.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I understand, Ralph. Moreover, you have decided that it will not
+be worth while to attempt any more work in the Rainbow mine, at least
+not unless a new lode is discovered. Now I wonder, Ralph, if it has ever
+occurred to you how much Olive and Frieda and Jean and I owe to your
+former skill in working the Rainbow mine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> in the past, how much of our
+fortunes are actually due to you? Does that not make a difference? Are
+you not more willing to let me be of assistance to you until you are
+able to repay me? Won't you at least promise me to talk to Jim Colter
+and to ask his advice before you leave?"</p>
+
+<p>Ralph shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"No, and even if I were willing, and I am not, Jean would never consent.
+Many times she has told me how deeply she appreciated that fact that you
+and Frieda shared alike with her the output of the Rainbow mine when she
+was only your cousin and with no legal right to your inheritance. Having
+lost Jean's money, although she gave me her consent, even urged me to
+the investment, she has lost faith in me. What is more serious, I am
+even beginning to have less faith in myself. Yet I don't know why I am
+telling you all this, Jack, I had not intended to do more than say
+good-by. What hurts worse is that Jean does not care for me any more; I
+wonder now if she ever did care as I did. You know how important she has
+always counted wealth and position and I believed once I could give them
+to her, but lately I have failed and so Jean is disappointed. Funny
+thing marriage, Jack!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Funny thing life, Ralph, one is just a part of the whole! I think you
+are mistaken about Jean, but I have no right to express an opinion. Only
+if you do consider it wiser to fight it out alone, don't worry over Jean
+and the little girls. Jim would look after them even if I were not here.
+Queer that Jim, who came to us first as a cowboy and then the manager of
+the Rainbow ranch, should have been even kinder than an own father! Not
+that I think of Jim as so much older than I am! However, 111 stand by
+Jean through whatever comes, Ralph! And after a time, even if she is
+disappointed and hurt for the present, she is sure to change. I wish I
+dared to tell her the mistake she is making, only I don't dare. In any
+case, I'll do my best."</p>
+
+<p>Ralph Merritt held out his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Shake hands, Jack, and let us say good-by. But before I leave you I
+want to say to you something else, something which may surprise you. I
+believe you came back to this country for some good purpose, Jacqueline
+Kent, some purpose none of us recognizes at present and you least of
+all. But if the day should come when you feel that some work calls you,
+don't be afraid to undertake it. Life has a queer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> fashion of preparing
+people for what she wishes them to accomplish, without their knowing."</p>
+
+<p>Jack smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder what there can be ahead for me, Ralph? Yet some day I must
+find something, as I shall never marry again. Life on the old ranch is
+restful and charming, yet I suppose it won't continue to be enough. So
+let us wish each other good luck here in the shadow of the old mine
+where we discovered the 'Pot of Gold.' There must be other kinds of gold
+at the end of other rainbows."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+
+<h3>A YEAR LATER</h3>
+
+
+<p>"It is harder to endure, Jack, because so much my own fault, all my life
+I must feel in a measure responsible, and I cannot feel hopeful as you
+insist you do, perhaps for that very reason. However, we must not talk
+too much of this now, to-morrow will be time enough. You must keep all
+the strength and self-control you possess for to-night."</p>
+
+<p>It was more than a year later, and Jean Merritt and Jacqueline Ralston
+were in Jean's beautiful bedroom in the big house on the Rainbow ranch.
+Jean was sitting on a low couch with her hands clasped tightly together,
+while Jack was moving restlessly up and down the large, fragrant room.</p>
+
+<p>"But I can't make a speech to-night, Jean, not after the bewildering
+news we have just received, although I will not believe it to be final.
+Why did I ever think I could? Yet surely there is a sufficient reason
+now for me to be excused!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Sit down for a few moments please, Jack," Jean answered with such an
+evidence of self-control and of unselfishness that her companion
+suffered a swift emotion of shame and compunction.</p>
+
+<p>"Now there isn't any question but you must go on to-night with what you
+intended doing. Remember we all have decided that, for the time at
+least, it will be wiser to keep secret the information we have just
+received. Therefore you cannot make this your excuse for failing to
+speak as you planned. If you fail to speak this evening it will appear
+either that you are afraid to say what you think, or else that you have
+changed your opinion."</p>
+
+<p>Jack flushed.</p>
+
+<p>"But I <i>am</i> afraid. Am I not the last person in the world you would ever
+have dreamed attempting a public speech? And here I am involved in the
+effort to make one to-night, simply because I began talking first to our
+own ranchmen and then to the men on the neighboring ranches of some of
+the work I thought we ought to undertake in Wyoming. When I first began
+I did not know I was making a speech. To-night I shall probably know it
+without being able to make it. Still, I don't want to talk about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> myself
+in the face of your problem, Jean. Now let us go over the news you have
+received and see if we both understand. Ralph has been away over a year,
+hasn't he, working always at the mine in New Mexico and writing
+regularly? The mine so far has not proved a success, but Ralph insisted
+that he still had faith in it and never spoke of leaving, or changing
+his work. Now word arrives that two weeks ago he had a serious fall into
+a pit which had been left uncovered, but that he seemed not badly hurt,
+only a little bruised and shaken and that he had continued with his
+duties that same day as if nothing had occurred. Then next morning, as
+he failed to appear, one of his men going to look for him found his tent
+empty. He has not been seen since. Yet no one had heard him go away in
+the night and there was nothing to suggest that he had intended
+remaining away, as his clothes and private papers were left behind.
+Naturally the people at the mine believed we had heard some word of him,
+and I believe we soon shall hear. Ralph will write or come to the
+Rainbow ranch, I am convinced of it. What is it you really think, Jean?"</p>
+
+<p>Jean shook her head.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what to think. Some tragedy may have happened to Ralph, or
+he may simply have grown too weary and discouraged to remain where he
+was any longer."</p>
+
+<p>Getting up, Jean began walking up and down the big room with its
+rose-colored carpet as if her uncertainty and unhappiness must have a
+physical outlet.</p>
+
+<p>"I have never told you in so many words, Jack, although I must have said
+enough for you to guess that Ralph and I parted without the tenderness
+and faith I should have shown him even if I believed he had made
+mistakes, because the mistakes were made chiefly for my sake. I thought
+I had learned a good deal in this year of his absence, but perhaps it
+was not enough, so I must bear this new anxiety. Ralph would have been
+happier married to you, Jack, than to me; I have thought this a good
+many times. You care nothing for wealth and society; I have always cared
+too much until lately. Now after this year with all of you at the old
+ranch I was learning a new set of values; except for wanting Ralph I
+have been so happy here just as we used to be as children, even if we
+have a new group of younger Ranch girls. Now, unless I hear from Ralph<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>
+within the next twenty-four hours I mean to go to New Mexico to find
+him. I should have been with him through this year, enduring the
+hardships he has been forced to endure, instead of living in comfort and
+idleness here at the ranch."</p>
+
+<p>"But you have not lived in idleness, Jean, whatever else you may accuse
+yourself of. Managing this big place, keeping house for Jim and his
+little girls and for Frieda and her family is hardly being idle. Jim
+says he has not been so at ease since Ruth died. It's funny Jim told me
+he thought it wiser for Professor Russell to go in search of Ralph
+unless we receive word immediately than that he should go, although Jim
+and Ralph are devoted friends. Jim says that Henry is a scientist, but a
+more practical man of affairs than the rest of us give him credit for
+being. Yet somehow I don't believe Jim is willing to leave us alone at
+the ranch, not only his own little girls, but you and Frieda and Olive
+and me. He insists on driving me over to Laramie to-night, although I do
+not feel he likes my speaking in public. However, when I asked his
+advice he merely said: 'Go ahead, Jack, do what you wish to do; your
+life is your own. If I am an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> old fogy and should prefer you to stay
+quietly at the lodge, I never have expected it of you since you came
+back and resumed your American citizenship. As long as you don't go too
+far I'll stand behind you.'"</p>
+
+<p>Jack smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I don't know what Jim means by 'too far,' but I suppose he
+will tell me in time. Now I am going away, Jean dear, and leave you to
+try to rest. Remember, I believe firmly that we shall hear from Ralph
+within the next few days, or the next few hours, who knows? But Olive
+and Captain MacDonnell will stay with you to-night, as Frieda and
+Professor Russell wish to drive over to the Woman's Club with me. At
+least if I am to make a speech I am glad it is to be made there. Frieda
+is too funny. She is torn between being rather proud of my being a
+sufficiently prominent person in the neighborhood for people to be
+willing to listen to me, and thinking it unwomanly of me to attempt to
+speak. Besides, I think she shares my present conviction that I am going
+to break down and so disgrace myself and all of us. Yet it is such a
+simple thing I wish to talk about, and anyone ought to be able to say
+what one thinks."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As Jack rose, Jean placed her hands on her cousin's shoulders, her brown
+eyes gazing steadfastly into Jack's gray ones.</p>
+
+<p>"No, it is not going to be difficult for you to-night, Jack, not after
+you have once started with your speech. It will be difficult at first,
+of course, to face an audience of men and women for the first time in
+your life. You have said a good many times just what you will say
+to-night, but I know that you have never considered before that you
+<i>were</i> making a speech. But it will be a success, Jack, because to you
+it is always a simple thing for people to be straightforward and honest
+and public-spirited. Now go and lie down yourself for an hour or so. I
+am going to see what the little girls are doing."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I am going off for a ride alone, Jean. It is funny, but Billy
+Preston, one of our cowboys, told me I should not ride alone, not even
+over our own ranch. Already there seems to be a good deal of feeling
+against me because of what I have been advocating. As if I were of
+enough importance to be considered dangerous! But please don't speak of
+this to any one else; I must ride alone now and then, and I have
+promised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> Jim never to leave our ranch without an escort. It is curious
+that I can think better on horseback than at any other times. Other
+people manage the same thing by lying down, or walking through the
+country, or in crowded city streets. I believe some writers can only
+dictate when they are striding up and down their rooms. But I am off
+now, really this time, Jean. I'll have a light supper at the lodge, as
+we start about seven. In the morning I'll tell you the worst, or
+probably Frieda will tell you before I can see you."</p>
+
+<p>A moment after Jacqueline Kent was gone.</p>
+
+<p>After her departure Jean suffered a stronger sensation of
+discouragement. It was always true that Jacqueline Kent possessed a
+vitality so keen and a sweetness of character so inherently sincere,
+that one was apt to be stimulated and cheered by her companionship.</p>
+
+<p>Later in the same day driving toward town, Jack remained unusually
+quiet. She was riding in the front seat of a Ford car seated beside Jim
+Colter and listening with some amusement to her sister Frieda's
+conversation with her husband, which Frieda had not the slightest
+objection to having overheard.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel perfectly convinced that Jack is going to break down, Henry, or
+perhaps not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> even be able to begin her speech when she faces her
+audience. I do wish I had not come. Of course you and Jim won't mind so
+much because you are no real relation to Jack, so I shall feel much more
+embarrassed than anyone else. However, my one comfort will be that if
+Jack does make a complete failure to-night she will never attempt to
+speak in public again. I don't see why she should care so much what the
+other ranchmen in Wyoming do, so long as we are successful with our own
+ranch. But then one never has been able to count upon what Jack would
+think or do. We are not in the least alike."</p>
+
+<p>"But my dear Frieda," Professor Russell expostulated, speaking in a
+hushed voice intended only for Frieda's ears, "don't you think it unkind
+of you to suggest failure to your sister at this late hour? If you did
+not wish her to speak you should have remonstrated earlier."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I did talk to her; indeed I am sure I have discussed nothing else
+for the past week. Sometimes I have told Jack I would never forgive her,
+if she went on with what she had been doing, and then again I advised
+her to make a perfectly wonderful speech at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> the Woman's Club to-night,
+just to show the stupid people who object to her how clever and charming
+she is, and how right. Of course I think Jack is right about a few
+things now and then."</p>
+
+<p>In answer to Jack's gay laughter from the front seat and Jim Colter's
+chuckle, even to her husband's amused smile, Frieda continued
+undisturbed.</p>
+
+<p>"Frieda dear, you are a tonic and I won't dare fail if you feel as you
+do about me," Jack called back over her shoulder. "You are more
+refreshing than Jim, who tells me I am sure to succeed in convincing my
+audience to-night, when deep down inside of him he is sure I will not.
+Yet you won't desert me if the worst happens, Frieda?"</p>
+
+<p>Frieda shook her blonde head.</p>
+
+<p>"No, Jack, I shall never turn my back upon you really, no matter what
+you do, even if I disapprove of it most dreadfully, perhaps not even if
+you should run for some public office in the state of Wyoming as if you
+were a man. Of course the suggestion is absurd, but I did hear some one
+say you might become an influence in the state of Wyoming."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that was absurd, Frieda dear,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> Jack returned, resting her head
+lightly on Jim Colter's shoulder and closing her ears to Frieda's patter
+in order to try to think more clearly of the task ahead of her.</p>
+
+<p>The subject upon which Jacqueline Kent was to speak to-night was a
+simple one, so simple that she had not understood why there should be
+any opposition to her suggestion. In the beginning it had been only a
+suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>Jacqueline Kent desired the ranchmen of Wyoming to increase the number
+of their livestock and to have larger herds of cattle, and droves of
+sheep, with a view of making the state of Wyoming the most important
+ranch state in the country. The world was never before in so great need
+of food and clothing.</p>
+
+<p>Yet soon her little talks with the Rainbow ranchmen and the men from the
+adjoining ranches became known throughout the neighborhood. Then to her
+surprise Jack discovered that a large number of the prominent men in
+Wyoming opposed her suggestion. Among these men were Senator Marshall
+and her former acquaintance, Peter Stevens, who was employed as an
+attorney to limit the supply of livestock raised in Wyoming.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>To-night Jack had been asked to present her view of the question before
+a group of men and women in the Woman's Club in Laramie. The building
+was a large one. Later, when Jack stepped out upon the platform she
+faced an audience of several hundred persons.</p>
+
+<p>An instant the faces swam before her and her courage failed. Then she
+appreciated that her first sentences could not be heard beyond the first
+few rows of chairs.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2>
+
+<h3>A MAIDEN SPEECH</h3>
+
+
+<p>Nevertheless Jack looked very young, attractive and frightened. Her
+color had vanished, her wide gray eyes held an expression of appeal for
+patience and understanding.</p>
+
+<p>She was dressed in the costume she ordinarily preferred in the evening,
+a black tulle over black silk, cut with a square neck and with elbow
+sleeves, and, although of exquisite material, made in a simple fashion.
+Usually caring little for jewelry, to-night she was wearing a pearl and
+amethyst star which her husband had given her years before.</p>
+
+<p>As her glance now swept the audience she beheld the faces she especially
+wished <i>not</i> to see, Jim Colter's, her sister Frieda's, and her
+neighbors, Senator and Mrs. Marshall's. Not far away and staring fixedly
+at her was the somewhat grim countenance of her former acquaintance,
+Peter Stevens.</p>
+
+<p>Upon Jim Colter's fine, deeply lined face&mdash;his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> coal black hair was now
+turning slightly gray&mdash;was a look with which Jack had been familiar
+since her girlhood. The look said more plainly than words that Jim was
+always there to fight her battles and whether she succeeded or failed,
+she could count upon him. Frieda's face was set and white and miserable,
+her blue eyes open to their fullest extent, announcing as plainly as her
+lips could have stated:</p>
+
+<p>"Why, why did I ever permit Jack to make such a spectacle of herself?
+Have I not warned her that she could never make a public speech? Yet
+after all, the fault is partly mine, as I should never have allowed her
+to undertake such a task!"</p>
+
+<p>It was Frieda's honest conviction that, as she had a great deal more
+common sense than either her sister or husband, it was not only their
+duty but their privilege to yield to her judgment in practical matters.</p>
+
+<p>The expression with which Senator Marshall regarded her, Jack believed
+she recognized as one of amused tolerance, not unmixed with
+satisfaction. He had talked seriously to her of the mistake she was
+making in her present ideas. He also thoroughly disapproved of women
+attempting public speeches<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> under any conditions whatsoever, and of this
+Jack also had been kindly informed. Mrs. Marshall's attitude did not
+affect Jacqueline Kent in any fashion. Long before she had accepted the
+fact that Mrs. Marshall did not like her and resented any influence she
+might have gained in the neighborhood. Especially Mrs. Marshall had
+seemed to dislike her stepson John Marshall's boyish friendship and
+admiration for his neighbor. If John had come to hear her speak to-night
+he was not seated with his parents, for Jack's subconscious mind was
+registering these small and unimportant impressions even as her lips
+moved almost inaudibly in the address she was endeavoring to make.</p>
+
+<p>However, the one face which seemed to arouse Jack more completely than
+the others was that of her former acquaintance, Peter Stevens. In the
+past year Peter Stevens had become more than an acquaintance. If they
+were not friends he appeared to enjoy calling at the Rainbow lodge, for
+one could count upon seeing him there probably once a week. His
+expression at present was undoubtedly one of pleasure at her failure.
+Jack felt distinctly angry.</p>
+
+<p>"Louder," some one called from the back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> of the hall, and hearing the
+call, she paused and an instant remained silent. Speaking again, it was
+apparent that both her manner and voice had changed. The self-command
+which had in a measure deserted her was slowly being regained.</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry, I fear a good many members of my audience have not been
+able to hear what I have been saying," she answered, speaking in a
+fashion which seemed to take the men and women who were her listeners
+into her confidence, making the greater number of them her advocates
+rather than her critics. "I suppose it is scarcely worth while
+confessing that I have never made a public speech before and have no
+idea how much one should raise one's voice. Yet the subject I want to
+talk about to-night is such a simple and direct one that I really and
+truly don't see why it should be discussed in any public fashion. I am
+only here because some of you felt it might be wise for me to state my
+opinion. Nevertheless, I am sure I agree with any of you who feel my
+opinion may not be valuable.</p>
+
+<p>"Most of you know that I came back from England more than a year ago and
+because I loved my own country better than my adopted one, I have
+resumed my American citizenship.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> Yet when I speak of loving my country
+I think I mean first of all that I love my state, the state of Wyoming,
+where I was born and lived as a girl, and that the parts of Wyoming I
+love best are her great and beautiful ranches.</p>
+
+<p>"On my return, to my surprise I discovered that instead of the ranches
+in Wyoming having increased in the last few years and the quantity of
+livestock become greater, they now cover less acreage and the livestock
+is smaller in number. I was sorry; our state is so lovely, with its
+broad stretches of fertile prairies, our rivers and streams, and our
+hills set like a rim of jewels about them. So first I began talking to
+the men on our own ranch, the Rainbow ranch, asking them if it would not
+be possible to increase the number of our cattle and sheep. Since the
+close of the war we have heard of nothing but of how hungry the world
+is, at least the European world. So I did not dream there could be any
+objection if I talked to other ranchmen beside our own and asked them
+what their plans for the future were to be. We all know that many of the
+men who are now working on the ranches in the United States intend
+owning their own places as soon as possible. Many of them are soldiers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>
+who, having returned from the war in Europe, now wish to lead an outdoor
+life and enjoy the freedom and the independence which the ranch life
+offers. And wherever and whenever I have talked to the former soldiers
+who have come to dwell in Wyoming they have seemed to agree with me.</p>
+
+<p>"The views of the people who oppose the idea of increasing the number of
+our ranches and the supply of our livestock I confess I am too stupid to
+understand. They seem to feel that Wyoming's future lies in her cities,
+in her mineral deposits, and even in her recent large manufactories.</p>
+
+<p>"They believe we will receive less for our cattle and horses if we raise
+a greater number. Yet say this is true, and I do not accept its truth,
+how will the ranchmen be injured if the cost of the increase in his
+expenses is covered by the greater number of his stock? And this we have
+found to be the case in the past years' experiment with the livestock on
+the Rainbow ranch."</p>
+
+<p>Jack paused again, but this time not because she was either frightened
+or embarrassed. She had given up the effort to make a speech after
+having undertaken it, having discovered that she was not being
+successful. Since<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> then she had been talking to her audience in the same
+fashion that she would have spoken to any single individual who might
+have expressed an interest in her subject.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder," she remarked clearly and distinctly, "if there is any one
+present who is entirely unprejudiced and is willing to state the other
+side of this question, to explain why the state of Wyoming should cease
+to be a great ranch state. Perhaps Senator Marshall or Mr. Peter Stevens
+will speak upon the subject."</p>
+
+<p>As Jack ceased there was a momentary pause followed by a ripple of
+laughter. The word "unprejudiced" had amused her audience. Peter Stevens
+was known to be employed by the interests who wished to decrease the
+supply of cattle in the state, while Senator Marshall's political party
+advocated the same point of view.</p>
+
+<p>However, Senator Marshall so far accepted Jacqueline Kent's challenge as
+to arise in his place. Bowing, he said blandly:</p>
+
+<p>"I never argue a point with a woman."</p>
+
+<p>And first his retort was greeted with a murmur of indignation and then
+of renewed laughter.</p>
+
+<p>Gazing directly into his face, Jack protested:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But, Senator Marshall, do you not consider that the day has passed for
+failing to argue points with women? We are voters and if points cannot
+be argued, at least certain questions must be made plain. To-night we
+are in a Woman's Club built largely with the idea of offering women the
+opportunity to find out some of the problems they intend to understand."</p>
+
+<p>A few moments later, having received no reply from Peter Stevens, who
+seemed to have chosen to ignore her request, closing her speech more
+eloquently than she had begun it, in the midst of friendly applause,
+Jack bowed and withdrew from the platform.</p>
+
+<p>A little later amid a group of friends and acquaintances unconsciously
+she still held the center of the stage.</p>
+
+<p>"You were not so bad as I expected, Jack, although I was a little
+disappointed in you," Frieda found time to murmur, feeling in the midst
+of her pessimism a great sense of relief. Not only was the speech over,
+but in spite of it Jack was looking extremely pretty and no less
+feminine than she had previously.</p>
+
+<p>Jim Colter simply nodded his head to reveal his satisfaction, while her
+brother-in-law, Professor Henry Tilford Russell, shook hands, announcing
+frankly:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You did yourself credit, Jack, not to <i>attempt</i> to make a speech. It is
+better to talk simply upon a subject until you know more about it, and
+afterwards for the matter of that."</p>
+
+<p>But outside Jacqueline Kent's own family, many of her friends were
+enthusiastic.</p>
+
+<p>"I do not see why we should not ask you to run for an office in the gift
+of the state of Wyoming some day, Mrs. Kent," the President of the
+Woman's Club declared in a tone sufficiently loud to be heard by a large
+group of persons. "No one denies that an American woman, Lady Nancy
+Astor, is making an excellent member of the British Parliament. Why
+should we be so much more conservative than England? Moreover, Lady
+Astor is an American woman."</p>
+
+<p>In return Jack laughed, failing to attach any seriousness to the
+suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but unfortunately I have none of Lady Astor's gifts," she
+responded. "Nevertheless there may be some one in Wyoming who has, and
+perhaps it would be interesting if Wyoming, one of the first states to
+give the vote to women, should be represented by a woman in Washington.
+You would dislike the idea very much, wouldn't you, Senator Marshall?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Senator Marshall, who had come up to shake hands with Jack, nodded
+vehemently.</p>
+
+<p>"I should indeed dislike it; I still am sufficiently old-fashioned
+enough to believe that woman's place is the home."</p>
+
+<p>A voice behind his shoulder interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense, father, you are simply afraid of Mrs. Kent as your possible
+rival, for if ever she is elected to Congress the next step will be to
+defeat you for the United States Senate."</p>
+
+<p>The voice was John Marshall's, the senator's son and Jack's devoted
+friend.</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks, but don't make the Senator disapprove of me any more than he
+does at present. I must live in peace with my neighbors."</p>
+
+<p>A little to Jack's surprise Peter Stevens made no effort to shake hands
+with her or to speak to her, although she remained half an hour in the
+Woman's Club after her poor effort at speech-making was concluded. Peter
+Stevens was there also talking to other friends.</p>
+
+<p>She was standing alone out on the sidewalk waiting for Jim Colter to
+drive up with the car, Frieda and her husband having moved a few feet
+away to speak to some one, when Peter Stevens' voice said unexpectedly:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Good-night, Jack. I suppose it would make no difference to you to
+realize how intensely I disliked your speaking in public this evening."
+He and Jack within he past year had returned to their youthful custom of
+calling each other by their first names.</p>
+
+<p>However, Jack's answer surprised him.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't know; perhaps you are right. I might consider you an old
+fogey, Peter, to object to girls and women speaking what they believe to
+be true, but it is probably true that at least no one should speak in
+public who has no more talent than I possess. You were kind not to make
+me appear worse by displaying your learning and eloquence afterwards.
+No, I am not being sarcastic; every one says you are learned and
+eloquent. Yet in spite of your reputation, I have the courage to think
+you are mistaken about a number of matters. But here is Jim with the
+car, so good-night. Why, yes, of course I'll be glad to see you at the
+lodge; differences of opinion need not destroy friendship."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+
+<h3>THE PROPOSALS</h3>
+
+
+<p>One spring day an automobile containing four men and two women drove up
+and stopped before the Rainbow lodge.</p>
+
+<p>The half dozen guests must have been expected, because within a few
+moments after they were ushered into the big living-room of the lodge,
+which had altered but little in character in many years, Jacqueline
+Kent, who had been Jacqueline Ralston in the old days, came downstairs
+to greet her visitors.</p>
+
+<p>The call could not have been merely a social one, else Jack would
+scarcely have appeared so pale and preoccupied and so unlike her usual
+radiant and vital self.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly she had descended the stairs, and entering her own living-room
+had shaken hands with four of the six persons whom she knew and had then
+been introduced to the other two. Afterwards she sat down in a chair and
+listened quietly, rarely doing more than introduce a sentence now and
+then.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At the close of nearly an hour, when the visitors, declining to remain
+for dinner, had risen to say farewell, Jack also stood up, facing them.</p>
+
+<p>She stood with the mantel and the bookshelves forming her background.
+Upon the mantel were several of the possessions she had treasured in her
+childhood, Indian bowls of strange shape and antiquity, her father's
+pistol, the first nugget of gold she and Frank Kent, who was afterwards
+to be her husband, had discovered in the Rainbow mine. In the old
+bookshelves were the self-same books she and Olive and Jean and Frieda
+had read and studied in their girlhood, studied far too little until the
+coming of Ruth to act as their governess.</p>
+
+<p>Outside the big living-room windows Jack could see the long double row
+of tall cottonwood trees now grown through the years to mammoth
+proportions and away and beyond the purple fields of the blossoming
+alfalfa and the newly sprouting tender green spears of grain, all her
+own beloved and familiar background.</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure you realize I appreciate the honor you have done me," she
+said finally, speaking in hesitating fashion. "Yet I do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> not believe I
+dare give you my answer this afternoon. You have been kind enough to say
+that I may have two more days for considering your proposal, and within
+that time I shall of course let you hear. You are sure you cannot stay
+longer, not even for tea?"</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes later, on the porch of the lodge Jack stood alone, watching
+the automobile containing her six callers roll down the avenue between
+the cottonwood trees and pass out the gate which separated the lodge
+grounds from the rest of the Rainbow ranch.</p>
+
+<p>For a short time Jack continued her watch, glancing first in one
+direction and then in another as if expecting some one else to approach
+with an evident wish to see her.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon was in early May. The air blowing from the snow-capped
+hills closer to the western horizon brought with it the fragrances of
+damp wooded places, mingled with the wealth of prairie flowers over
+which it had more lately passed.</p>
+
+<p>Jacqueline Ralston Kent threw back her shoulders, lifted her head and
+inhaled a deep breath.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I wonder why Jim, Jean, Frieda and Olive do not come to find out what
+decision I have reached," she remarked aloud. "This must be some
+prearranged plan that I am to be left alone for a time. And yet it is
+unlike my younger sister, Frieda, not to continue to express her opinion
+and insist I agree with it whether or not it happens to be my own.
+Perhaps being left alone may be more effective than the usual family
+opposition toward bringing me around to their way of thinking. Yet the
+family is divided in their viewpoint, and so whatever I may do I must
+please some of them and displease others. If I am to be left alone I
+think I'll go for a ride. I wish Jimmie were here to go with me; I
+intend to talk my problem over with Jimmie&mdash;this and every problem we
+ever have to face. But of course with Jim looking after the branding of
+the new calves this afternoon what chance have I of Jimmie's being
+anywhere near?"</p>
+
+<p>Not long after, with her costume changed to her riding-habit, Jack went
+back to the stable of the lodge and finding no one there, saddled her
+own mare, a present from Jim Colter several years before, and rode off.</p>
+
+<p>Before leaving, she explained to the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> half-Indian woman who looked
+after her small household that she would not return until dinner time.
+If she were late Jimmie was to eat his dinner and not wait for her.</p>
+
+<p>It was true that Jacqueline Kent felt she was facing this afternoon one
+of the greatest decisions of her life, almost as important a decision as
+her marriage. Perhaps in some persons' eyes a more important decision,
+since it was more unusual than marriage in the lives of most women.</p>
+
+<p>It was so strange and so unexpected that at present Jack herself was
+scarcely able to accept the momentous fact. Yet here it was before her
+staring her in the face, awaiting her judgment and shutting out the dim
+spring loveliness of the sky and plains.</p>
+
+<p>"Should she or should she not? Would she or would she not?" The refrain
+had a stupid sound in Jack's ears. She caught herself wondering which
+was grammatical and then concluded that both expressions were right in
+her case, since both her future and her will were involved in her
+present conclusion.</p>
+
+<p>Who would have believed that upon her return to Wyoming, her simple
+desire to become an American citizen again and later<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> her interest in
+the prosperity and happiness of her state could involve her in such a
+situation? Within the last hour, was it really possible that she,
+Jacqueline Ralston Kent, one of the four original "Ranch Girls of the
+Rainbow Lodge," had been asked to accept the nomination for the United
+States Congress and become among the first women representatives in the
+country?</p>
+
+<p>Jack bit her lips, put her hand to her face to feel the sudden flush
+which had suffused it at the thought of her own unfitness for so great a
+responsibility.</p>
+
+<p>Then she gave her horse its head and started upon a swift canter; for a
+little while she must put away the question which so troubled her.
+Appreciating her own lack of knowledge and of training for the task
+ahead, why not decline at once and for all time ever to consider it? Yet
+on the other hand, had she the right to evade so wonderful an
+opportunity? She was young and could learn a good deal of what she
+should know in order to meet such a responsibility. Moreover, she did
+have the interest of her state at heart and some of her friends and
+acquaintances must have believed in her, else the nomination would never
+have been offered her.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> Besides, if she were honest, frank, and
+open-minded, would it not be a wonderful experience? Jack was only
+lately a girl, and in her heart of hearts felt it would actually be
+great fun to be among the early vanguard of the women who were to hold
+important political offices in the United States.</p>
+
+<p>"Yet of course, even if I conclude to accept the nomination, I won't
+unless Jim Colter finally gives his consent. I refuse to be regulated by
+Frieda. Besides, why worry? After all, there is not one chance in a
+hundred that I shall ever be elected!"</p>
+
+<p>Lightly Jack touched her horse with her riding whip; she had believed an
+ordinary gait would suffice to distract her thoughts for a little time,
+but evidently this was not sufficient. Her horse was moving quickly and
+evenly over the smooth road and still her thoughts had continued
+unchanged. He must break into a run&mdash;a run so swift and headlong, as if
+in a race for a goal, that all her thought should be centered upon his
+control. She needed to feel the strong rush of the wind in her ears, the
+splendid sensation of being a part of the movement which she so enjoyed.</p>
+
+<p>She had promised not to ride outside of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> Rainbow ranch alone, an
+absurd promise which several of the cowboys had suggested, and which Jim
+Colter had insisted upon. She had made enemies within the last year by
+the outspoken position she had taken upon a number of questions. At
+present there were rumors that if she accepted the nomination to
+Congress she would be forced to regret it. Yet these rumors appeared to
+Jack as nothing save stupid gossip and sensationalism and not to be
+regarded.</p>
+
+<p>However, boring as it might be upon occasions like this afternoon, when
+she would like to have gotten as far away from the Rainbow ranch as her
+horse could take her within a two hours' ride, nevertheless she intended
+keeping her promise.</p>
+
+<p>The outermost borders of the Rainbow ranch were enclosed by a high
+paling fence to prevent the escape of the cattle.</p>
+
+<p>When she had ridden a little more than an hour Jack arrived at one of
+the borders of the ranch, in the same vicinity where at one time there
+had been a serious dispute with a neighbor over the boundary line. This
+was near the end of the Rainbow creek, at one time considered chiefly
+valuable for the watering of the stock and afterwards found to contain
+valuable gold deposits.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Those had been strenuous and fighting days at the Rainbow ranch. First
+there was the effort to make a living for the family and then to achieve
+a certain amount of education for the four Ranch girls. Afterwards had
+come the adjustment of their legal rights to the ranch, in the days when
+the possibility that gold might be discovered made the possession too
+valuable to pass to four obscure young girls. How the manager of their
+ranch, a fellow named Jim Colter, who so far as the neighbors knew at
+that time had sprung from nowhere, had fought and won their battles for
+them!</p>
+
+<p>Well, those old days had passed and this afternoon Jack concluded that
+no such perilous times could ever return, whether or not she chose to be
+among the pioneers and enter the political arena.</p>
+
+<p>By this time she had ceased her rapid gait and had come to the bridle
+path which led along the far side of Rainbow creek. The path ascended
+among high rocks and crags, almost the only hilly portion of the entire
+ranch. At the top there was an especially fine view.</p>
+
+<p>At present Jack rode slowly, allowing her horse opportunity to rest now
+and then after his swift run.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a name="illus3" id="illus3"></a>
+<img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt=""/>
+</div>
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Jack Reined In Her Horse and Sat Still Silhouetted
+against the Sky</span></h3>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Jack herself felt in better spirits, more exhilarated. Not having fully
+reached a decision, nevertheless she had managed for a brief time to
+banish the question to her subconscious mind, hoping it was still
+wrestling with the problem and might later help her with its solution.</p>
+
+<p>She glanced among the rocks and crags, remembering how she and the other
+Ranch girls had played hide and seek among them as children. Long before
+when Wyoming was largely inhabited by Indian tribes the Indians had
+lived among these rocks sheltered from their enemies. Indian treasures
+had been discovered buried under the earth or fallen between crevices of
+stone.</p>
+
+<p>Reaching a level space of ground, Jack reined in her horse and sat
+still, silhouetted against the sky. Behind her the sun was setting in
+purple and gold clouds. Below she caught a glimpse of another figure on
+horseback approaching in her direction. Putting her hand to her lips
+Jack called "Hello." She was under the impression that the rider was
+either Jim Colter or one of the Rainbow ranch cowboys, and they were all
+her friends. As it was growing late it might be pleasant to have an
+escort home.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A lifting of a hat and a wave of a hand returning her greeting, Jack
+uttered a little exclamation of surprise.</p>
+
+<p>She waited until Peter Stevens had climbed up the bridle path and was
+beside her.</p>
+
+<p>"I have come to ask you, Jack, if there is any possibility of your
+accepting the offer which was made you to-day? Please understand that it
+is no secret. There has been talk of your nomination for Congress for a
+good many months, not weeks. I presume you realize that if you accept
+you will be my opponent? I also am to run for the same office, unless
+you would like me to withdraw. I am willing if you wish to have me do
+so. Yet I would give up a good many more important things in my life if
+I could persuade you to refuse this nomination. I know you think I am
+old-fashioned, narrow, dogmatic, yet with all my heart and all my
+intelligence I oppose the thought of our American women holding public
+office. And you of all women, Jack! Why, with all the experience of life
+you think you have had, you are little more than a girl. It must be
+impossible for you to realize the jealousies, the calumnies and feuds
+that will be aroused by your action. In this past year I have seen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> you
+fairly often; never so frequently as I desired, yet you must have
+learned to know whether you like or dislike me. Won't you be my wife,
+Jack, and go with me to Washington in that capacity and not as my
+political adversary? I would do a great deal to prevent your making such
+a mistake."</p>
+
+<p>More surprised than she cared to show, Jack shook her head, her face
+slowly flushing.</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure you are very kind, Peter, and I do appreciate the honor you
+have done me, because I do realize how great a sacrifice you are making.
+Yet perhaps you need not have been put to such a test, for although I
+cannot accept your offer, perhaps I shall not accept the other offer
+either. I know my own limitations for such a distinguished office as
+well as even you can know them. However, I make no promise. Will you
+ride back to the lodge to dinner with me?"</p>
+
+<p>Peter Stevens shook his head and an hour after Jack arrived at the
+Rainbow lodge alone.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+
+<h3>A DECISION</h3>
+
+
+<p>Jack, however, did not reach a decision that night, although many hours
+she lay awake continuing to revolve the subject in her mind.</p>
+
+<p>The next day the opposition she again encountered was even keener than
+any that had gone before.</p>
+
+<p>Not long after breakfast Frieda made the first family appearance,
+bringing her little girl with her.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing her sister approach, Jack, who had stepped out of doors for a
+moment for a breath of fresh air, feeling more fatigued than she
+scarcely ever recalled being at this hour of the morning, gave a quickly
+suppressed sigh and then held out her arms to Peace.</p>
+
+<p>Thoroughly she and Frieda had gone over this question of her possible
+nomination when the matter simply had been under discussion. Frieda had
+then aired her views as fully as it seemed possible that any expression<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>
+of opinion could be aired. Not for a single instant was Jack even to
+allow her mind to rest upon the idea. "A woman politician in the
+family!" Personally Frieda felt and announced that she could not endure
+the disgrace.</p>
+
+<p>From the first had she not warned her sister that public speech making
+would lead to something more disastrous?</p>
+
+<p>Now as Jack greeted her sister she was painfully aware that Frieda's
+face wore the familiar expression it was wont to wear when she had
+appointed herself both judge and jury in a case and allowed no counsel
+for the defendant.</p>
+
+<p>Pretending to ignore the expression, nevertheless, Jack felt a little
+ominous sinking of the heart. She was not prepared to allow Frieda to
+make this decision for her, and had so informed her, as gently and
+firmly as possible, in their previous talks together upon the self-same
+topic.</p>
+
+<p>And Jack did not wish to be drawn into any further argument this
+morning, and certainly not with her sister. All her life she had hated
+argument more than any one of the four Ranch girls, and in the old days
+used often to run away for a ride or a long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> walk, leaving the matter to
+be settled by the other three, who discussed the point to exhaustion.</p>
+
+<p>"Glad to see you, Frieda dear, it is nice to see you so early in the
+morning and with the baby, especially when I am tired, which does not
+happen often to me. Will you come indoors or shall we walk about among
+your old violet beds? They are blooming in special abundance. Perhaps it
+may amuse Peace to gather some and take them home to the big house. I
+always feel as if I were selfish having so much more enjoyment from your
+flower beds than the rest of the family. Remember, Frieda dear, when you
+planned to be a florist and to rescue the family by selling violets? It
+was sweet of you."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll stay outdoors and Peace can gather the violets if she wishes, but
+I did not come down to the lodge at this hour to discuss violets. I
+never do anything early in the morning, as you know, unless it seems to
+me excessively important. I know those people appeared here yesterday
+afternoon, Jacqueline Ralston Kent, to offer you the nomination for
+Congress; they want you to become a Congressman, or Congresswoman. Who
+ever heard of such a foolish title? Now I wish to know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> precisely what
+answer you gave them. I would have walked down to the lodge last night
+with Henry, except that both Henry and Jim Colter insisted I should
+leave you alone and give you time to think the matter over for yourself
+before I spoke to you again."</p>
+
+<p>"But you haven't anything <i>different</i> to say, have you, Frieda, so why
+let us talk of it at all?"</p>
+
+<p>"To that I will agree only upon <i>one</i> condition, Jacqueline Kent. You
+must promise me to refuse this nomination once and for all time and
+never so long as you live have anything to do with politics either in
+this country or in England."</p>
+
+<p>"That is rather a tall order, don't you think, Frieda?" Jack answered,
+purposely looking in another direction rather than toward her sister's
+face.</p>
+
+<p>Frieda always would appear to her a grown up and glorified baby, so
+long, when they were little girls together, had she looked upon Frieda
+almost more as a mother than as an older sister.</p>
+
+<p>"Yet unless you do promise, Jack, it can never be the same between us
+again. So please listen carefully before you reply.</p>
+
+<p>"I know at other times I have objected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> to small things that you wished
+to do and sometimes you went ahead and did them without regard to my
+feelings or my judgment and I never said anything much afterwards even
+if they did not turn out successfully. But this is a <i>big</i> thing and a
+<i>different</i> thing, and if you act against my wish I told Henry last
+night I should never really forgive you, even if for the sake of
+appearances we pretended that things were the same. I have been much
+embarrassed recently at your becoming a prominent person in the
+neighborhood; of course I wished you to be prominent socially and to
+become a leader, like Mrs. Senator Marshall. She would then be obliged
+to take second place, in spite of her husband's distinguished position.
+But the idea that you, my sister, could actually become interested in
+politics!" Frieda pronounced the word as if it were a deadly poison.
+"Why, it simply never dawned upon me, not for the longest time! When we
+went about to parties together after you had been in Wyoming a year I
+began to hear people say laughingly that Wyoming needed a young and
+charming woman to represent her in political life so that she should not
+fall behind the other states. So why were you not the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> person, as Lady
+Astor was in England? The cases were a little alike, you had married an
+Englishman and had the title of Lady Kent, but after your husband's
+death had preferred to return to your own country, renounce your title
+and resume your American citizenship. You had gone through all the
+necessary legal formalities to attain that end, you were clever and
+good-looking and your actions had proved you were a thoroughly patriotic
+American. The fact that you said you did not belong to any party was
+perhaps best of all, as women needed to be independent in politics. They
+were the new voters and should not be slaves to parties as so many
+American men were.</p>
+
+<p>"This is as nearly as I can remember what was said about you, Jack.
+There were other things, not so flattering, but I presume most persons
+would not like to mention them before me. However, I paid little
+attention at first, as I thought it was all just talk, because most
+people have so little to talk about really. Even when you began making
+speeches about the things you wish to have accomplished in the state of
+Wyoming (as if your opinion was of any value), why, I did not trouble
+specially! It all seemed so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> absurd! Indeed, when you spoke to me a few
+days ago of what might occur and declared that the nomination for the
+Congress of the United States might actually be given to you, though I
+said everything against it I could at the time, I did not really believe
+it. Then yesterday afternoon actually it happened! But perhaps you
+refused to consider the suggestion, Jack. Indeed, I feel sure after what
+I have said to you and knowing Jim Colter's attitude, even if he has
+said but little, you must have refused. If so, I am sorry to have tired
+you by talking so much; I am sure I hate talking at any length unless I
+feel it my duty."</p>
+
+<p>"And you do feel it your duty this time, don't you, Frieda?" Jack
+answered, slipping her arm through her younger sister's.</p>
+
+<p>"Still, having done your duty, don't you think that after all I may be
+allowed to use my own judgment in this decision? Suppose I happen to
+think that life just now is offering me a great and surprising
+opportunity! It is surprising for me to have been chosen for this
+distinction; I feel this as keenly as any one of my family or friends,
+knowing my deficiencies, can feel it! Now don't you think it's unfair to
+threaten me, Frieda, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> threaten in the one way which you know hurts
+most, the loss of any part of your affection, if I cannot make up my
+mind to do what you think best for me, not what I may think best for
+myself? I have never in all our lives, Frieda, suggested that any act of
+yours could possibly make me care for you less."</p>
+
+<p>Frieda's voice wavered a little.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know, Jack, but then I would never do anything so rash and so
+foolish as what you contemplate. To see your name in the newspapers, to
+know that people are everywhere discussing your private affairs, making
+up disagreeable stories about you if they wish, for you know you are
+unconventional, Jack, and sometimes do give people opportunities to
+misjudge you, well, I simply can't bear it. So come on, baby, let us go
+back home, I see we are in the way here. I apologize, Jack, for wasting
+your time and mine. I had some socks of Henry's I wished to darn, and I
+should have been much better employed, as I see you already have reached
+your decision. Well, Jack, I am sure something very unfortunate will
+come of any such decision; when you become a public character you will
+certainly never be the same person to me."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Frieda had slipped her hand inside her little girl's and was about to
+move away when Jack's arms went round her and her gray eyes, filled with
+tears, gazed into Frieda's implacable blue ones.</p>
+
+<p>"Frieda, in spite of all your sweetness, don't you realize that you are
+rather hard sometimes? I wonder if life will ever teach you to be
+different?"</p>
+
+<p>Frieda's eyes wavered an instant.</p>
+
+<p>"I see nothing to be gained by discussing my weaknesses of character. So
+long as I satisfy my husband and child I can manage without your good
+opinion, especially now I know that my interest and my wishes have not
+the slightest effect upon you." Frieda walked resolutely away.</p>
+
+<p>Several minutes after her departure Jack continued standing in the same
+spot. Frieda had opened her eyes. She had been thinking that she was
+still uncertain of her decision and now knew that unconsciously her mind
+was made up. She intended to accept the nomination which had been
+offered her and to do everything in her power honestly to win the
+election.</p>
+
+<p>Returning to Wyoming where she had lived as a child and young girl, she
+had confided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> to Jim Colter that she must look for some new and
+absorbing task to fill her life now that her married life was over. What
+this interest would be she had not then conceived. What it might be in
+the future was still uncertain. Yet the next step lay straight ahead.</p>
+
+<p>Never in all their lives had she and Frieda had so serious a difference
+of opinion, and Frieda's words and manner had hurt more than anything
+that had happened since her return to the security of her former home.
+She could only hope that Frieda would relent, that Professor Russell
+would use his influence in her favor. Nevertheless, although frequently
+led by Frieda in small matters, on this occasion she had not been in the
+slightest degree affected. This was a big decision which she faced, a
+decision in which Frieda had but scant right to interfere. Of course she
+must allow for prejudice, certain suggestions which her sister had put
+forward had made her wince more than she cared to show. But over and
+against the small things was there not the one big opportunity that she
+might serve both her country and other women if she did not fail too
+completely in the work which might or might not lie ahead?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then in a boyish fashion wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of
+her hand, Jack laughed. "Oh, Frieda will probably forgive me if I make a
+success, never if I am a failure! People forgive nearly everything to
+success."</p>
+
+<p>"Jimmie," she called a little later, running around the side of the
+lodge where her small son was engaged in playing with a magnificent St.
+Bernard dog which had been a recent gift from Jim Colter, "won't you go
+up into the woods behind the Rainbow creek with me and spend the day? We
+will take our lunch and I'll take my rifle. I don't believe there are
+many animals left in our woods these days, but there used to be years
+ago and at least we can play at being pioneers."</p>
+
+<p>But Jack and Jimmie were not to escape so easily.</p>
+
+<p>Opening the gate which led from the front yard half an hour later, they
+came face to face with Jean Merritt and Olive MacDonnell.</p>
+
+<p>"Trying to run away into your beloved outdoors in the usual fashion,
+Jack?" Olive said, smiling. "Well, you may go after a while, but Jean
+and I wish to talk to you first."</p>
+
+<p>"Please don't," Jack murmured, slipping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> a hand into the hand of the two
+other original Rainbow ranch girls. "Frieda has already reduced me to
+tears by overmuch conversation this morning. One could scarcely describe
+the conversation as argument, as I was allowed to say nothing. Oh, I
+know, Olive, that you and Jean will not be so obdurate as Frieda and
+will allow me a point of view on the subject, but just the same, spare
+me, because I have made up my mind, provided Jim Colter does not
+positively refuse his consent. I shall not go against Jim's command,
+although I may against his wish. Otherwise I mean to accept the
+nomination, poor, uneducated, inefficient, stupid female person that I
+am and ever must remain."</p>
+
+<p>"Jack, you have <i>one</i> member of your family who will stand by you
+whatever comes, as you have stood by me in the past year," Jean Merritt
+announced. "I have not said a great deal while the rest of the family
+has been doing so much talking and yet I believe I am glad of your
+decision. I know one is prejudiced against the idea, not so much of
+women in politics as of a young woman like you, Jack, who is so
+beautiful and charming and sincere and one who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> happens to be so near
+one's own affections. I suppose disagreeable things will be said of you,
+yet I know of few women so brave and so straightforward, or better able
+to bear calumny. And I don't see why people think that marriage always
+protects a woman from unhappiness; it has not protected me."</p>
+
+<p>Jean rarely spoke of her own sorrow and only in moments of the deepest
+emotion, so that Olive and Jack both flinched at the close of her little
+speech, and temporarily at least Jack's problem took second place.</p>
+
+<p>In more than a year, since Ralph Merritt's departure to act as mining
+engineer in a gold mine in New Mexico, no human being who had ever known
+him before had laid eyes upon him. In all the time since, no word had
+arrived of his mysterious disappearance from the mine, and no word had
+ever been received from him addressed either to Jean or to any one of
+his family or friends. Utterly and completely he had vanished. Months
+had been spent by Professor Russell in investigating his whereabouts,
+every clue had been followed, yet from the moment Ralph was known to
+have gone into his own tent to lie down until the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> present, no other
+news of him had been unearthed.</p>
+
+<p>"I still have faith that things will adjust themselves for you some day,
+Jean, I don't know exactly why. I appreciate I have no possible evidence
+to support the idea, but I have always believed and do still believe
+that Ralph will come back some day and be able to explain the mystery of
+his disappearance."</p>
+
+<p>Jack gave Jean's hand a tight squeeze.</p>
+
+<p>"Jean, it does help a lot to have you say you will stand by me. I may be
+brave to-day, but to-morrow I shall probably turn coward. Olive, what
+about you and Bryan?"</p>
+
+<p>Olive let go her friend's hand and did not answer for a moment. She was
+always quieter and more reserved in her manner than the other Rainbow
+ranch girls.</p>
+
+<p>"Bryan and I talked over your possible decision until after midnight,
+Jack. Bryan argued you would accept, I argued you would not. Bryan seems
+to have known you best. He says you are made of the right material for
+what you are to undertake. Yet he dreads it all for you as much as I do,
+the fatigue, the misunderstanding. It seems impossible to me, Jack, as
+you must appreciate, and yet you and I are wholly unlike.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> But I believe
+you are the most courageous woman I have ever known, just as you were
+the most courageous girl. One thing Bryan wanted me to say both for him
+and for me. He believes you will not care for the notoriety, not even
+for the fame, if it should come to you, but only for the opportunity.
+And he and I both want you to understand that we will do <i>everything</i> in
+our power to help you, whatever course you may pursue. You see, dear,
+Bryan insists I feel toward you like the old axiom, 'My country, right
+or wrong, but still my country.' However, I told him the old axiom was
+not only stupid but wrong. One's country must be right, and so must your
+choice be."</p>
+
+<p>"Hero worship, or rather heroine worship," Jean remonstrated. "Olive had
+that same absurd attitude toward you as a girl, didn't she, Jack? So
+small wonder you think you are a sufficiently important person to be
+nominated for the Congress of the United States! But don't let us keep
+you any longer from your beloved woods. Jimmie evidently does not know
+the poem about the small boy: 'Who was never bad, but always good, who
+never wriggled, but always stood.' So good-by and a happy day."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You'll tell Jim to come in to speak to me before he goes to bed," Jack
+called back over her shoulder, as she and Jimmie started off together.
+"I must send word in the morning what my decision is and so I must see
+Jim first."</p>
+
+<p>After a day in the woods Jack was undressing for bed, having decided
+that it was too late to expect Jim Colter, so she must try to get hold
+of him before he left home next morning, when she heard a familiar
+whistle.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be down in a minute, Jim," she called, thrusting her head out the
+open window. "Will you come in? The door is open."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I'll wait out here," came the answer back. "Don't dress, I shall
+only stay a moment. Some business detained me."</p>
+
+<p>A little later, with her hair in two gold braids and holding a violet
+dressing gown close about her, Jack faced the real test of the long day.</p>
+
+<p>"May I, or may I not, Jim?" she demanded.</p>
+
+<p>Jim Colter shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"You are a full grown woman, Jacqueline Kent, not a child, not even a
+very young girl. Not that I remember having reached decisions for you
+even in those days."</p>
+
+<p>"Which means I was always obstinate, Jim."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Always a bit obstinate, Jack."</p>
+
+<p>"But I am not obstinate to-night, Jim Colter, and I won't if you say
+no."</p>
+
+<p>Jim shook his iron-gray head.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall not say no, Jack; you must decide as you think best."</p>
+
+<p>"And if I go wrong you'll help me meet the consequences, even though you
+would rather I chose the other way?"</p>
+
+<p>"So help me, yes, Jack Kent."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Jim, unless you forbid me, I have decided. If I am elected,
+and in ninety-nine chances in a hundred I won't be, do you suppose I
+will have to spend the greater part of my time away from the old
+ranch?"</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+
+<h3>THE CAMPAIGN</h3>
+
+
+<p>A few weeks later, had Jacqueline Kent been altogether outspoken, there
+were many hours when she would have confessed her regret at not having
+obeyed her sister Frieda's command. One could hardly describe Frieda's
+attitude otherwise.</p>
+
+<p>Certainly Jack had not been able to imagine the degree of excitement and
+controversy aroused by the simple fact that a comparatively unknown
+young woman had been nominated for membership in the Congress of the
+United States. If it were in her power and the power of the men and
+women voters supporting her she intended to be elected. Nevertheless,
+Jack had not understood either the amount or the character of work that
+would be required of her personally to accomplish this result.</p>
+
+<p>In the past electioneering had appeared as a fairly amusing pastime.
+Living in England, she had often seen Englishwomen engaged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> in it. They
+had not at that time been electioneering for themselves, but for their
+husbands or brothers, fathers or friends. Their method had been to drive
+about from one village to another talking to the village people and
+asking their support, or else stopping to argue or plead with the
+passers-by along the country roads. At big political meetings, which men
+and women attended together, speeches were made and questions put to the
+speakers. In the past Jack had frequently accompanied her husband to
+these gatherings, where she had been greatly entertained. Then she had
+been a spectator with no personal rôle to fill. Now the situation was
+wholly changed.</p>
+
+<p>A curious fact, but in the United States, supposedly less conservative a
+country than England, the nomination of a woman for a high public office
+was creating a greater storm of protest and of indignation than had been
+aroused in England by the same act. True, Jack was not the first woman
+chosen for this same office in a western state. But the fact that the
+number should increase, many persons in Wyoming declared to be alarming.</p>
+
+<p>Now when Jack went to political gatherings, she found herself not only a
+center of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> attention and of controversy, but more often than not was
+compelled to make a speech. Never regarding herself as a good speaker,
+and always frightened, she never learned to enjoy the opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover, as Frieda had warned her and as she had not fully appreciated,
+there was hardly an issue of the daily papers in which some information
+or misinformation concerning her personal history did not appear.</p>
+
+<p>At first Jack refused to allow her photograph to be reproduced,
+insisting that people might wish to know what she thought and why she
+thought it, but certainly could have no interest in her appearance. Yet
+this was so absurd a position, as her friends and acquaintances agreed,
+that Jack was obliged to surrender. Afterwards she was forced to see
+photographs of herself, or at least what claimed to be photographs, in
+papers and magazines throughout the entire country, so that if ever she
+had possessed any personal vanity Jack considered that it would have
+been hopelessly lost. Now and then she used to carry the newspapers
+containing her pictures to members of her family, asking them if it were
+really true that she looked as the pictures indicated? Sometimes the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>
+family cruelly said the likeness was perfect and at others they were as
+annoyed as Jack herself.</p>
+
+<p>But she really did not enjoy the political meetings as she had expected,
+or the notoriety, or the personal enmity oftentimes directed toward her.</p>
+
+<p>Since the afternoon of her meeting with Peter Stevens by the Rainbow
+creek he had declined to do more than bow to her in public. The reason
+Jack did not fully comprehend. She had not intended to be frivolous or
+ungrateful concerning his proposal. She had not believed for a moment
+that he really cared for her. Peter was a confirmed old bachelor and
+always freely expressed himself as disapproving of her from the
+afternoon of their first re-meeting after many years. At the time she
+had been engaged in an escapade which had annoyed Peter Stevens almost
+as much as her present one.</p>
+
+<p>Peter had not resigned as her political opponent. The only remark he had
+made to Jack which was at all friendly was to say to her one day when
+they were passing each other on the street in Laramie, that the greatest
+kindness he could pay her was to defeat her in the present election.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Yet notwithstanding all the worry and the work, Jack did not agree with
+him. She did not intend to be defeated. She meant to win, else why the
+struggle and the fatigue and, more often than she confessed, the
+heartache?</p>
+
+<p>Frieda had never forgiven her. This Jack had not at first believed
+possible, yet as the days passed Frieda did not relent. Instead she
+appeared more annoyed and more unyielding, continuing to insist Jack was
+disgracing not alone herself but her family by running for a political
+office as if she were a man.</p>
+
+<p>In fact, had it not been for her little girl, Jack feared that Frieda
+would have declined speaking to her. But Peace continued to adore her
+and Frieda would do nothing to frighten or grieve the child. The year or
+more spent at the ranch for the sake of the little girl's health had not
+been successful. Peace seemed to grow more ethereal, more fairylike with
+each passing day. She was like a spring flower, so fragile and delicate
+one feared the first harsh wind would destroy her. Yet if she were at
+all seriously ill, it was Jack she wanted, Jack who seemed able to give
+a part of her vitality to the child, when Frieda was oftentimes too
+frightened to be helpful.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Therefore during the spring and summer of Jack's political campaign, if
+Frieda was not entirely estranged from her sister, it was only because
+Peace was occasionally ill and needed her.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover, Jack had to endure Jim Colter's regret. Little as Jack had
+known what experiences she would be forced to pass through in a
+political campaign, Jim apparently had known even less. Now, although he
+was not given to looking backward when no good could come of it, more
+than once he had been driven to confess to Jack that he wished to heaven
+he had opposed her acceptance of the political nomination with every bit
+of influence he possessed.</p>
+
+<p>Jack could see that it was agony to Jim to hear her name and character
+discussed as it had to be discussed were she to win enough popularity to
+elect her to office.</p>
+
+<p>Not that he talked to her upon the subject during the few evenings when
+they were at home and saw each other a short time alone.</p>
+
+<p>"You need a rest from the plagued thing, Jack, and so do I. To think
+that I actually agreed to allow one of my little Rainbow ranch girls to
+enter a campaign for office in Washington, D. C!" If Jim Colter had
+been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> speaking of a much worse place his tone could not have been
+drearier.</p>
+
+<p>However, what worried Jack even more was that Jim insisted upon
+accompanying her wherever and whenever she was forced to attend any kind
+of political meeting. For this purpose he was neglecting his own work on
+the two ranches, and growing older and more haggard, chiefly, Jack
+thought, through boredom and the effort to hold his temper.</p>
+
+<p>He did not always manage to keep his temper, however; on several
+occasions, although Jim never reported the fact, he came to blows over
+remarks he overheard. When Jack asked questions he simply declined to
+answer, and as Jim Colter was the one person in the world of whom
+Jacqueline Kent was afraid, she did not dare press the matter.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally Jack made enemies, as every human being does who enters
+political life, and she was unusually frank and outspoken with regard
+both to her principles and ideas. But there was one enemy she made whom
+both she and Jim Colter especially disliked and distrusted. He was a
+young man who had been employed as a private secretary by Senator
+Marshall and was helping to manage Peter Stevens' election to Congress.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Senator Marshall had made a friendly call upon Jacqueline Kent at the
+time of her nomination, protesting in a fatherly fashion against her
+permitting herself to be put up as a candidate.</p>
+
+<p>Afterwards he declared he had the right to oppose her election in favor
+of Peter Stevens. This right Jack never disputed. Mrs. Marshall led the
+opposition against Jacqueline Kent among the conservative women in
+Wyoming.</p>
+
+<p>In fact, among her own family and her more intimate friends and
+acquaintances Jack possessed only three staunch and always enthusiastic
+supporters, her own small son, Jimmie Kent, who accompanied her to most
+of the day-time political meetings, Billy Preston, the young Kentucky
+mountaineer who after soldiering in France had decided to try his fate
+as a cowboy in Wyoming, and John Marshall, Senator Marshall's son.</p>
+
+<p>Billy Preston assured Jack that he was making it his business to see
+that every cowboy in Wyoming voted for her. John Marshall declared that
+he proposed showing his father who had the greater influence in the
+state. He protested that his father had lost all chivalry by assisting a
+man when a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> woman was his opponent. If he would not descend to the
+tactics employed by Alec Robertson, his father's secretary and Peter
+Stevens' campaign manager, nevertheless, he was backing Mrs. Kent to win
+against all odds.</p>
+
+<p>"The boy is falling in love with Jacqueline Kent, I am afraid, my dear,
+as he has never showed the slightest interest in politics in his entire
+life until recently," Senator Marshall confided to his wife toward the
+latter part of the summer.</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense, Mrs. Kent is older than John, and is not an especially
+attractive woman!"</p>
+
+<p>And although Senator Marshall did not agree with his wife, he pretended
+to accept her opinion.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+
+<h3>IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT</h3>
+
+
+<p>"But I do think it would be wiser of you not to be present, not this
+afternoon. I could take a message saying you were not well."</p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"Yet the fact is I am perfectly well, John Marshall, and besides I am
+not a coward, or at least if I am a coward there are other things of
+which I am more afraid."</p>
+
+<p>Jacqueline Kent and her neighbor, John Marshall, were having an early
+luncheon on the front porch of the Rainbow Lodge upon a fairly warm day.
+Jack, however, appeared to be dressed for a journey. She was wearing a
+seal brown tailored suit and a light chiffon blouse. Her hat and gloves
+were lying on the railing of the veranda.</p>
+
+<p>"Besides," she added lightly, "I do not believe anything uncomfortable
+will happen. The story has been spread abroad merely because I am a
+woman and am supposed to be easily frightened."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As luncheon was over, with a little nod for permission, John Marshall
+arose and began walking up and down the porch.</p>
+
+<p>"You may be right, of course, and yet I confess I feel nervous. It is
+nonsensical that so much excitement has been aroused by this campaign,
+makes one think perhaps we are less civilized than we thought we were! I
+myself believe there won't be any actual rumpus. But I would not be
+surprised if a few ruffians, hired for the occasion, do try to interrupt
+your speech by making a lot of noise. I must say I am surprised that
+Peter Stevens allows such tactics to be employed against an opponent,
+especially a girl who had been his friend."</p>
+
+<p>Jack shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Peter Stevens says that the kindest thing he can do for me is to defeat
+me, and sometimes I think perhaps he is right. So from that viewpoint he
+does not consider it makes any difference what methods he uses. However,
+I am not so sure Peter himself knows everything that is going on. He may
+or he may not. He does not come to the meetings of my supporters and
+friends and I suppose his manager, Mr. Robertson, does not tell him
+everything that takes place.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> But please do not confide to any member of
+my family, if you should see one of them before we leave, what you have
+just told to me. You probably won't see any one. They are too worn out
+and bored to pay attention these days to my goings out or my comings in.
+My sister scarcely speaks to me and the remainder of the family are busy
+with their own affairs. Fortunately for me, Mr. Colter is away for
+several days on business. But to show you I really don't think there is
+going to be any disturbance this afternoon, I am going to take Jimmie
+along with me to the meeting as usual. Poor Jimmie, he is dreadfully
+tired hearing me talk, and yet seems to have an instinctive feeling that
+he has to stay by and look after me. You have pretty much the same
+feeling, haven't you, and I want you to know I am extremely grateful,"
+Jack added. "I'll go now and find Jimmie, as we ought to start in a few
+moments if we are to be on time."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well," John Marshall returned. "But if you don't mind I'll ride
+down to the ranch house first. I want to speak to Billy Preston. He
+telephoned I would find him at about lunch time."</p>
+
+<p>Jack frowned for an instant and then nodded agreement.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>She guessed that her two young men friends were to discuss the self-same
+news that John Marshall had just repeated to her. It seemed unnecessary,
+still she did not feel that she had the right to object.</p>
+
+<p>The word John Marshall had brought was that an effort was to be made to
+break up the meeting at which she was to speak during the afternoon. The
+meeting was to occur in a fairly large sized village not far away in
+which she was supposed to have but few friends. The village was one of
+the manufacturing towns in the state, and her friends were among the
+ranchmen.</p>
+
+<p>But Jack honestly did not believe any serious outbreak would occur. She
+was not always foolhardy, although this was occasionally one of her
+weaknesses of character; she simply thought this afternoon that an
+effort was being made to frighten her away. Afterwards it would be easy
+to say that a woman candidate to an important political office who could
+be so easily frightened should hardly be entrusted with the service of
+the state.</p>
+
+<p>Within half an hour, John Marshall having returned, he and Jack and
+Jimmie and the chauffeur were motoring toward the desired destination.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Billy Preston will be at the meeting with a few of the cowboys from the
+Rainbow ranch and from a few of the other ranches in this neighborhood,
+so if there <i>is</i> trouble there will be some people on <i>our</i> side," John
+Marshall insisted with boyish satisfaction when the car had taken them
+several miles from the lodge.</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>Jack clutched her companion's sleeve for an instant, her voice and
+manner for the first time revealing alarm. "You don't mean you and Billy
+Preston have actually made arrangements for a difficulty. I did not
+think there could be one simply because an effort might be made to make
+me stop talking. I can do that readily enough and I intend to stop if
+any trouble begins. Now I think I had better give up after all and go
+back home. John, you were foolish."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't go back now, it is too late," the young man argued. "The
+crowd will already have started to the meeting and if you don't turn up
+and they are disappointed it may lose you heaps of votes. And it is
+going to be pretty close if you do win. Everybody says it depends upon
+your personality and good sense and your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> magnetism. You have got to win
+people over and to make them forget the prejudice against you. You have
+got to show them that you have been studying this whole question of
+government and really know a thing or two. Funny to be calling yourself
+an 'Independent' and belonging to no old-time political party. I don't
+know whether the idea is a good one or a bad one. But don't be worried
+about Billy Preston and his little party. There won't be more than a
+dozen in all and Billy has promised they won't make as much noise as a
+whisper if things go well and the game is a straight one."</p>
+
+<p>Shaking her head, Jack glanced nervously at Jimmie.</p>
+
+<p>"But suppose they don't go well? I shan't even begin to make a speech,
+John Marshall, until you promise me on your word of honor that you will
+see Billy Preston and tell him from me that he and my other friends are
+to say nothing and do nothing, whatever takes place. If there is any
+difficulty Jimmie and I will quietly come out and climb into our car and
+start back to the ranch. And if my speech is no better than they usually
+are, I cannot feel that the audience will be deeply disappointed."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Very well, I promise," the young man answered.</p>
+
+<p>The frame building where she was to speak, a rough one-story shack,
+sometimes employed for revivals, was larger than any hall in which
+Jacqueline Kent had ever attempted talking before.</p>
+
+<p>As she stepped up on the platform she found that her audience was also
+larger than the ones to which she had tried to grow accustomed in these
+last few months.</p>
+
+<p>But the people were quietly seated and there appeared no unusual
+excitement or confusion.</p>
+
+<p>Gratefully Jack observed that the larger number were women. The men were
+at the back toward the rear of the hall.</p>
+
+<p>There were to be no other speakers during the afternoon, so as soon as
+she had been introduced Jack began her speech.</p>
+
+<p>From the beginning she was fearful that she was going to interest this
+audience even less than she believed she interested most audiences. And
+in her heart of hearts Jack was always puzzled why anyone should be
+influenced by what she had to say.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a name="illus4" id="illus4"></a>
+<img src="images/illus4.jpg" alt=""/>
+</div>
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Not a Bouquet of Flowers, but of Ugly, Evil-Smelling
+Weeds and Tied with a Rag Instead of a Ribbon</span></h3>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p>Her causes were to increase the size and number of the ranches in
+Wyoming, increase<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> the number of the livestock, and bring the
+producers of food and the consumers closer together. She frankly stated
+at all times that she was not interested in politics. She simply wanted
+the chance to make human beings happier by giving them the kind of
+government they desired and ought to have.</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid you will have some difficulty in hearing me," Jack stated,
+"but that need not trouble you as much as it does me, because after all
+you will not have lost a great deal. There are a good many reasons why
+it is harder for a woman to be a candidate for an office than a man, and
+I suppose having to make speeches is one of the hardest."</p>
+
+<p>"Louder!" some one shouted at the back of the building.</p>
+
+<p>Jack tried again.</p>
+
+<p>"Louder!" the voice repeated. "How do you think you are going to make
+yourself heard in Washington if you can't be heard here?"</p>
+
+<p>The joke was at her expense and Jack laughed good-naturedly.</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't going to make any difference, she ain't never going to get
+there," another man shouted.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps not, but I am going <i>to try</i>," Jack answered, still with entire
+good nature.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But she flinched unconsciously at this instant and stepped backward. A
+large bouquet had been thrown directly at her, not a bouquet of flowers,
+but of ugly, evil-smelling weeds and tied with a rag instead of a
+ribbon.</p>
+
+<p>As it fell several feet away from her, Jack soon continued her speech as
+if she had not noticed what had occurred.</p>
+
+<p>"Shame! Put him out!" some one interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>"Please don't. It is not important," Jack replied.</p>
+
+<p>Yet if her manner failed to reveal the fact, she was nervous. By turning
+her head she could see Jimmie seated upon the platform beside the
+principal of the public school, who had just introduced her to the
+audience.</p>
+
+<p>Jimmie had jumped up indignantly when the bunch of weeds fell beside
+her, but had been persuaded to sit down again.</p>
+
+<p>The persons in the rear of the building were undoubtedly becoming
+noisier.</p>
+
+<p>Jack flushed so hotly that the tears came into her eyes and her cheeks
+were flaming.</p>
+
+<p>Never had she been treated with anything like this discourtesy before.
+Evidently she was not to be allowed to make a speech, scarcely to begin
+one.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Swiftly Jack thought of Jim Colter, of his anger and disgust should he
+behold her in such a plight. She had not expected this nor anything like
+it.</p>
+
+<p>There was scuffling now in the rear of the building, as well as shouting
+among her audience.</p>
+
+<p>Jack suffered a feminine desire to weep over the unkindness and the
+humiliation of her present situation, yet she was not in the least
+afraid. At no time in her life was Jack ever a physical coward.</p>
+
+<p>The uproar continued, growing greater. Women were crying out in terror.</p>
+
+<p>Yet Jack Kent stood her ground. Quietly, as if nothing were happening
+and in spite of her humiliation, knowing that no one could hear, she
+went on with her speech. Jimmie had come and was now standing beside
+her, holding tightly to her hand.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a shame! She is so young and pretty and is not half the coward any
+man is who doesn't give her a fair show!" a woman shouted in a voice
+which chanced to be heard.</p>
+
+<p>The next moment Jack felt a hand placed on her elbow.</p>
+
+<p>"Please come away. It is as I feared;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> they don't mean to hear you,"
+John Marshall urged.</p>
+
+<p>Jack shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I'll stay till I finish."</p>
+
+<p>It was an autumn afternoon and unexpectedly a storm had broken. Outside
+were flashes of lightning and the rain beating against the small
+windows. In the building some one suddenly switched off the electric
+lights, and before they were switched on again there was an uproar that
+was deafening.</p>
+
+<p>"For Jimmie's sake you must get away," John Marshall insisted.</p>
+
+<p>"Very well, for Jimmie's sake I do give up," Jack returned, "but for
+goodness' sake don't think either of us is afraid."</p>
+
+<p>Drawing back from her companions Jack again went to the edge of the
+platform.</p>
+
+<p>"You won't listen to me this afternoon, and I don't want to make anybody
+uncomfortable or frightened by going on with my speech in the midst of
+so much noise, nevertheless I am coming back some other afternoon to try
+again, so good-by to my friends, and I trust my enemies may have better
+manners next time."</p>
+
+<p>There was a little burst of applause from the spectators who could hear,
+and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> immediately after Jack, Jimmie and John Marshall slipped away.</p>
+
+<p>The car was waiting at the back of the building with the starter already
+in action. Before Jack was able to realize exactly what was taking place
+she was several miles on the journey home toward the Rainbow ranch.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you suppose things quieted down as soon as I disappeared?" Jack
+inquired. "You were right, I should not have gone. I wish I were not one
+of the most hard-headed people in the world. After all, I don't suppose
+women do belong in political life. I hope there may not be any serious
+trouble over me."</p>
+
+<p>"But you were awfully game, Mrs. Kent," John Marshall replied, "and I'm
+not so sure women don't belong in politics to keep things like this
+afternoon's proceedings from happening."</p>
+
+<p>It was not six o'clock when Jack and her companions arrived safely at
+the Rainbow lodge. John Marshall had too much good sense to come in, in
+answer to Jack's invitation.</p>
+
+<p>Personally, as soon as she got indoors Jack felt she never had been so
+tired in her life.</p>
+
+<p>After undressing and putting on a house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> dress she lay down in the
+hammock and remained there, eating her dinner on a small table with
+Jimmie seated beside her. When Jimmie had gone to bed, still she did not
+stir.</p>
+
+<p>At about eight o'clock, however, she arose and picked up a white crêpe
+shawl, winding it about her, as it was growing cooler. She intended
+walking over to the big house before she finally went to bed.</p>
+
+<p>No member of her family had been near her all day and it was strange
+that she had seen and heard nothing of Olive or Jean.</p>
+
+<p>Frieda never came down to the Rainbow lodge any more unless she were
+obliged to come.</p>
+
+<p>Yet the family must know of her intended speech that afternoon, although
+they discussed her affairs as little as possible. At least she could
+hope they would never hear of the scene that afternoon in which she had
+been obliged to appear as a central figure. Especially she hoped Jim
+Colter would never hear.</p>
+
+<p>In fact, Jack wanted to see her family before trying to sleep that
+night. She believed she was still both too excited and too tired to
+sleep for several hours.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> Moreover, she wanted to find out if Jim had
+returned home and if not when he might be expected.</p>
+
+<p>She must see Billy Preston the first thing in the morning and beg him to
+use his influence with the other cowboys never to mention to Jim what
+had occurred during the afternoon.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+
+<h3>CONSEQUENCES</h3>
+
+
+<p>Jack found the veranda of the big house deserted, which was most unusual
+at this hour of the evening.</p>
+
+<p>Only a dim light was burning in the drawing-room. But the front door was
+open and she walked in without knocking or calling.</p>
+
+<p>Undoubtedly there was a subdued atmosphere about the place. Not yet
+half-past eight, so surely not all the family could be in bed. At this
+hour one could at least count upon finding the two oldest of the four
+new Rainbow ranch girls, Lina and Jeannette. Lina was extremely studious
+and given to doing a great deal of reading at odd hours. She bore no
+resemblance to the oldest of the four original Ranch girls, but was like
+her mother.</p>
+
+<p>Ordinarily one could find her in the library at this time, when she
+could count upon being fairly undisturbed.</p>
+
+<p>Jack went from the drawing-room to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> library on the left side of the
+house. If not Lina, Professor Russell might be discovered there. He and
+Jim Colter's oldest daughter had developed a shy friendship from the
+fact that they often remained together in the big room reading for hours
+without speaking or disturbing each other.</p>
+
+<p>But to-night there was not even a dim light in the library.</p>
+
+<p>At the foot of the stairs Jack waited, puzzled and frowning for an
+instant. Then she called softly, "Jean, Jean, what has become of
+everybody? Certainly you cannot all be asleep!"</p>
+
+<p>As no answer followed, Jack started up the stairs. After having gone a
+few steps she called a second time.</p>
+
+<p>Instead of Jean, however, Frieda appeared.</p>
+
+<p>"Please don't make any noise," she admonished, "Peace is ill."</p>
+
+<p>Jack ran up swiftly to where her sister was standing.</p>
+
+<p>"How long has she been ill and why haven't you let me know?"</p>
+
+<p>With a slight gesture of nervous irritability the younger of the two
+sisters drew away.</p>
+
+<p>"Since yesterday, but not seriously so until to-day."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then why didn't you let me hear this morning? No member of my family
+has been near me all day. Do the others know?"</p>
+
+<p>Frieda nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but I thought it best not to disturb <i>you</i> with the news. You are
+fond of Peace, I suppose, even if you do prefer a public career to the
+affection of your family. I knew, of course, that you were going
+somewhere this afternoon to address an audience and I thought you would
+wish not to have anything interfere even mentally with your speech."</p>
+
+<p>"I see," Jack answered, with her usual gentleness and good temper. She
+was wounded, but Frieda's attitude toward her had been like this for
+some time, and to-night, when she appreciated that her sister was
+especially troubled, was scarcely the moment to refer to their
+differences. "Of course I should have preferred to know. Is Peace very
+ill?"</p>
+
+<p>Frieda shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"No, not at present, but I am uneasy and we have sent for a nurse."</p>
+
+<p>"Won't you let some of the other little girls come down to the lodge and
+stay with me?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A second time Frieda shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"No, they have gone to Olive. Jean has gone with them. You know Olive
+and Captain MacDonnell have an extra sleeping tent and I thought it best
+you should not be annoyed by them either."</p>
+
+<p>This time Jack was unable wholly to restrain herself.</p>
+
+<p>"Why should I have been annoyed, Frieda? I am not so impossible a
+person, am I? And the work I have been trying to do lately, even if you
+do disapprove of it, has not turned me into an ogre. But I won't worry
+you to-night, although I do believe, Frieda, you really intend to be
+unkind. Has Jim come back? I have not seen him for several days and if
+he is at home and not busy I thought perhaps he would walk back to the
+lodge with me."</p>
+
+<p>Never in her life from the time she was a small girl had Frieda accepted
+reproof in an humble spirit, except under a few and very exceptional
+circumstances. The truth was that she had been spoiled all her days,
+first because she was the youngest of the four Rainbow ranch girls, her
+mother having died when she was little more than a baby, and later by
+her husband, who was a good deal her senior.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Now in spite of her sister's long self-restraint, Frieda showed
+resentment.</p>
+
+<p>"It is your own fault and your own choice, Jack, that you no longer seem
+one of us as you did in the past. You can't have everything, you know,
+be a public character and a&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And a human being? I think you are mistaken, dear. I am very far from
+being a 'public character' as you express it, and I don't like the
+expression. Yet it seems to me that the celebrated women I have read
+about or known have been rather more human than most people, and not in
+the least anxious to be discarded by their families because they have
+found other things to occupy them outside of domestic life. I'll see you
+in the morning. Is Jim in his room, or has he gone with Jean and the
+little girls?"</p>
+
+<p>Frieda frowned.</p>
+
+<p>"Jim has not come back and that is another thing that is worrying us,
+although not a great deal. He wrote to say that he would return home
+this afternoon before dinner and we waited dinner for him an hour. But
+no word and no Jim. I suppose it is foolish to be uneasy, but Jim so
+rarely breaks his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> word even in the smallest matters, and he might have
+telephoned. It would not be pleasant to have Jim disappear as Ralph
+Merritt has, would it? It is funny, but now we are grown up, we seem to
+depend upon Jim as our guardian as much as we ever did. I don't see how
+we could get on without him."</p>
+
+<p>Frieda ended her remarks without any special significance; nevertheless,
+her last few words continued to repeat themselves in Jacqueline Kent's
+mind during her walk back to the lodge.</p>
+
+<p>The storm of the afternoon had passed over and it was turning a good
+deal colder. Jack was not ordinarily impressionable and yet it seemed to
+her that to-night the sky possessed a peculiar hard brilliance, as if
+the mood of the outside world and the persons she loved were both harsh
+and unsympathetic.</p>
+
+<p>Even Jean and Olive had not been near her in twenty-four hours, and if
+they should pretend they were trying to spare her, she knew that in
+former times they would not have wished to keep her shut out either from
+their happiness or sorrow.</p>
+
+<p>Jim Colter would be different. Never at any moment in her life could
+Jack recall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> that he had been either harsh or unsympathetic, although
+stern he might be and had been when he thought it necessary. How
+infinitely kind he had been concerning this latest adventure of hers,
+regardless of his own disapproval.</p>
+
+<p>About her difficulty of the afternoon he must never hear if she could
+keep the news from him. Yet of course if he had to know, Jack felt she
+would prefer to describe the situation herself, making as light of it as
+possible. All of her family and friends would be angry should they learn
+of it, even if some of them believed she deserved what she had received.
+But Jim would take the matter far more to heart.</p>
+
+<p>How stupid of Frieda to talk of their ever having to get on without Jim
+Colter's guardianship! In any case it could not mean so much to Frieda,
+who had her devoted if eccentric husband always at her service. Besides,
+Frieda and Jim had never been devoted friends. Jim had cared for Frieda,
+of course, as her guardian and for Jean and Olive, but the other Rainbow
+ranch girls had never shared his interests and tastes as she had done.</p>
+
+<p>Jack drew her shawl more closely about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> her and started to run toward
+home. She was feeling uncommonly forlorn and depressed. Yet surely the
+day had been a sufficiently trying one to depress almost any human
+being!</p>
+
+<p>The following morning Jacqueline was in the act of dressing when she
+heard Jean's voice calling her from below.</p>
+
+<p>"Jack, hurry, will you, and come up to the big house. Peace is ever so
+much worse and the news has just reached us that Jim was hurt yesterday
+afternoon. No one understands exactly what has happened. Billy Preston
+telephoned, saying he was with Jim and would remain with him. We are not
+to go to him for the present. I answered the telephone myself and tried
+my best to find out how badly Jim was hurt. Billy says he was not run
+over and had not had a fall, only there had been some kind of an
+accident. He would not say what kind and I guessed by his voice that he
+was not telling all the truth."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be with you in half a moment if you'll wait for me, Jean,"
+responded Jack.</p>
+
+<p>A little later she joined Jean. "I wonder if you can tell me the name of
+the town where Jim was hurt yesterday?" she asked. "Surely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> Billy
+Preston told you as much as that! I must go to him of course."</p>
+
+<p>The name of the town was what she had expected to be told. It was the
+village where she had attempted making a speech the afternoon before and
+been interrupted. Jim must have known of her plans and also learned of
+what might take place. How like him to have gone quietly to her
+protection without letting her hear of his presence! Yet in what way had
+he been hurt and how serious was his injury? Whatever other consequences
+she might hope to escape, for Jim's hurt she was entirely responsible.
+Whatever Frieda might say of her selfish interest in her own future, of
+her desire for a career outside her own home and family, she would never
+be able to deny that Jim Colter had suffered because of her.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you see that a car is ready for me immediately, please, Jean. I
+won't come back to the lodge. Jim will want me if anyone and I have the
+first right to go to him, because I am responsible."</p>
+
+<p>Jean was scarcely listening.</p>
+
+<p>"You won't be able to leave just now, Jack. After all Frieda's
+antagonism toward you she has been begging to have you come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> to her
+since dawn. You seem to be the only person she wants."</p>
+
+<p>Jean nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"There is only one hope. The doctor means to try a transfusion of blood.
+I don't know from whom. We have all offered."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Jean," Jack's voice shook, "I am the one person who will be best. I
+am stronger than any one else and Peace has always responded to my
+vitality. Yet if I am chosen I can't go to Jim."</p>
+
+<p>"The choice is pretty hard, Jack. If you can not go Olive and Captain
+MacDonnell and I will. And some one will come back with the news as soon
+as possible. Yet you may not be the one."</p>
+
+<p>However, as Jean Merritt looked at her cousin she had little doubt. In
+spite of the fatigue and chagrin of the day before, even of her anxious
+night, Jack walked with the swinging grace of perfect health and poise.
+At this moment of dreadful double anxiety, harder upon her than any one
+save Frieda, she was for the time when the need was greatest, perfectly
+self-controlled. No one had ever seen Jack break down until the moment
+for action had passed.</p>
+
+<p>"It is because I have been so unkind to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> you, Jack darling, <i>this</i> is my
+punishment," Frieda confessed brokenly, meeting her sister outside
+Peace's door. "But I have wanted to make up more times than you can
+dream, only I am so dreadfully spoiled and do so hate to give in, and I
+have despised your running for a public office chiefly I suppose because
+I realized it would separate us. Peace won't know you."</p>
+
+<p>Two hours later Frieda and Jack were in Frieda's bedroom, Jack undressed
+and in a loose white wrapper, her hair braided in two heavy braids.</p>
+
+<p>"Now you must not be a goose, Frieda, dear," she expostulated. "I am not
+in the least danger from the blood transfusion, as the doctor has just
+told you. I may be laid up for a little while afterwards, perhaps not
+long. And there are many chances that Peace will get better at once. You
+know how glad I am of the opportunity to help. What is the use of being
+a healthy person if one cannot be useful."</p>
+
+<p>"But, Jack, you may be more exhausted than you dream. You may be forced
+to give up your political work for several weeks. And Henry said only
+yesterday that these were the most important weeks of all, if you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> are
+to be elected. At the very last people will probably have made up their
+minds one way or the other."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well, perhaps the question of my election is not so important to me
+as you may think, Frieda. In any case it does not count the tiniest
+little bit in comparison with either you or Peace, now that you actually
+need me. When I accepted the nomination for Congress I did not know that
+anybody needed me especially except Jimmie. I thought perhaps I was
+freer than most women."</p>
+
+<p>Jack was talking to distract Frieda, who had not been told of Jim
+Colter's injury and so did not realize the extent of the sacrifice her
+sister was making.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+
+<h3>THE ELECTION</h3>
+
+
+<p>"When do you think we will hear, Jack?"</p>
+
+<p>"Toward late evening, Jim. At least I was told that at about eight
+o'clock a fairly good guess could be made. But suppose we don't talk of
+it. Let me read to you."</p>
+
+<p>Jim Colter, who was lying on a couch in a large sunny, empty room moved
+a little impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>"If you lose the election, Jack, it will be because of the demands we
+have all made upon you in these last weeks. You had nothing much to go
+upon but your personality, your chance of pleasing people and convincing
+them of your sincerity, and here you have been shut up at the Rainbow
+ranch for weeks. It has not been in the least necessary for you to take
+care of me, any one of the girls could have looked after me equally
+well. You are not a born nurse, Jack, as the saying goes. So when you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>
+recovered and I was safe at home you should have gone on with your
+election campaign."</p>
+
+<p>"Really, Jim, 'ingratitude, more fierce than traitors' arms, quite
+vanquished him,' or her, in this case. If I'm not a 'born nurse' you
+don't dare say that of late I have not become a cultivated one.
+Moreover, if the other girls could have taken equally good care of you,
+please remember that they have been doing their share, they and every
+member of this household! Do you suppose a man can continue in perfect
+health for as many years as you have and then in case of illness not
+require a regiment of nurses to look after him? But confess, if I am not
+a good nurse, you can growl more successfully at me than at any one
+else."</p>
+
+<p>"Am I growling, Jack? Perhaps I do pretty often, but at present it is
+because I regret so deeply that you have to devote yourself first to
+Frieda and Peace and afterwards to me, when you have needed all your
+time and energy for your political work. If you are defeated I shall
+always feel responsible."</p>
+
+<p>"Vain of you, don't you think?" Jack answered. "Besides, Jim Colter, you
+are well enough now for us to talk of something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> that I have been
+thinking of for a long time. Never have you confessed to me or to any
+one else, so far as I know, how in the world you happened to be so
+seriously hurt. In the first place, what brought you to town on that
+especial afternoon when you were supposed to be miles away attending to
+some business connected with the ranch? Then arriving there, how did you
+manage to get into the midst of a rough-and-tumble fight? Billy Preston
+did tell me this much. But I presume you must have ordered him to keep
+quiet, else he would not have been so non-committal."</p>
+
+<p>Jim Colter stared at the opposite wall rather than toward the figure of
+the girl sitting near him, or through either of the two large windows
+with wide outlooks over the Rainbow ranch. It was mid-afternoon of an
+early autumn day with a faint haze in the air, unusual in the prairie
+country.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe I feel equal to talking, Jack, not just at present, or
+for any length of time," he answered a trifle uneasily. "Perhaps I'd
+better try to sleep."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well," Jacqueline Kent agreed, smiling and at the same time with a
+serious expression in her eyes. "But, Jim, when you wake<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> you might as
+well decide to tell me the truth. Don't you suppose I have guessed the
+greater part of it?"</p>
+
+<p>There was a silence for some time in the big room, Jim Colter closing
+his eyes, Jack staring out the window at the familiar scenes she loved.</p>
+
+<p>By and by, when he did not believe she was aware of what he was doing,
+Jim opened his eyes and stared at his companion's profile.</p>
+
+<p>Jack looked more fatigued than he often remembered to have seen her; she
+had less color, less her old suggestion of vitality. There were circles
+under her eyes, little hollows in her cheeks. Yet she did not look ill
+and one could scarcely marvel at the change in her after the past trying
+months, first the strain of her effort at electioneering on her own
+behalf, and more recently the tax which he and Frieda's little girl had
+put upon her.</p>
+
+<p>If she were elected to Congress would she ever be the old-time Jack
+again? Jim Colter had to suppress a sigh of dissatisfaction over the
+thought, which may have sounded more like a groan. To think of Jack with
+her youth and charm shut up within the Legislative halls in Washington
+was not only an absurdity, but something far worse! Well,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> of course if
+caught by a wave of enthusiasm and desire for change, Jack should be
+elected to the United States Congress he must arrange to spend part of
+the year with her. The two older of the new little Ranch girls must go
+to school and Jean Merritt would look after the others. The Rainbow
+ranch and his own adjoining ranch would have to be turned over to one of
+his assistants, since Jack would need him more than any other person or
+any other thing.</p>
+
+<p>Then Jim Colter closed his eyes. Would she actually need him more, or
+was it because he cared more for her need than for any possible human
+demand that could be made upon him? Always he had been tremendously fond
+of Jack, unhesitatingly more fond of her than of the other three Ranch
+girls in her gallant but wilful girlhood. Now, since his own loss and
+hers, and since Jack's return to the Rainbow ranch, surely there was no
+point in denying to himself that the affection which held him to her was
+stronger than ever, stronger than any other emotion in his life.</p>
+
+<p>"Jim, you are not asleep, you are only pretending," Jack said suddenly.
+"Now tell me, didn't you go over to the village on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> the day you were
+hurt because you heard I was to make a speech and there might be
+trouble? And didn't you arrive so late you felt it best not to tell me
+to go home, because I had already started to speak? And after the rumpus
+began and Jimmie and I were safely on the way home didn't you try to
+find out who was responsible for the discourtesy to me? Afterwards what
+happened, Jim?</p>
+
+<p>"Jack, I suppose I forgot a good many things I should have remembered,
+first and foremost that I did not wish you made conspicuous and that I
+was older than I used to be, and that I ought by this time to have
+learned to control my temper."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but Billy Preston declares that when he arrived you seemed to have
+half a dozen persons against you and that you were managing pretty well.
+It was disgraceful of you, Jim; you who have been preaching for as many
+years as I can remember that there was to be no fighting on the Rainbow
+ranch for any cause whatsoever and that no excuse would be accepted by
+you as a justifiable one. What influence do you suppose your sermons
+will now have among the cowboys? As for making me conspicuous, it seems<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>
+rather a funny thing that neither you nor I recognized that running for
+a public office is apt to make one conspicuous. One can hardly vote for
+a person one has never heard of."</p>
+
+<p>Jim sighed.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you are right, Jack, but it is too late now to discuss this side
+of the situation. If you are elected it won't be any better; sure to be
+worse, in fact. I suppose you realize that if you live in Washington the
+greater part of the year, you'll have to bear with my society most of
+the time."</p>
+
+<p>Jacqueline Kent bit her lip for an instant and then shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Good of you to suggest it, Jim, but out of the question of course.
+Jimmie and I'll have to manage somehow, trusting members of the family
+will visit us now and then to see how we are getting on. But as for you,
+you are too much needed here at the ranch, besides having to look after
+the new little ranch girls. I could never accept the sacrifice."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes? But I don't see how you are going to prevent it, Jack," Jim
+answered abruptly and in a tone Jack had never contradicted in her life.
+Always Jim Colter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> had been the one person whose will was stronger than
+her own, even in the important matters in which she always felt she had
+the better right to judge.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well, we won't quarrel on the subject yet, Jim, because of course
+there are ninety-nine chances to one that I won't be elected. I must go
+now and dress for dinner. Here comes Professor Russell to sit with you.
+I'll come back later if I hear the returns to-night."</p>
+
+<p>A little after eight o'clock on this same evening, a group of Jacqueline
+Kent's friends, her own family, and Jacqueline herself, were standing
+talking together in the drawing-room of the big house; occasionally one
+or two of them disappeared to come back with the latest news of the
+election returns.</p>
+
+<p>Earlier in the afternoon the reports from the neighborhood districts had
+given a majority to the feminine candidate. Later, when the counting
+began to take place in the cities, there appeared a change in the
+results, with Peter Stevens leading. Then Jacqueline Kent's victory
+seemed assured by a sudden spurt in the figures giving her an important
+lead throughout the western portion of the state.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Do you think we will know to-night without doubt?" Frieda Russell
+inquired of John Marshall, who had driven over and had dinner with his
+friends at the Rainbow ranch.</p>
+
+<p>"One cannot be positive in any election until the next day, Mrs.
+Russell," he assured Frieda, "but I think between ten o'clock and
+midnight we can be pretty positive, at least that is the view my father
+takes, and he has been in politics nearly as long as I can remember. He
+told me to tell 'Jack' as he calls her, that he congratulates her
+whatever occurs, whether she is defeated or elected."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't know what to hope," Frieda murmured. "For months I have
+been praying Jack would <i>not</i> win, and now to-night I feel I may hate it
+if she is not elected. You know I shall also feel responsible in a way
+since so many of Jack's friends insist that her taking no part in the
+campaign during the last weeks has made such a difference."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that could not be helped! And sometimes I think, though I have done
+my best to help Mrs. Kent win, that she is too young and that an older
+and perhaps a different<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> kind of woman might be more suitable. See, even
+after all she has been through, she looks like a young girl to-night. I
+don't believe she cares very much."</p>
+
+<p>Frieda glanced toward her sister, who was standing before the
+drawing-room fire laughing and talking to several friends and appearing
+less perturbed than she herself felt.</p>
+
+<p>Jack was paler than usual and there were circles under her eyes which
+Frieda knew were uncommon, notwithstanding her eyes and lips were both
+smiling. She wore a white serge dress trimmed with silver braid, her
+hair was slightly parted on one side and coiled low on her neck.</p>
+
+<p>"One cannot always tell how Jack feels, she is braver than most persons.
+Frankly, I don't know any more than you do how much she is interested in
+winning. I do think she scarcely realized what it meant when she was
+originally nominated. It isn't like Jack to turn back once she has
+started, although I believe she did find the publicity harder to bear
+than she anticipated. You see, an older person, or one who had had more
+experience in political life, would have understood, but Jack has lived
+in England for the past years. On her return home it appeared a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>
+wonderful experience to play some part in American politics, as the
+women are beginning to do in England. I don't think Jack realized she
+might not be fitted for a political career when other people began
+urging her forward."</p>
+
+<p>John Marshall laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I don't feel she is unsuited to a great career, but it was of her
+personally I was thinking. If you'll excuse me for a few moments I will
+go to the telephone again. It is growing late and my father has promised
+to telephone me from headquarters at a little before ten o'clock. Even
+if he has been working for Peter Stevens because he wants a man to be
+elected rather than a woman, we can count on his figures being
+accurate."</p>
+
+<p>John Marshall disappeared. A quarter of an hour passed and he did not
+return. In the meantime three or four other persons went away to join
+him.</p>
+
+<p>The clock on the mantel was striking half-past ten when Jack herself
+heard the noise of a horse galloping toward the house. It was she who
+walked quietly to an already open window and stretched forth her hand to
+receive the telegram.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"This telegram comes from Cheyenne, I suppose it will be official and we
+shall know the best or the worst," she announced. Then opening it she
+read aloud:</p>
+
+<p>"Victory conceded to Peter Stevens. Better luck next time."</p>
+
+<p>Afterwards, in the brief silence which followed, Frieda Russell burst
+into tears.</p>
+
+<p>"But, Frieda," Jack expostulated, slipping an arm about her sister and
+smiling as she faced the group of people gazing directly at her, "I
+thought you wanted me to be defeated. You have never wished for anything
+else." She turned to the others. "I can only say that I am deeply
+grateful for everybody's kindness, yet the voters of Wyoming probably
+have acted wisely. All women may not need longer preparation before
+holding public office, but I am afraid I do. Now if you will pardon me,
+I confess I am tired and would like to say good-night."</p>
+
+<p>Running swiftly upstairs, Jacqueline Kent paused for an instant outside
+her former guardian's door. She had been staying in the big house during
+his illness.</p>
+
+<p>"Is that you, Jack?" a voice asked instantly. "Well, what is the news?"</p>
+
+<p>"I was defeated, Jim. Peter Stevens is the next Congressman from
+Wyoming."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, Jack, I'd hate to tell you how glad I am. Are you very deeply
+disappointed?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, Jim, I am not. I believe I feel relieved. But please don't tell
+other people. Good-night."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2>
+
+<h3>THE HEART'S DESIRE</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Mrs. Kent, there is some one down at the ranch house inquiring either
+for you or for Jim Colter. He will not give his name. Since you do not
+wish Mr. Colter to be disturbed I thought it best to bring the message
+to you. The man looks as if he had been ill for some time and his
+clothes are pretty shabby, but otherwise he seems all right."</p>
+
+<p>The man who was speaking was one of the new ranchmen on the Rainbow
+ranch whom Jacqueline Kent had lately employed.</p>
+
+<p>As Jim Colter had not recovered from his injury so rapidly as might have
+been expected, Jack had taken upon herself the entire management of the
+Rainbow ranch and was assisting with the management of the adjoining
+place, which belonged to Jim Colter.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, thank you, I am glad you came to me; I'll ride down to the ranch
+house as soon as I can get away. I have some things that must be
+attended to first. You'll see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> that the man is properly cared for until
+I can get there."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>Smiling after he had turned his back, the ranchman rode away.</p>
+
+<p>It suddenly had struck him that Mrs. Kent looked absurdly young for the
+responsibilities of her present position, but that they did not seem to
+trouble her in the least, in fact she appeared to enjoy them. Moreover,
+she was extremely popular with all he employees on the place, who would
+do a good deal to win her thanks.</p>
+
+<p>This morning Jack's costume was an extremely businesslike one, a dark
+brown corduroy riding habit with a short skirt and trousers and a fairly
+long coat. It was a cold morning in early December. She had not yet put
+on her hat and gloves, as she was waiting to consult with a neighboring
+ranchman in regard to the purchase of a thousand head of cattle.</p>
+
+<p>Jimmie had gone off to school an hour earlier with the four little new
+ranch girls and Jean's two daughters. These daily excursions to school
+were an annoyance to Jimmie and he would have preferred to have walked
+or ridden his pony instead of being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> driven in the family motor car with
+so many girls. However, as the school was five or six miles from the
+Rainbow ranch, this appeared one of the crosses he was forced to endure.</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later, following a talk with her neighbor, Jacqueline Kent
+was on her way to the ranch house.</p>
+
+<p>A busy day lay ahead of her. First of all she had agreed to buy the
+cattle for the Rainbow ranch at the price offered, subject to Jim
+Colter's approval. But as Jim rarely interfered with her recent control
+of the ranch she did not expect him to object to her latest venture. In
+the afternoon, escorted by Billy Preston, whom she had promoted to being
+one of her chief assistants, she intended riding over to look at the
+cattle. In the meantime, beside her housekeeping, which was already
+finished for the day, she had to look at some fencing that needed
+repairing, consult with a veterinary surgeon concerning an injury to one
+of the finest mares on the ranch, and hear reports from several ranchmen
+who had charge of details of the work upon the place.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless, Jack felt extremely fit and not in the least perturbed by
+the number of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> her duties, as this was the character of outdoor life she
+had always loved and been trained to since her childhood.</p>
+
+<p>The question of the man who was waiting to see her at the ranch house
+did not particularly absorb her attention. Frequently of late men had
+wished to see her either to ask for employment on the Rainbow ranch or
+to discuss projects for new agricultural schemes to raise grains in
+greater abundance by a more scientific development of the soil.
+Moreover, there were always persons who insisted that the Rainbow gold
+mine could be made to yield a fresh output of gold by the application of
+new methods in mining. But at least Jack had nothing to do with the
+Rainbow mine, always referring any such enthusiasts to her scientific
+brother-in-law, Professor Russell, now that Jim Colter was taking a
+temporary rest from the affairs of the place, the first he had ever
+taken for as long as Jack had known him.</p>
+
+<p>Billy Preston was standing on the front porch of the ranch house in
+spite of the coldness of the day and as Jack rode up he came forward to
+help her dismount.</p>
+
+<p>"The fellow waiting to see you is rather a queer looking beggar, so I
+thought I'd<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> hang round till you'd had a talk with him," Billy grinned
+boyishly. "We don't want another of the Rainbow ranch managers knocked
+out in a fight at present."</p>
+
+<p>"But I was knocked out in a fight, a big one, Billy Preston, by failing
+to be elected, and you have all been awfully good not to reproach me
+after taking such a lot of trouble in my behalf."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but we cowboys are glad you lost, though as long as we thought you
+wanted to win the boys on the Rainbow ranch and a good many other
+ranches were for you to the last man. No one of us really liked the idea
+of your either being elected or being licked. But now it can't be
+helped, it's kind of pleasanter to think of you just trying to run the
+old ranch."</p>
+
+<p>"Trying, Billy? But I thought I <i>was</i> running it," Jack returned,
+"although I suppose you realize the men are still doing the work and
+trying to humor me at the same time. Well, it is kind of you and it is
+fun. Now show me my man and stand outside, Billy, to see nothing
+happens. But please remember you are an assistant ranch manager these
+days and hide that dreadful Kentucky mountain pistol."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Inside the ranch house living-room, a crude enough place but bright and
+comfortable, there was a fire burning in the fireplace and a man sitting
+slumped before it in such a position that Jack upon entering the room
+could not see his face.</p>
+
+<p>He heard her, however, and got up and stumbled forward with both hands
+outstretched.</p>
+
+<p>"Ralph Merritt, but we thought you were lost forever, thought you
+were&mdash;" Jack hesitated and stopped an instant. "Why, we have sought for
+you all over the United States in every possible place and in every
+possible fashion! But you have been ill. Do sit down, you can't know how
+glad I am to see you. Don't try to talk to me, let us go first to Jean.
+It is cruel to keep her in ignorance another moment."</p>
+
+<p>Ralph Merritt shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"No, Jack, I want to talk to <i>you</i> first. I am glad it is you rather
+than Jim Colter. Then you can tell me what I should do next. I have been
+ill and in a strange way and so perhaps I need advice more than one
+usually does. I will sit down, if you don't mind and you'll be seated."</p>
+
+<p>It was one of Jacqueline Kent's good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> qualities that she did not talk
+when talking was unnecessary.</p>
+
+<p>Now she dropped into the nearest chair, opened her coat and took off her
+hat and gloves.</p>
+
+<p>"Try and tell me from the beginning if you can remember, Ralph. We have
+heard nothing of you or from you since the news that you appeared to
+have been slightly hurt at the mine in New Mexico and then disappeared."</p>
+
+<p>Ralph Merritt nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"I will try to tell as much as I can remember although it is remarkably
+little. I remember the fall at the mine and also that I did not seem to
+have been much hurt, only bruised and shaken up a bit and that my head
+ached a good deal from a blow I had received. I recall going into my own
+tent a little after dusk and lying down because my head ached. Then, you
+may not believe me, yet the truth is, I know of nothing else that has
+taken place in my life for over a year, nothing until a few months ago."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, go on," Jack answered. "The blow on your head occasioned a loss of
+memory?"</p>
+
+<p>"A complete loss of memory. How I ever got my living in the meantime,
+whether I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> worked or whether I was cared for through other people's
+kindness I am not sure, except that I did work on a farm for a time and
+probably worked on others. I know this from some one who befriended me
+and partly guessed what my trouble was. Through this friend I was taken
+to a hospital and an operation performed and my memory partially
+restored. I now remember perfectly everything that took place before my
+injury, but nothing in the interval between then and now."</p>
+
+<p>"But that is not important, Ralph dear; perhaps it is better not to be
+able to recall what must have been days of suffering. The wonderful
+thing is now that you are alive and at home again, and with Jean and the
+little girls well and waiting for you."</p>
+
+<p>Ralph Merritt shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid returning in the plight I am in at present will not be a
+pleasant surprise for Jean. Remember I told you, Jack, that I would not
+come back until I had earned money enough to make Jean happier. I told
+her the same story. And I haven't the money, in fact I haven't even the
+chance of making it until I am stronger. So I want you to tell Jean for
+me that I am alive and care for her and the little girls as much as I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>
+ever did, and have not yet given up hope of accomplishing what she has a
+right to expect of me. Then if you'll tell me about the family I'll be
+off again. I'll write Jean, but I thought it might be best that you
+speak to her and explain what has occurred first."</p>
+
+<p>"I will do no such thing, Ralph Merritt," Jack returned more sharply
+than she was in the habit of speaking. "You'll see and talk to Jean
+yourself in a quarter of an hour. Don't you think Jean has had a long
+enough period of agony and suspense? The desire of her heart is to know
+you are alive. She asks for nothing else, has asked for nothing else all
+along. I do wish men were not so stupid. You always believe the wrong
+things girls and women say. Jean did care for wealth and position, most
+people do, but that is no reason to think that she did not always care
+more for you than anything or anybody else. I'll ride up to the big
+house this instant and try to prepare Jean a little for seeing you. But
+right away you are to follow me. If you are strong enough to ride
+horseback Billy Preston will saddle a horse and ride up with you."</p>
+
+<p>Jack was already up and half way to the door.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Don't be long. Jean already has been waiting a long time, and I shall
+tell her nothing except that you are here."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Jack," Ralph Merritt answered and squared his shoulders,
+appearing fifty per cent more like his former self than before Jack had
+spoken.</p>
+
+<p>At eight o'clock that night Jacqueline Kent was walking up and down the
+front porch of the Rainbow lodge alone. There was a light snow falling
+outside and she had slipped on a fur coat, but her head was uncovered.</p>
+
+<p>At a little distance away she heard a familiar whistle.</p>
+
+<p>"Do hurry, Jim, I can't wait any longer," she called out. "You promised
+to come over immediately after dinner."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and I'm here," Jim returned, "dinner has not been over ten minutes
+at the big house, and please remember I am a semi-invalid and cannot
+walk with white hot speed. I can only report, 'all is well.' Jean and
+Ralph both appear extraordinarily happy and Ralph Merritt does not look
+so ill, not half so badly off as I do. I won't have the honor of being
+the family invalid taken from me. He and Jean expressed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> themselves as
+being disappointed at your not coming up to dinner, but I told them you
+wanted them to have the dinner to themselves, which they managed to have
+along with Professor Russell and Frieda and six small girls clamoring
+for attention beside your humble servant. You might have asked me to
+dine with you."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I never thought of it, but then you would have if you had wished
+to anyhow. Besides, you should of course have been at home to welcome
+Ralph. I trust you told him right away that we were going to start work
+on the old Rainbow mine so Ralph can stay here at home and have
+something to do at the same time. I have decided on this; there must be
+gold enough in the old mine to pay expenses and to give Ralph a good
+salary, and otherwise it does not matter. Oh, Jim, please do come in out
+of the snow. I want to tell you also that I am going to buy a thousand
+new head of cattle for the Rainbow ranch. It is all right, isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"It is <i>not</i>, Jack. Rainbow ranch has all the cattle it can take care of
+at present. We have stocked up as far as we ought to go unless we can
+buy more land for grazing and raising grain, and I don't see any
+prospect of that in this immediate neighborhood."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But I have almost made a bargain for the cattle, Jim."</p>
+
+<p>"How far has the bargain gone?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, the agreement was not positive until I had consulted with you, but
+I thought I was being allowed to run the Rainbow ranch. Of course if you
+interfere with what I think best, why it is not managing the ranch at
+all."</p>
+
+<p>"But I never agreed to allow you to run the ranch into debt, Jack, and
+that is <i>what would</i> happen if you have to pay for feed for a thousand
+new head of cattle this winter."</p>
+
+<p>In silence the man and girl continued to walk up and down the porch of
+the Rainbow lodge.</p>
+
+<p>"Want me to give up trying to manage the ranch, Jim? Now you are better,
+I suppose I am only a nuisance."</p>
+
+<p>"I want you to keep on if the work interests you and if you are willing
+to listen to my advice now and then. You have some ideas for running
+things that are considerably better than mine, but I have had a good
+deal longer experience."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Jim, I am sorry," and Jack slipped her hand through her
+companion's arm. "Good gracious, what a hard-headed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> person I am and
+always have been, Jim Colter. I wonder if that is why life seems to find
+it necessary to give me so many knocks?"</p>
+
+<p>"Has it given you more than most people, Jack? Are you more disappointed
+over that wretched election than you have been willing to confess? If
+you like, go ahead and buy your cattle then. I only don't want you to
+lose money, because the ranch belongs to you girls and I suppose I
+always shall feel more or less responsible. If it were mine&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I have no desire to lose the family money," said Jack, "and I am
+properly penitent. I even no longer <i>desire</i> one thousand new cattle
+purchased for the Rainbow ranch."</p>
+
+<p>"But what do you desire then, Jacqueline Kent? Suppose just for an
+experiment you tell me your greatest desire. We were speaking on the
+subject at dinner to-night. Jean of course felt that she had received
+hers in Ralph's return. Frieda announced that she was in a fair way to
+be fully satisfied now Peace was growing strong and well and Professor
+Russell had succeeded in his latest scientific experiment, and also I am
+obliged to state that Frieda added the negative fact that she was
+particularly pleased that you had failed in your recent political
+enterprise."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Jack laughed. "How exactly like Frieda! It is the things she has that
+she is grateful for and the mistakes I am not permitted to make because
+of her excellent advice. But don't worry over me, Jim, at present my
+greatest desire is to walk up and down the lodge porch with you and see
+the sky and the prairie beneath the stars and feel the damp sweetness of
+the wind with the little eddies of snow. What is your heart's desire,
+Jim Colter?"</p>
+
+<p>"To be always with you, Jack, I suppose," Jim Colter answered as
+unexpectedly to himself as to the girl beside him. His voice did not
+hold the light raillery of hers. "Queer ambition, isn't it, for a man
+old enough to be your father, who has been your father after a poor
+fashion! I don't know, Jack, I have not meant to tell you this, but I
+always have told you pretty much everything that was in my mind, and
+after I say this I want you to forget it. I care for you differently
+from the old days, Jack. Of course I appreciate the differences between
+us more than any living human being can appreciate them, the distance
+from the earth to the stars is small in comparison. And I want you to
+care for me always, Jack, in the old friendly, daughterly fashion."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But I don't feel like a daughter to you, Jim, and never have, certainly
+not as a little girl, so why should I begin now? I simply like you
+better than any one else in the world except Jimmie, now you have made
+me think of it, and we understand each other better. I suppose I would
+have taken this for granted if you had not spoken. What do you suppose
+we ought to do about it, Jim?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing, Jack."</p>
+
+<p>"But suppose I should want to do something? And suppose what I wanted to
+do should become my heart's desire? Would you withhold it from me, Jim?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, if I thought it would do you harm."</p>
+
+<p>"But suppose it would not do me harm, but bring me great happiness, what
+then?"</p>
+
+<p>Jim Colter made no reply.</p>
+
+<p>Jack smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, Jim, you never can make me believe that you will refuse to travel
+with me to the Land of the Heart's Desire, since it is a journey one can
+rarely take alone."</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<h2>THE "RANCH GIRLS" SERIES</h2>
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">By</span> MARGARET VANDERCOOK</h3>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls at Rainbow Lodge</span><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls' Pot of Gold</span><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls at Boarding School</span><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls in Europe</span><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls at Home Again</span><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure</span><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire</span><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's
+Desire, by Margaret Vandercook
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+</body>
+</html>
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire, by
+Margaret Vandercook
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire
+
+Author: Margaret Vandercook
+
+Illustrator: Wilson V. Chambers
+
+Release Date: August 30, 2011 [EBook #37271]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS--THEIR HEART'S DESIRE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                     THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES
+
+            The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire
+
+                     BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK
+
+
+    ILLUSTRATED BY
+    WILSON V. CHAMBERS
+
+    THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY
+    PHILADELPHIA
+
+    Copyright, 1920, by
+    THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: BEFORE LEAVING, SHE EXPLAINED TO THE OLD HALF-INDIAN
+WOMAN THAT SHE WOULD NOT RETURN UNTIL DINNER TIME]
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+    I. THE BRANCH OF THE TREE                     9
+
+   II. THE YOUNGER SET                           20
+
+  III. OLD PASTIMES                              32
+
+   IV. A FORMER ACQUAINTANCE                     47
+
+    V. JEAN, OLIVE AND FRIEDA                    58
+
+   VI. JEAN AND RALPH MERRITT                    75
+
+  VII. THE TEA PARTY                             91
+
+ VIII. AN INTERVIEW                             104
+
+   IX. A YEAR LATER                             117
+
+    X. A MAIDEN SPEECH                          129
+
+   XI. THE PROPOSALS                            140
+
+  XII. A DECISION                               152
+
+ XIII. THE CAMPAIGN                             169
+
+  XIV. IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT                178
+
+   XV. CONSEQUENCES                             192
+
+  XVI. THE ELECTION                             204
+
+ XVII. THE HEART'S DESIRE                       217
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+    BEFORE LEAVING SHE EXPLAINED THAT SHE
+    WOULD NOT RETURN BEFORE DINNER TIME      _Frontispiece_
+
+    WITH A SINGLE SWIFT MOTION SHE LIFTED
+    LITTLE PEACE INTO THE SADDLE                          72
+
+    JACK REINED IN HER HORSE AND SAT STILL,
+    SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE SKY                          149
+
+    NOT A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS BUT OF EVIL-SMELLING
+    WEEDS AND TIED WITH A RAG INSTEAD
+    OF A RIBBON                                          186
+
+
+
+
+The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE BRANCH OF THE TREE
+
+
+Across a wide prairie a man and woman were riding side by side at an
+hour approaching twilight on a September afternoon. Moving slowly they
+appeared to be studying the landscape.
+
+Toward the west the sky was banked with gold and rose and purple clouds,
+while the earth revealed the same colors in the yellow sand of the
+desert spaces, the wide fields of purple clover, and the second blooming
+of the prairie roses.
+
+"Strange to have you living at the old Rainbow ranch again, Jack, and
+yet under the circumstances perhaps the most natural thing in the world!
+Long ago when I was a young fellow I learned that when human beings are
+hurt they follow the instincts of the homing birds who seek the nest.
+You have always loved the old ranch better than any place in the world,
+more than the other girls ever loved it, so with the news of your
+husband's death I knew you would return from England and bring your son
+with you, Lady Kent, once Jacqueline Ralston of the Rainbow ranch.
+Somehow I never have learned to think of you, Jack, by your title of
+Lady Kent."
+
+"No, Jim, and why should you?" the girl answered. "I never learned to
+think of myself in that fashion. I am going to confide something to you,
+Jim Colter. I always have confided my secrets to you since I was a
+little girl. I never learned during the years of my married life in
+England to feel that I was anything but a stranger there. Yet for my
+husband's sake I did my best to like England and try to make English
+people like me. I was never specially successful. I presume I am
+hopelessly an American and, what may be worse, hopelessly western. At
+present I feel that I wish to spend all the rest of my life in Wyoming.
+But one is not often allowed to do what one wishes. This morning I
+received letters from England, all of them asking when I intended to
+return and settle down as Dowager Lady Kent at Kent House, to bring up
+little Jimmie in a manner becoming a future British Lord. The worst of
+it is I don't want to go back and I don't want to bring up my son as an
+aristocrat. My husband was an Englishman, but I am an American and have
+never believed in titles. Frank had no title when I married him. I want
+little Jimmie to be half an American anyhow and wholly a democrat. What
+must I do, Jim Colter, stay here on the ranch with my own people and
+lead the life I love, or go to England and spend half my time amid the
+conventional society existence I loathe, and the other half playing Lady
+Bountiful to the poor people of a small village?"
+
+Jacqueline Ralston, who _was_ Lady Kent, regardless of her own protest,
+now reined in her horse, and rising in her saddle let her glance sweep
+the wide horizon.
+
+In the wide, gray eyes, in the low, level brow, in the full, generous
+lips and abundant vitality one might have recognized the pioneer spirit,
+infrequent in human beings, but more infrequent in women than in men.
+Yet this Jacqueline Ralston Kent, one of the original four "Ranch Girls
+of the Rainbow Lodge," possessed. All her life she had loved personal
+freedom, wide spaces, a simple, every-day, outdoor existence without
+formality. She felt a natural intimacy with the people who attracted her
+without consideration for their social position. Yet in so contrary a
+fashion does fate deal with us that Jack had spent the greater part of
+her married life under exactly opposite conditions.
+
+"For my part I don't dare advise you, Jack, I so want you to stay on at
+the Rainbow lodge, more than I wish anything else in the world at
+present. With Ruth gone, I don't see how I shall ever get on with my
+four new little Rainbow ranch girls without you to help mother them. Yet
+I had pretty much the same experience once before! Odd how circumstances
+repeat themselves! You must first do what you think best for Jimmie.
+What does the boy himself wish to do, stay here at the ranch and learn
+to be a ranchman under my training, or go back to Kent House?"
+
+Laughing Jack shook her head, crowned with gold brown hair; she was
+without a hat, after her old custom.
+
+"You know the answer to that question as well as I do, Jim. Jimmie
+adores the ranch. He is named for you, and you have done everything in
+your power to make him love it. Then I must have implanted my own
+affection for the freedom of our western life in my little son. Jimmie
+insists that he wants nothing better in the future than to stay on here
+and run the ranch and the mine when you and I have grown too old to be
+troubled with such responsibilities. He is only eight years old at
+present and so we need not feel laid on the shelf at once."
+
+"No, but I am not young as I was, Jack, hair is turning pretty gray
+these days," Jim Colter answered. "I have never mentioned this to the
+boy, but I have wanted the same thing he does. I would like Jimmie to
+live here and perhaps marry one of my four girls and keep the old ranch
+in the family through another generation or so. Sentiment of course, yet
+so far Jimmie is the only son on the horizon! Here I am with four
+daughters, Jean and Ralph Merritt with two, Olive and Captain MacDonnell
+with no children, and Frieda's and Professor Russell's little girl so
+frail that it is hard to count on any future for her."
+
+At this Jack's expression clouded. A moment later she again arose in her
+saddle, this time pointing toward the eastern portion of the Rainbow
+ranch. To the west and north lay the gold mine discovered years before,
+though no longer yielding a supply of gold as in its early days.
+
+The mine had never interested either Jacqueline Ralston or Jim Colter as
+it had the other members of the family. They had been horse and cattle
+raisers before a mine was ever dreamed of, and it was the rearing of the
+livestock for which Jim and Jack cared intensely to this day.
+
+Riding through the ranch, every half hour or so they had passed a herd
+of cattle browsing amid the purple alfalfa grass, seen the sleek brown
+cows standing with their young calves close beside them. Less often they
+had run across a small drove of horses and young colts, as horses were
+no longer so good an investment as in the old days. Yet the present
+Rainbow ranch owners would prefer to have lost money than be without
+them, the horses having always received Jack's especial affection and
+attention as a girl and upon her occasional visits home to the ranch
+after her English marriage.
+
+"Can that be a herd of horses or cattle stampeding there toward the
+east, Jim? We are too far off to see distinctly; suppose we ride in that
+direction," Jack said unexpectedly.
+
+Wasting no time in words Jim Colter nodded. The following moment both
+horses, their noses pointing eastward, were galloping across the open
+prairie fields and away from the road.
+
+Experienced ranchmen, he and his companion appreciated that the cloud of
+dust and the grouping of dark bodies advancing toward them with unusual
+rapidity represented trouble of some kind. At this time of the year it
+seemed scarcely possible that a wolf had stolen from the pack and
+frightened one of the herds. Yet there was no accounting for the tricks
+of nature. Moreover, frequently a number of horses or cattle suffered
+from group fear, the one transmitting the fright to the other without
+apparent reason.
+
+Half a mile away the drove of young horses, which Jim Colter had finally
+located with his field glasses, turned and swerved south.
+
+Almost as swiftly the two riders moved off in the same direction,
+hoping they might be able to divide the frightened animals and drive
+them apart.
+
+A quarter of a mile farther along, riding at no great distance from each
+other, Jim Colter heard an exclamation from his companion, so sudden, so
+terrified and so unexpected that he reined his own horse sharply until
+for an instant it stood trembling on its hind legs, its slender nose
+snuffing the soft air.
+
+"Tell me, Jim, is that Jimmie's pony ahead of us? The saddle is on the
+pony, but no one is riding. Jimmie can't have ridden over here alone? He
+can't be anywhere near-by?"
+
+Yet even as the question was being asked, the man and woman saw and,
+seeing, understood.
+
+The pony which Jack had spied with the bridle dangling over its head was
+moving from place to place nibbling at the most luxurious patches of
+clover. Beyond, and closer to the trampling herd of panic-stricken
+animals, lay a small figure, outstretched on the ground and probably
+until this moment asleep.
+
+Whether he now heard the oncoming horses or the cries of his mother and
+guardian, in any case, awakening, he jumped to his feet and the same
+instant turned, beheld, and understood his own danger. In a few moments,
+seconds perhaps, the frightened animals would be upon him, trampling,
+snorting, unconscious of his presence in their frenzy.
+
+As the boy ran across the field toward his pony, he had the
+consciousness that the two persons for whom he cared most in the world
+were coming toward him to save him from harm. Yet he also appreciated
+this would not be possible, as they could not reach him in time.
+
+But Jimmie Kent was not to make the whole effort alone. As he ran he
+called his pony's name.
+
+"Whitestar! Whitestar!" The boy's tones remained firm and commanding.
+
+Whitestar had observed her own danger. The pony's head went up, showing
+the mark upon her pretty nose which had given her the name. A single
+time she pawed the earth in front of her, appearing about to rush _away_
+without her master, and then she cantered toward the boy.
+
+The oncoming drove of terrified animals was now only a few yards away.
+
+"Don't lose courage, Jack, he is your son, remember! He will win out,"
+Jim Colter shouted, his own horse scarcely appearing to touch the earth
+as it ran.
+
+"Drive straight toward them, Jimmie, don't try to cross their path," Jim
+called, his voice sounding unfamiliar to his own ears.
+
+Yet either the boy heard or recognized his one chance.
+
+Without hesitation the little figure lying close to his saddle was
+riding straight toward the center of the drove of twenty or thirty
+frightened animals. The leader, a few feet in advance of the others,
+apparently ran in a direct line with the boy.
+
+Her eyes never turning for an instant from the little figure, now not
+thirty yards away, Jack understood what must take place. Should the
+leader come on without swerving Jimmie would be unseated, his pony
+struck down and the other horses would pass over them both. But, should
+Jimmie possess the courage or, greater than courage, the strength of
+will to force the horse in advance of the drove to swerve either toward
+the right or left, the others would follow.
+
+A moment later and Jack's arms were about her son.
+
+"You've turned the trick, Jimmie," Jim Colter was saying roughly. "But
+it is the front yard of the Rainbow lodge for you for the next week. How
+dared you ride over the ranch alone when I have told you it was
+forbidden? Now you and your mother get home as soon as you can and send
+whatever men you come across in this direction. I suppose the horses
+will have tired themselves out after a few more miles of running, but it
+is just as well to see they are quieted down."
+
+So Jim Colter rode away in one direction and Jimmie and his mother in
+the other toward the Rainbow lodge.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE YOUNGER SET
+
+
+The front yard of the Rainbow lodge appeared an extremely small
+playground for a boy accustomed to covering many miles of the broad
+ranch and the adjoining country in the course of each day. Yet as Jim
+Colter's word was law on the Rainbow ranch Jimmie Kent had no thought of
+breaking parole.
+
+He glanced up at the double rows of tall cottonwood trees which led from
+the lodge to the gate. Almost impossibly difficult trees to climb
+because of their tall, smooth trunks and the branches so high overhead!
+A warm September day and Rainbow creek not half a mile away! Jimmie
+taxed his imagination until he could well-nigh feel himself swimming
+about in the cool freshness of the little stream, deeper than usual at
+the present time because of the abundant September rains. When one's
+swim ended, not far away were his mother, his Aunt Jean and her husband
+Ralph Merritt, a clever mining engineer. The family was to meet this
+afternoon to discuss the possibility of sinking a new shaft into the old
+Rainbow mine with the hope of striking a new lode.
+
+Moreover, Jim Colter (and Jimmie and the big man were so intimate as to
+use each other's first names) was attending to the branding of a herd of
+calves at one of the ranch houses. Any one, or all, of these
+entertainments might have been his, except for an unfortunate impulse to
+investigate the Rainbow ranch alone a few afternoons before.
+
+A week of the front yard of the lodge appeared an interminable time to
+Jimmie Kent, yet even a week would pass in time. And one had better be
+half a prisoner at the old ranch than free in any other part of the
+world.
+
+Six weeks before having arrived at the ranch after a long journey from
+England, at present this was Jimmie Kent's earnest conviction. Was there
+anywhere else in the world such a wide sweep of country, such plains and
+prairies and desert sands covered with sage brush and cacti? In the
+prairies there were wolves and deer and bear. Since his arrival at the
+ranch Jimmie believed he had heard one night the call of a wolf, the
+leader of the pack, and coyotes he had seen with his own eyes, sniffing
+about the edge of the woods not far from Rainbow creek. Jim Colter had
+suggested that the buffalo were not all destroyed, but might be found
+roaming in certain western portions of the state, now inhabited only by
+wandering Indian tribes. He had hinted at mountain lions as not wholly a
+figment of a boy's dreams, but as realities, creatures Jim Colter had
+beheld with his own eyes long years before, when the west was the west
+indeed.
+
+Yet here he was, Jimmie Kent, late of Kent House, Kent county, England,
+suddenly transformed into an American boy, but shut up within an acre of
+ground for a week and, moreover, face to face with the tragic
+possibility that within a month or more he might be forced to return to
+England. He had nothing against England except that it was too small for
+a boy's energies and hopelessly devoid of wild animals outside the
+London Zoo.
+
+India of course was a possession of the British Empire, and South
+Africa, but Jimmie felt that probably for a number of years he might not
+be permitted to explore these regions. So why the present discussion?
+If he and his mother both desired to remain at the Rainbow ranch at
+least for a number of years, they ought to be able to decide for
+themselves. Nevertheless his mother had explained that she must continue
+to think the situation over and to ask the advice of her family.
+To-night the grown-up members of the family were even to dine together
+for this purpose.
+
+Discovering a cottonwood tree not far from the gate, Jimmie now climbed
+up and seated himself upon one of the lower branches. Here he was
+enabled to have a wide outlook.
+
+Behind him was the Rainbow lodge where he and his mother were living at
+the present time. So often Jimmie Kent had been told its history! Here
+his mother with her sister, Frieda Ralston, and her cousin Jean Bruce,
+had lived when the three of them were little girls and under the
+guardianship of Jim Colter, the manager of their father's ranch after
+his death. Later the fourth ranch girl had found refuge with them,
+escaping from an Indian woman in whose charge she had been for so many
+years that her early childhood was enshrouded in mystery.
+
+From his present viewpoint Jimmie Kent was able to observe two figures
+not at a great distance away. They were Captain MacDonnell and his wife,
+who had been Olive to the other ranch girls until the discovery of her
+parentage.
+
+Captain MacDonnell, injured in the great war, later had developed his
+talent as an artist. Jimmie possessed the ordinary small boy's attitude
+toward pictures, nevertheless he had something to say in favor of
+Captain MacDonnell's, since _his_ reputation had been acquired through
+his painting of western scenes.
+
+At the present moment he was sketching a mustang pony, which one of the
+ranch boys was leading back and forth in an effort to persuade the pony
+to remain within the range of the artist's vision. Jimmie would have
+enjoyed changing places with the other boy. In spite of Captain Bryan
+MacDonnell's lameness he had an especial understanding and love of the
+outdoors, to such an extent that he and his wife were spending a year or
+more at the Rainbow ranch, living in a tent, regardless of the fact that
+at the great house built after the discovery of the Rainbow mine there
+was room for any number of guests.
+
+Jimmie now glanced over toward the splendid mansion which had been
+christened "Rainbow Castle" by Frieda Ralston years before. His Aunt
+Frieda and her distinguished if eccentric husband, Professor Henry
+Tilford Russell and their one little girl were at present visitors at
+Rainbow Castle, having arrived only a day or so before.
+
+Jimmie was no more interested in relatives as relatives than most small
+boys. Yet had his preference been asked he would have said freely that
+he liked best his Aunt Jean and his uncle Ralph Merritt, possibly
+because a famous engineer who had been not only the engineer of the
+Rainbow mine but of several other mines would appeal to any masculine
+imagination. Then possessing no sons of her own and greatly desiring
+one, his Aunt Jean was particularly kind to him.
+
+At this moment Jimmie became especially grateful to fate for his exalted
+position in the tree top. Advancing toward him he beheld his seven girl
+cousins.
+
+"Eight cousins!" Some one was always muttering this tiresome
+exclamation, as if there was any special point in it. Personally Jimmie
+considered the one drawback to his residence in the United States was
+the possession of such an affliction. Not that he disliked the seven
+girls; two or three of them were fairly agreeable. One could not dislike
+the little girl, who was scarcely more than a baby, and whose name was
+Peace, she was so pretty and so gentle. She had been called Peace though
+named for her mother, because no one wished to repeat the name Frieda
+during the war.
+
+The seven cousins and two nurses were now entering the yard of the
+Rainbow lodge and Jimmie Kent wondered if he preferred not to be
+discovered. He guessed their errand: they intended gathering violets
+from the violet beds on either side of the house, planted years before
+by Frieda Ralston in an effort to increase the family fortunes, and now
+famous throughout the neighborhood.
+
+In advance were the four daughters of Jim Colter, whom he described as
+the four new Rainbow Ranch girls and whose names were also Jacqueline,
+Jean, Olive, and Frieda, although called Lina, Jeannette, Olivia, and
+Eda, to distinguish them from the original "Ranch Girls of the Rainbow
+Lodge." The three visitors with the maids were following.
+
+An instant Jimmie considered whether it might not be a good idea to
+allow Jeannette Colter to observe his present elevation. She was the one
+of the seven girls he most disliked. A few months his elder, she boasted
+that she could ride and run and climb equally well with the new English
+boy visitor. She could learn to shoot equally well if her father offered
+her an equal opportunity.
+
+The truth was that if Jimmie considered he disliked Jeannette, she
+cordially hated him. Before Jimmie's coming she had been her father's
+constant companion, riding with him about the ranch as Jacqueline
+Ralston had done in the years past. But three times of late had her
+father left her at home with her sisters, saying that he wanted to ride
+alone with Jimmie in order better to make his acquaintance.
+
+Now Jimmie felt a reasonable pride in the fact that Jeannette would not
+be able to occupy such a position as his present one without assistance.
+
+"Hello," he called down. The other girls waved and returned his
+greeting, but Jeannette Colter laughed.
+
+"Up a tree, aren't you, in more ways than one, Jimmie Kent! I am sorry
+you cannot leave the front yard for a week," which was not kind or
+truthful in Jeannette, who was especially pleased by Jimmie's captivity
+since it restored her to her father's uninterrupted companionship.
+
+At the close of the day, having finished his solitary dinner--his mother
+was dining at the big house--Jimmie came out on the veranda of the lodge
+and went to bed in the big porch hammock where he often spent the night.
+
+Several hours later, half awakened by the return of his mother and Jim
+Colter from the family dinner party, but too drowsy to speak,
+nevertheless Jimmie overheard his mother announce in a tone of relief:
+
+"Well, Jim, thank goodness I have been able to make up my mind at last!
+Indecision, you know, always has annoyed me more than anything else in
+the world. So it is to be the Rainbow ranch and my own country for as
+many years as I can arrange it. And may they be as many years as you
+need me, Jim."
+
+His friend's reply made Jimmie Kent smile and settle himself more
+comfortably in his hammock bed. The reply gave one a pleasant sense of
+permanency.
+
+"Then if you never leave the United States until I cease to need you,
+Jack, you won't go away until I am removed to broader fields than the
+Rainbow ranch. But do you think you will be happy, that is the main
+thing? What will you do with yourself? These are restless days for most
+women and you have more energy than any woman I have ever known. Want a
+career, Jacqueline Ralston Kent? Are you staying in your own country
+because you wish to be a famous woman some day and the United States
+offers the best opportunity?"
+
+"Suppose we sit down a while, Jim," Jack answered. "You are not sleepy,
+are you? It is too lovely a night!"
+
+Walking over to the hammock, Jack pulled up a warm covering over her son
+and as he smiled up at her, whispered,
+
+"We won't disturb you, will we, Jimmie?" and Jimmie only shook his head,
+not wishing to speak, yet enjoying the distant sound of the two voices
+he loved best.
+
+A moment later Jim Colter and Jack were sitting together upon one of the
+front steps of the Rainbow lodge as they had sat together so many times
+in years past, always preferring to be in some spot where there were no
+walls closed about them but where there was a wide view of sky and
+land.
+
+"Don't laugh, Jim, but I don't know, yet laugh a little if you like, as
+it may be good for me. Yes, I have sometimes thought since Frank's death
+that I should like a career of my own, besides just being Jimmie's
+mother, proud as I am of that honor. Inside the secret corners of my
+mind the thought has influenced me a little in my desire to remain at
+home."
+
+"But what is the great career to be?" Jim Colter answered smiling, and
+yet with a sufficient interest in his tone to take away any lack of
+sympathy that might have been conveyed by his amusement. "You aren't
+going to turn poet, or painter, or actress, Jack, after displaying no
+fondness for the arts in all these years?"
+
+"No, Jim Colter, and no talents either," Jack returned. "I appreciate
+your veiled sarcasm. No, the good fairies who bestow the artistic gifts
+were not present at my birthday. What do you think I might be able to
+do, Jim? Tell me."
+
+There was a short silence and then the man answered:
+
+"Help me manage the Rainbow ranch, Jack, or a larger ranch if you like."
+
+Jack shook her head.
+
+"No, Jim, you have managed the ranch successfully without me and though
+I may bore you by interfering now and then, to help you when you do not
+need help will not be the thing I am after. Would you hate it if I
+should take an interest in politics? It is an exciting world these days
+and after all Wyoming was the first state to give the vote to women! I
+wonder if I am still an American citizen. In marrying an Englishman I
+know I became a British subject while my husband was alive, but now he
+is dead and I have returned to my own country, the point is, what am I,
+Jim? A woman without a country?"
+
+"Jack, I don't know. However, I should dislike your entering political
+life, but suppose you are old enough to decide for yourself." Jim Colter
+laughed. "You always did decide for yourself in the end, Jack, even when
+you were pretty young. But you will marry again some day! Suppose we ask
+an old friend of yours, Peter Stevens, whether at present you are an
+American citizen or a British subject? Stevens has become one of the
+distinguished young lawyers in the state, or in the west for that
+matter. But look out for him, Jack, he is an old bachelor and a woman
+hater. Now it must be nearly midnight. Good-night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+OLD PASTIMES
+
+
+One Saturday afternoon several days later Jacqueline Kent, escaping from
+her family, rode alone down to the great ranch house a mile or more from
+the Rainbow lodge. She had not had an opportunity to visit the ranch
+house since her arrival at her former home. Yet as a young girl she
+always had enjoyed slipping off to the big ranch house unaccompanied by
+the other Ranch Girls and usually without Jim Colter's knowledge or
+consent. In the ranch house lived the ranchmen, or the cowboys who
+looked after the livestock on the great place.
+
+To-day as Jack rode up to the house only three or four of the ranchmen
+were visible and they were standing on the rough log porch smoking and
+talking to one another.
+
+But the four sombreros were immediately lifted, and one of the men came
+forward.
+
+"Glad to see you, Lady Kent. Is there any order you wish to give, or any
+message? Sorry the greater number of the fellows are not here at
+present. This is Saturday afternoon, you see, and a half holiday. They
+are off entertaining themselves, but we'll have the laugh on them when
+we tell them that we have had a visit from you."
+
+The Wyoming cowboy spoke with a courtesy and self-possession Jack had
+often seen lacking among more distinguished persons. However, perhaps
+"distinguished" is not the proper adjective, since her present companion
+possessed, stored inside his kit, among the personal treasures in his
+rough, pine-wood chamber a Distinguished Service Medal presented him by
+the United States Government and a Croix de Guerre, the gift of a
+grateful France.
+
+Jack shook her head.
+
+"No, I haven't a message or an order. I merely wanted to see the old
+ranch house and be introduced to the men. But don't call me Lady Kent. I
+am Mrs. Kent; now that I have returned to my own country a title strikes
+me as an absurdity. It is hard enough to remember, these days, that I am
+not Jacqueline Ralston; the ranch is so like it used to be when I was a
+young girl. I am sorry not to find the other men, as I rode over this
+afternoon knowing it was Saturday and hoping I might meet them. May I be
+introduced to the three men who are here, if they don't mind?"
+
+Jack spoke with a mixture of shyness and friendliness entirely natural
+to her, but in the present circumstances, perhaps unusual.
+
+The man to whom she was speaking was John Simmons, one of the assistant
+managers of the Rainbow ranch to whom Jim Colter had introduced her
+shortly after her arrival at her old home.
+
+At a summons from him, the three other men rushed forward as if only
+awaiting the opportunity, and leaning from her horse, holding the bridle
+in her left hand, Jack shook hands cordially with her new acquaintances.
+
+"More sport this, ma'am, than lassoing a wild colt!" one of the cowboys
+drawled, as Jack smiled upon him. His three companions, after first
+shouting with laughter, proceeded to frown upon the young fellow. He was
+only a boy not yet twenty-one, from the Kentucky mountains, who
+nevertheless had served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France
+for eighteen months.
+
+"But are the men practicing lassoing this afternoon? If they are,
+please do take me to see what is going on. Is there to be a contest?"
+Jack inquired. "I used to know something about the business myself, long
+ago when I was a girl. I have even tried using the lasso, although I was
+never a great success according to Jim Colter, who did his best to teach
+me."
+
+"If you'll wait until we get our horses," John Simmons replied.
+
+A few moments later Jack and her four masculine companions were
+galloping toward one of the farther boundaries of the Rainbow ranch.
+
+After half an hour's steady riding they came upon from twenty to thirty
+young ranchmen gathered about an open stretch of country. A third of the
+men were employees of the Rainbow ranch, the others were from
+neighboring places.
+
+The men were grouped together, some of them on horseback, others at
+present afoot. Not far away were a dozen western ponies still unbroken
+either for riding or driving, but captured and brought to this
+particular spot. Firmly tethered to stakes, they were now pawing the
+earth, tossing their pretty heads in the air and kicking and bucking if
+any one approached.
+
+If the men were astonished by the appearance of Jacqueline Kent upon the
+scene, they were sufficiently polite to make no mention of the fact. If
+they exchanged glances of surprise or whispered comments, Jack was too
+little self-conscious and too interested in the spectacle before her and
+what was about to take place to consider her own position.
+
+Apart from the group, facing a broad, flat prairie field were two of the
+ranchmen, a few yards separating them. Over their right arms hung their
+long lariats, coils of rope with a slip noose at the end.
+
+A pony unloosed at a given signal would make a plunge for liberty. Then
+the two men with the lassos would be after him. The pony has a fair
+start in open field, and the race for freedom lies before him.
+
+In her eager interest, scarcely realizing what she was doing, Jack made
+her way to the front line of the group of spectators, the men giving way
+to her partly from amusement and partly from courtesy. The larger number
+of them had no personal acquaintance with her, yet she was well enough
+known by reputation. One of the owners of the famous Rainbow ranch,
+herself a Ranch girl until her marriage to an Englishman, the fact that
+since her husband's death Jacqueline Ralston Kent had returned home with
+the avowed intention of resuming her American citizenship was already
+become a subject for gossip, for approval or disapproval among her
+neighbors.
+
+Staring at her secretly when the chance offered, there was in all
+probability the usual difference of opinion concerning her among the
+onlookers. But with one fact they would all have agreed: Lady Kent, or
+Mrs. Kent, as she was said to prefer being called, looked younger than
+any one who had heard her history could have thought possible.
+
+In truth, this afternoon, in her usual informal fashion, Jack was
+wearing an old corduroy riding habit which she had left behind her at
+the Rainbow lodge several years before upon the occasion of her previous
+visit home. It was of dust color, plainly made with a long, close
+fitting coat and divided skirt. Her riding boots and gloves, however,
+were of the softest and most beautiful English manufacture; her hat of
+brown felt, with a broad brim.
+
+This afternoon Jack's cheeks were a deep rose color, her eyes were
+glowing, her full red lips were parted from excitement and pleasure as
+she watched.
+
+Away toward the outermost bounds rushed the little untamed colt, his
+pursuers close on his track. Then a long rope swung through the air,
+coil on coil unloosed, rose beautiful as bubbles afloat, with the noose
+ready to capture and bring the pony to a standstill.
+
+The first man is unsuccessful and the bystanders raise a shout of
+derision. This changes to applause when the second man slips his noose
+easily over the pony and gently draws it until the four protesting feet
+are held fast.
+
+Then the pony is brought back, again tied to its stake and a second
+contest begins anew.
+
+There was no cruelty in this sport, only a test of courage and skill,
+since sooner or later the wild ponies must be captured and tamed and
+taught to do their portion of the world's work.
+
+Had she forgotten how exhilarating, how thrilling the lassoing was? Jack
+felt her heart pounding, her blood coursing more swiftly in her veins as
+she half stood in her saddle waving her applause at each victory.
+
+"I suppose I should not dare attempt to find if I have altogether lost
+my skill?" she asked of her companion, the assistant manager of the
+Rainbow ranch, who had managed to keep near her all afternoon. "Would it
+bore the men dreadfully to have me take part, do you think? Of course I
+ought not to be willing to disgrace myself before so many people."
+
+As a matter of fact, Jack was talking to herself, arguing with her own
+desire, as well as asking the advice of her companion.
+
+"I don't know. Do you realize that if one is out of practice roping is a
+fairly dangerous sport, Mrs. Kent? I don't think I would undertake it,"
+John Simmons protested.
+
+But Jack found an unexpected ally.
+
+Without her being aware of it, the young Kentuckian whom she had met for
+the first time at the ranch house a short while before, had remained as
+faithful an escort as the assistant manager of the ranch, and a more
+devoted one, since John Simmons regarded the protection of Mrs. Kent
+under the present circumstances as his duty, while with Billy Preston
+there was no question of duty but of pleasure.
+
+"You don't mean you've got the nerve to git into the present game, Mrs.
+Kent?" he queried, his manner perfectly respectful, in spite of the
+oddity of his speech. "I've been ridin' all my days, was pretty nigh
+born on a horse, anyhow used to hang on when I couldn't 'a' been more'n
+two or three years old, 'cause there wasn't no other way of gittin' up
+or down our hills in them days. But this here lassoing game, I'm not on
+to _it_ yet. Seems like it would be kind of worth while to see you go
+after one of them colts and rope her and lead her in same as one of the
+men. I can't come to believe a woman could ever manage it."
+
+"Maybe I could not," Jack answered, but both her interest and vanity
+were stimulated. It was a curious fact that she had so little personal
+vanity in most things, and yet like a boy had a boy's ambition if not a
+boy's vanity with regard to outdoor pastimes.
+
+Disappearing a moment, Billy Preston rode up again soon after with one
+of the other ranchmen, who happened to be in charge of the afternoon's
+contest.
+
+"If you would like to try your hand, Mrs. Kent, and are not afraid of
+getting into trouble, why of course there is no objection. Any one of
+the fellows will be glad of the chance to ride beside you and give you
+the first throw."
+
+Jack laughed, hesitated and weakened. As a matter of fact, she should
+have known better than to make an exhibition of herself before a group
+of strange young men; her instinct, her experience, her judgment, should
+have taught her better. They did whisper their protest, it was Jack's
+fault that she did not heed them, this being her particular failure in
+life that she could not see that things which were not intrinsically
+wrong in themselves were oftentimes wrong when done at the wrong time
+and in the wrong place.
+
+"You don't think I would be too great a bore? Then may I borrow some
+one's horse? My own is not accustomed to the lassoing."
+
+A short time after, actually unconscious of the unconventionality of her
+behavior, Jacqueline Kent with the lariat swung over her arm, before an
+audience of perhaps thirty or more amused and absorbed spectators, was
+awaiting the moment to ride forward.
+
+The soft prairie winds blew against her face, bringing their familiar
+fragrances, the circle of mountains far away on the dim horizons had
+their summits crowned with snow. About her, whinnying and neighing,
+their slender nostrils quivering with interest in the sport, were the
+western horses she had loved almost as she loved people from the time
+she was little more than a baby. As for her audience, Jack really gave
+it scarcely any thought so keyed was she to the business in hand. Had
+she altogether forgotten her past prowess? A moment before she had not
+been entirely truthful, for she had possessed an unusual skill in every
+phase of western riding as a young girl, and especially skilful in what
+she was about to undertake.
+
+Yet at present the rope hung slack on her arm with an odd feeling of
+unfamiliarity. An instant later Jack flung it in the air, saw it coil
+and uncoil, heard the singing noise it made, and then drew it back into
+place, feeling an added confidence.
+
+The following instant she was after the pony, her companion riding a few
+feet behind her, but making no effort with his own lasso.
+
+Jack had asked for no quarter, yet was to be afforded every chance. Once
+her rope rose, sailed forward and then dropped slack to the ground, the
+pony cantering on ahead undisturbed, and uncaptured.
+
+In her accustomed fashion laughing at her own failure, Jack settled more
+firmly to her task, spurring her horse ahead.
+
+A second time her rope shot forward and now the pony crumpled and went
+down upon its forelegs, Jack drawing the lasso and holding it until her
+companion took the rope from her hand.
+
+Then she turned to ride back to her former place.
+
+Now Jack felt herself blushing warmly and for the first time became
+aware of her conspicuous position.
+
+Her audience was laughing and shouting their surprised applause, hats
+were being waved in the air. There in front of the others and on foot,
+Jack beheld Jim Colter, and only a few times in her life could she
+recall having seen his face reveal such an expression of disapproval.
+
+"Making an exhibition of yourself, Jack?" he asked after she had
+dismounted and stood beside him. Then he turned to one of his own
+ranchmen. "Will you bring Mrs. Kent's horse back to the Rainbow lodge?
+She will drive home with me."
+
+Led away as if she were a disgraced school-girl, Jack suffered a number
+of conflicting emotions--anger, rebellion, embarrassment, and
+repentance and some amusement. Surely the time had arrived when her
+former guardian should recognize that she was a woman and not a child.
+Then Jack appreciated that she should have recognized the fact herself
+and not made an exhibition of herself as Jim had just said.
+
+"You won't tell the family what I have done, will you, please, Jim?"
+Jack asked when they were a safe distance away. "I know I have behaved
+badly and I suppose it does no good to say that I never appreciated the
+fact until I had the first look at your face. I hate to have you angry,
+Jim."
+
+"You will be the talk of the countryside, Jacqueline Kent, and who knows
+where else?" Jim Colter answered. "It's incredible that you did not
+realize this. In less than an hour it will be on every tongue that Lady
+Kent has returned to Wyoming to seek the society of the cowboys and
+ranchmen and to engage in their rough sports, and please remember it
+also will be reported that she seeks their companionship with no other
+women present. Fine beginning, Jack."
+
+"You are pretty hateful, Jim. I thought you used to tell me not to mind
+idle gossip."
+
+"I did, Jack, but not when the gossip was justified by your behavior. As
+for my keeping your recent act a secret from the rest of the family, it
+is not possible. Frieda and Professor Russell, Olive and Captain
+MacDonnell, and your former acquaintance, Peter Stevens, are in the
+motor car waiting for you, unfortunately so near as to be aware of your
+proceedings. We motored over to Laramie this afternoon and asked Stevens
+if he knew what steps you should take in order to resume your American
+citizenship. He was not altogether sure and explained he thought it
+would be wiser to look the question up. As he was free for the evening
+Frieda invited him to motor to the ranch with us and meet you again.
+Finding you had gone down to the ranch house, we went in search of you.
+Ching Lee, who is the present cook at the ranch house, informed me you
+had ridden over here with Simmons, which was in itself sufficiently
+unconventional, Jack, without the unexpected addition I saw when I left
+the motor and came to look for you."
+
+"Good gracious, Frieda will never let me hear the last of this!" Jack
+exclaimed. "It is rather too much to have an old acquaintance like
+Peter Stevens, who never liked or approved of me even in my youth, as
+another witness to my discomfiture. Perhaps you would prefer I return to
+England after all, Jim! Can't you forgive me before I join the others;
+I'll have sufficient disapproval to endure then without yours. I wonder
+if I dare face Frieda. I'll never make a mistake like this again."
+
+But for once Jim Colter refused to yield to Jack's pleading, being more
+deeply disturbed by her action because of its consequent reaction upon
+her than he had been in some time past. Beautiful, young and daring,
+with unusual wealth, perhaps it might be wiser if Jack should marry
+again, hard as it would be for him to give her up a second time.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A FORMER ACQUAINTANCE
+
+
+"I was never so ashamed of any one in my life."
+
+Jack flushed, but, ignoring her sister's speech, extended her hand to
+the young man who was seated in the motor car beside her.
+
+"I am afraid you don't remember me," she began, "it has been a long
+time, and we never knew each other intimately in the past. But it is
+kind of you to have driven over to the ranch."
+
+Then getting into the car, Jack sat down in the vacant place which had
+been saved for her between her sister and their visitor.
+
+"Just the same, I believe I should have known you," Peter Stevens
+returned, looking at her with what Jack considered was certainly not an
+expression of admiration. "Do you think, Mrs. Kent, a fellow is apt to
+forget a girl who could ride and hunt and shoot better than nearly any
+young man in Wyoming? I was a bookworm in those days and have remained
+one, but that did not prevent my jealousy of you."
+
+"Please don't refer to my dreadful outdoor accomplishments," Jack
+murmured, "not after I have gotten myself into such disfavor with my
+family." The little glance, half of appeal, half of humor which she at
+this instant bestowed upon her companion made the muscles of his face
+suddenly relax and his blue eyes less cold, so that Jack caught at least
+a fleeting likeness to the boy she had once known.
+
+As a matter of fact, Peter Stevens, who was still in the early twenties,
+had appeared so much older than she had dreamed possible that Jack would
+not have recognized him without first having been told his name.
+
+Then his face hardened again.
+
+"Well, most of us grow up, Mrs. Kent, but perhaps you are one of the
+persons who do not. I am told you prefer not to use your title in the
+United States."
+
+To Jack's mind, as there was plainly no answer to this speech with its
+scarcely courteous reference to her recent impulsive action, she turned
+toward her sister.
+
+Frieda Ralston had developed into the type of matron one might have
+expected from her spoiled girlhood and--more important--her childish
+and self-satisfied temperament. She dearly loved her older sister;
+except for her husband and baby, she loved no one so well; but she also
+loved the opportunity to assume an attitude of offended dignity which
+usually had succeeded in making the members of her family do as she
+wished.
+
+Moreover her sister's recent escapade had seriously shocked and annoyed
+her, not for her own sake, but for her sister's. She had wished Jack to
+make a charming impression among their neighbors and old friends. No
+one, as she believed, could be handsomer or more delightful than her
+sister, Lady Kent, and Frieda declined to lay aside the title. Yet here
+was Jack, after having probably disgraced herself by her latest
+performance, meeting one of the most prominent of the younger men in
+Wyoming, dressed in an old, discarded riding habit, dusty, her hair
+blown about her face, looking at least ten years younger than she
+actually was; in fact, as if she had never left the ranch, never been
+married or seen anything of the outside world.
+
+As a matter of fact, Frieda now and then felt slightly resentful of the
+suggestion, occasionally made by strangers, that she was the older of
+the two sisters. But this Frieda thought must be because she was getting
+just the tiniest bit stouter than she would have preferred to be.
+However, she did not care seriously. This afternoon, as Jack tried to
+catch her sister's eye, she thought that Frieda looked prettier than
+usual, in her beautifully made blue cloth tailor suit and the little
+blue feather hat which made her eyes appear even bluer and the fairness
+of her skin more conspicuous.
+
+She also considered that Frieda was partly justified in her anger, but
+that she must not be allowed to display her temper or to lecture her
+older sister before a stranger.
+
+The next instant, leaning over, Jack whispered a few words to Olive
+MacDonnell, who with her husband, Captain MacDonnell, was occupying the
+seat in front of her own. Professor Henry Tilford Russell, Frieda's
+husband, was next to Jim Colter, who was driving the car.
+
+What Jack whispered was:
+
+"You'll stand by me, Olive, you and Bryan; as usual, I seem to have
+gotten into more troubled waters than I realized."
+
+And Olive had nodded with the sympathy and understanding which Jack had
+always been able to count upon from the days of their earliest
+acquaintance when Olive had taken refuge at the Rainbow lodge and
+Jacqueline Ralston had sheltered and protected her.
+
+The following moment Jack stretched out her arms toward Frieda's little
+girl, who was sitting in her mother's lap.
+
+"Let me hold the baby, please, Frieda dear, you must both be tired."
+
+Then as Peace climbed over into her aunt's lap, Jack pressed her cheek
+for an instant against the little girl's head.
+
+She and Peace had a deep affection and understanding of each other. But
+then the child was captivating to everybody. Inheriting Frieda's
+exquisite blonde coloring, Peace had a spirituality her mother never
+possessed. She was several years old, but so frail that she seemed
+younger in spite of her wise, old-fashioned conversation.
+
+"Tired?" she murmured.
+
+Jack shook her head.
+
+"There is nothing the matter." It often troubled her and Frieda, the
+little girl's curious knowledge of what was going on in the minds of the
+people about her without an exchange of words.
+
+Frieda now glanced at her sister and her own little girl and her
+expression altered. She loved seeing them together and had no feeling of
+jealousy. Indeed she used to hope that some of Jack's vigor, the
+extraordinary and beautiful vitality which made her different from other
+persons might be transferred to her own little girl.
+
+"We will leave you at the lodge, Jack, to dress for dinner, if you will
+come up to the big house later;" Frieda remarked with a change of tone.
+"Mr. Stevens has been kind enough to say he will remain all night and
+motor back to Laramie in the morning."
+
+Was it natural vanity on Jacqueline Ralston's part or an effort to
+reinstate herself in the good graces of her family that she bathed and
+dressed with unusual care, brushing every particle of dust from her
+long, heavy, gold brown hair which waved from her temples to the low
+coil which she wore at the back of her neck?
+
+Jack's evening dress was black chiffon without an ornament or jewel and
+was the first change she had made from her mourning. To any one less
+physically perfect than Jacqueline Kent, the severity of the dress might
+have been trying. But her skin was clear, her color, without being
+vivid, gave a sufficient flush to her cheeks, her lips were a deep red,
+her eyes gray and wide and with a singular sincerity. Moreover, Jack's
+outdoor tastes, into whatever indiscretions they might lead her, had
+kept her figure erect, beautifully modeled and well poised, and a
+beautiful figure is far more rare than a beautiful face.
+
+Walking up with Jimmie as her escort to the big house, Jack confessed to
+herself that she felt slightly bored. Unexpectedly she had grown a
+little tired, or if not tired, not in the mood to endure any more family
+criticism at the present time, and would much have preferred spending
+the evening alone with her son.
+
+She had confessed her offence to Jimmie, wishing him to hear from her
+what she had done. But Jimmie, not appreciating the social error she had
+committed, had appeared immensely proud, even jealous of her prowess,
+insisting that she should begin to give him lessons in the art of
+lassoing early the following morning.
+
+Personally Jack wondered just to what extent her family had been
+unnecessarily critical in their attitude. Would her neighbors judge her
+action so harshly that it would interfere with their friendliness toward
+her? It was always hard for Jack to live in an atmosphere of
+unfriendliness.
+
+So far as her former acquaintance was concerned she had no vestige of
+doubt. Peter Stevens had been absurdly shocked and offended by her
+exhibition of what had seemed to him unwomanliness. But personally Jack
+did not care a great deal for his opinion, she had not liked him
+particularly, and it had occurred to her that it might be just as well
+if he were shocked occasionally. He looked prim and too much an old
+bachelor for so comparatively young a man.
+
+However, what really startled Peter Stevens was Jacqueline Kent's
+appearance, when he came into the drawing room a few moments before
+dinner and found her standing alone before a small fire.
+
+He controlled with difficulty an exclamation of surprise, having not
+thought her even handsome earlier in the afternoon. And he had
+disapproved of her action more keenly than he believed himself to have
+revealed. Now as Jack began talking to him he appreciated not only her
+beauty, but the fact that she had become a charming woman of the world
+and probably had seen more of life than he had seen in spite of his
+success in his profession and his political ambitions.
+
+"You are a Republican, aren't you?" Jack asked, and then added: "I
+believe you have been elected a member of the State Legislature in
+Wyoming and the people are talking about you for one of our United
+States Congressmen. Politics seem to me a great career, perhaps the
+greatest of all careers, these days, so may I congratulate you?"
+
+Peter Stevens smiled, pleased of course, as any one might have been.
+
+"Perhaps it is a bit premature to talk of my running for Congress, Mrs.
+Kent, but if I do may I count on your support?"
+
+Laughing, Jack shook her head.
+
+"No, at least I can make no promises. You see, I don't know whether I am
+a Republican or a Democrat, or what my politics may be until I have been
+in my own country sufficiently long to study conditions. Maybe my vote
+will go to a woman candidate, if there happens to be one in my
+district."
+
+"You don't intend by any chance to be my opponent?"
+
+Smiling over the impossible aspect of his suggestion but in an
+unusually pleasant frame of mind, Peter Stevens pushed a large chair
+over toward the fire so that Jack might sit down. An instant later he
+drew his own chair up beside her.
+
+"Oh, perhaps I may be your opponent some day, who knows?" Jack returned,
+accepting the challenge good-naturedly. "But first it might be as well
+for me to learn whether I am an American citizen. May an American woman
+who has married a foreigner after the death of her husband assume her
+former nationality if she so desires?"
+
+"You do desire it, wish to give up your title and all it means in
+England, and even in the United States for that matter? You will be much
+admired in any case, I am sure, Mrs. Kent, but after all, Lady Kent has
+a more romantic sound! You feel sure you will not regret your decision?
+I have not yet had an opportunity to look up the question you have just
+asked me and I don't want to answer you without being positive as to the
+exact law in the matter. My impression is, however, that the choice lies
+with you; that a woman may resume her former citizenship in the United
+States if she so wishes and returns to her own country to live."
+
+At this instant Frieda and Professor Russell entered the drawing-room,
+and a little later, when the rest of the family had joined them, dinner
+was announced.
+
+Afterwards, although sitting beside each other at dinner, as the
+conversation was general Peter Stevens had no opportunity for any
+further personal conversation with Jacqueline Kent.
+
+He was by no means convinced that he liked her. He found most girls and
+women tiresome after a short acquaintance. However, the girl he had
+formerly known had at least developed into what appeared to be two
+conflicting personalities.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+JEAN, OLIVE AND FRIEDA
+
+
+One afternoon about ten days later Jean Bruce, who was Mrs. Ralph
+Merritt; Olive, who was Mrs. Bryan MacDonnell; and Frieda Ralston, the
+wife of the eminent scientist, Professor Henry Tilford Russell, were
+sitting with their sewing under one of the big trees not far from the
+big house, built after the discovery of the gold mine on the Rainbow
+ranch and christened the "Rainbow Castle."
+
+Jack, as was often the case when they were thus quietly engaged, was not
+with them, but was riding somewhere over the ranch with her son, Jimmie,
+and Jeannette, one of the four new Ranch girls, to some spot where Jim
+Colter was apt to be found, in order that he might ride back home with
+them.
+
+The other little girls were playing at no great distance away, except
+little Peace, who was sitting in a small chair watching them.
+
+"I do think Jack might have remained at home with us," Frieda remarked
+petulantly. "Here I have traveled all the way from Chicago, closed my
+home for a year, partly of course because the doctors thought it best
+for Peace to be in the west and outdoors as much as possible, and
+because Henry needed a change, but also because Jack was to be with us
+at the old ranch and I had not seen her since Frank's death. And yet
+nearly every afternoon off she goes riding like a whirlwind and
+deserting the rest of us as if she cared nothing for our society. Jack
+has changed a great deal I think, or else is more like she was as a girl
+than as a married woman, now her husband's influence is removed. I
+particularly wished her at home this afternoon because, as it is such a
+perfect afternoon, some of the neighbors are sure to call. After Jack's
+unfortunate performance the other afternoon I am convinced people are
+talking about her, so I would like her to make a pleasant personal
+impression upon some of the best people."
+
+Leaning back in a big wicker chair, Jean Merritt put down her embroidery
+for a moment.
+
+"Oh, Jack will make a pleasant impression upon some people and not upon
+others, as she used to do as a girl and has probably done all her life.
+Of whatever else one may accuse Jack, no one can say that she has not a
+forceful personality, so that people either like or dislike her. I often
+think of the contrast between Jack and me, now we are women, although I
+presume it was just as conspicuous when we were girls. I create no such
+affection and no such antagonism as Jack does, but a kind of mild liking
+or mild admiration as the case may be." Jean laughed, adding:
+
+"I don't know whether I am glad or sorry, whether I envy Jack or feel
+she should envy me. One thing I am sure of, I should never have turned
+my back upon the title and position Jack could have continued to hold in
+England for the simplicity of the old life here at the Rainbow ranch, at
+least not for any great length of time. I believe I was always a little
+envious of Jack's opportunities, the very things for which she cared so
+little. I would like to have been Lady Kent, to have entertained in Kent
+House, to have been a leader in English society. People talk of Ralph as
+a successful engineer, but I wonder if they realize this means we have
+never had a home, and I have simply dragged myself and the children
+after him wherever he has been employed. Then, Ralph never has made the
+money most persons believe he has; as a matter of fact, he is a much
+more successful engineer than he is a business man. Not that I am
+intending to complain," Jean said, hastily resuming her work, "but of
+course one cannot help thinking of how strange life is and how often it
+gives things to the people who don't wish for them and withholds from
+those who do. I have wanted to be a prominent society woman all my life
+and Jack has always had an aversion to such an existence, therefore the
+opportunity has been hers, not mine."
+
+"Jean, please do not speak in such a pessimistic fashion," Olive
+interrupted. "The truth is that you have the social gift and Jack,
+charming and brilliant as she is, has not. Of course I think this is
+because she does not care to possess it. Jack loved her husband more
+than the character of life she was obliged to live on his account,"
+Olive continued in the tone which always created a calmer atmosphere in
+any family discussion. "As for Jack's riding off and leaving us at home,
+you must try and understand, Frieda dear, that Jack is possessed of
+infinitely greater energy than the rest of us, and that all her days
+when she has been troubled she has not kept still and brooded as most
+girls and women do. At present, in spite of what she has been through,
+she remains cheerful and agreeable whenever she is with us, and when she
+is unhappy tries to wear herself out with physical exercise. I wonder if
+any one of us would be as courageous in her present circumstances? As
+for what Jack did the other afternoon, Frieda, of course you know I
+agree with you that it was indiscreet of her, but suppose we do not
+mention the fact any more."
+
+Frieda's red lips closed in a finer line than one might have expected of
+her dimpled countenance.
+
+"One is obliged to continue to mention one's attitude on such matters to
+Jack, else she forgets and does again exactly what she likes regardless
+of consequences," Frieda replied with primness. "But of course, Olive, I
+appreciate that you have never found any fault in Jack for as long as
+you have known each other. I wonder sometimes how your husband feels,
+except that he has pretty much the same point of view. But I have not
+been disagreeable to Jack over her latest escapade except because of
+its possible effect upon her. I am sure you understand this, Jean, if
+Olive does not. Jack is planning to live in this neighborhood for a
+number of years, until Jimmie should be taken home to England, therefore
+it is most important that she should have a good reputation among our
+neighbors and friends. I am sure I love Jack better than either of you
+can, as she is my own sister. Even she realizes that it is for her sake
+that I have been so annoyed."
+
+"Certainly, Frieda," Jean Merritt returned soothingly, having always had
+more influence upon the youngest of the original four Ranch girls than
+the others even in their girlhood, "Olive does understand your attitude
+and has said she agreed with you. But I also agree with Olive that we
+must not scold Jack any more for this particular offence. I have never
+seen Jim Colter so displeased with Jack before. After all, it was
+nothing more than an indiscretion, which my wretch of a husband refuses
+to take seriously and declares was rather sporting of Jack. He insists
+Jack is one of the few persons in the world who dares to do what she
+wishes when there is no harm in it and therefore other people must come
+round to her way of thinking in the end. Now, if there is gossip,
+Frieda, don't you think it might be wiser to have Jack's family take the
+position that she has done nothing so extraordinary? Goodness, is that
+one of our formidable neighbors approaching? Shall we go indoors to
+enjoy her visit? I agree with you, Frieda, I wish Jack _had_ stayed at
+home this afternoon. If she could have made a friend of Mrs. Senator
+Marshall half the battle in this neighborhood would have been won. At
+least we shall be able to find if what we have been fearing has come
+true. If I remember the lady at all well, if she has been told of Jack's
+indiscretion, we are sure to learn of it."
+
+Before Jean had finished speaking she had arisen, laid her work aside
+and was moving graciously forward to greet a woman who was driving up
+the avenue toward the house.
+
+She was driving a new electric machine beautifully upholstered in a
+bright blue. Mrs. Marshall was herself dressed in a costume of almost
+the same color, and was rather stout with a mass of sandy colored hair
+turning gray, and a florid complexion. She was the second wife of a
+United States senator.
+
+"No, I should of course prefer to remain out of doors. You do look too
+comfortable and delightful," she began in a manner which was perhaps a
+little too cordial to be perfectly sincere. Then when she had shaken
+hands with Frieda and Olive, she murmured: "So Lady Kent is not at home.
+I am so sorry. You will understand if I say my visit is made especially
+to her, as I hear she intends remaining among us for the present. But
+there, I had forgotten. I was not to say Lady Kent, so my stepson
+informed me. Strange for an American woman voluntarily to resign a
+title! I am so little of the time in Wyoming and so much of the time in
+Washington perhaps I fail to understand Mrs. Kent's more western point
+of view. But as we are to be in Wyoming for some time now, in fact until
+my husband is renominated and I presume re-elected to the Senate, he was
+anxious I should meet Mrs. Kent, whom I believe he knew as a girl."
+
+"You are very kind," Frieda murmured. "I am sure my sister will be
+disappointed at not seeing you and will look forward to the pleasure a
+little later. Indeed, I hope she may return before you leave."
+
+But whatever Frieda's tone and manner, she was not so convinced that her
+sister Jack would enjoy the acquaintance of their present visitor. Mrs.
+Marshall was as unlike Jack as one could well imagine two persons being.
+She had the reputation for being both a gossip and a snob and yet a
+woman of whom for these very reasons a number of persons were afraid.
+Personally Frieda felt a little afraid herself and preferred that she
+should be their friend rather than enemy.
+
+"Your sister seems to spend a great deal of her time on horseback since
+her arrival in the neighborhood," Mrs. Marshall remarked in a casual
+fashion. Nevertheless both Frieda and Olive experienced slight
+sensations of discomfort, wishing that Jean Merritt, who was better able
+to answer their guest, had not disappeared at this moment to ask one of
+the maids to serve tea.
+
+"Yes, my sister has been devoted to horseback riding all her life,"
+Frieda answered a little too warmly. "She rode always as a girl and
+never gave up riding after marrying and living in England."
+
+"Yet she must have ridden in a very different fashion. One can scarcely
+imagine an English lady riding with a lot of cowboys and ranchmen and
+engaging in a lassoing contest with no other women present. My husband
+and I were much amused when we heard the story. Mrs. Kent is known to be
+such a western enthusiast there is a report that she may be intending to
+enter a wild west show. However, I believe the commonest report of the
+story is that Mrs. Kent is thinking of joining the movies. Well, it is
+the most popular thing one can do these days!" And the older woman
+laughed as if she only half believed her own suggestions. Nevertheless,
+she could hardly have failed to realize that neither of her companions
+were enjoying her remarks.
+
+Frieda had flushed until her big blue eyes were half full of tears which
+she was doing her best to restrain. Her voice shook during her reply,
+yet she also endeavored to summon a smile.
+
+"One is so glad to find something or some one to talk about in a small
+community, isn't one?" she returned. "I should have supposed you would
+have lost interest in gossip yourself, Mrs. Marshall, living so much of
+your time in a city like Washington," Frieda added. "Of course you must
+know personally that my sister is not interested in any of the
+picturesque suggestions you seem to have had brought to your attention.
+As a matter of fact, she has not yet entirely given up wearing mourning.
+She has a rather large fortune and later must find some way of
+interesting herself, although at present she appears content merely with
+her own family. Yet I am sure after a time people must realize what her
+coming into a community like this one may mean."
+
+Then realizing that she was not making the situation any better, and
+that their visitor was annoyed by the suggestion she had intended to
+convey, that her sister, Mrs. Kent, might become a more important person
+in the neighborhood than Mrs. Marshall herself, Frieda grew suddenly
+silent. After all, why was Jack not at home to explain her own
+eccentricity?
+
+Now as Olive entered the conversation Frieda experienced a sensation of
+relief. Olive's manner was so gentle and quiet one was seldom
+antagonized by it.
+
+"We are _so_ glad of what you have just told us, Mrs. Marshall," she
+began. "I confess we have been interested to know whether Mrs. Kent's
+action the other afternoon was of sufficient importance to interest her
+neighbors and what story had been told concerning it. Mrs. Marshall, I
+am sure, will be glad to hear what actually took place and tell other
+people the exact truth. You are quite right; Mrs. Kent did ride over
+with several of our ranchmen to watch a lassoing contest among the
+cowboys. She used to take a deep interest in all western sports as a
+girl and never has lost her interest apparently. Then I confess, to our
+regret, Mrs. Kent did try to discover if she had forgotten her old-time
+skill with a lasso. We were frightened, as she might so easily have been
+injured. But nothing of the kind occurred and there is no more to the
+story. Mrs. Kent will be sorry to disappoint her neighbors if they have
+imagined a more interesting set of circumstances."
+
+Returning at this instant, followed by a maid with tea, the conversation
+altered. A short time after, without any further reference to Jacqueline
+Kent except to repeat that she was sorry to have missed her, the visitor
+withdrew.
+
+However, the three former Ranch girls did not immediately go indoors. It
+was still not five o'clock in the afternoon of a beautiful late
+September day. Beyond the broad fields of wheat and oats were golden and
+ripe for harvesting. Nearby the new little Ranch girls were still at
+play, spinning around in a gay circle at the game of "drop the
+hand-kerchief," little Peace in her chair looking on.
+
+"It is just as I feared, Jack is going to be the talk of the
+neighborhood before any one has even seen her or been introduced to her.
+I presume the cowboys discuss her skill around their camp fires at night
+as well as our richer neighbors; Mrs. Marshall probably spared us as
+much of the gossip as possible," Frieda declared irritably.
+
+But at this instant glancing up, she saw the figure of a woman on
+horseback outlined against the blue horizon and at the same instant Jack
+waved to her and came cantering in their direction.
+
+No one, except an extremely stupid or self-absorbed person, ever beheld
+Jacqueline Kent on horseback without a distinct sensation of pleasure.
+
+Frieda, in spite of the many times she had seen her in such a position,
+was not proof against the fascination. "How wonderfully Jack rides! No
+wonder she loves it," she exclaimed. "I am glad she is at home at last!"
+
+A few moments after, having cleared the gate of the farther field
+without descending to open it, Jack rode swiftly up the avenue.
+
+The eyes of Frieda, Olive and Jean remained fastened upon her.
+
+Having added to the disapproval of her family by being seen in an old
+and discarded riding habit upon the afternoon of her unfortunate
+adventure, Jack had since appeared only in an extremely new and smart
+riding costume made for her by her London tailor shortly before sailing
+for the United States. It was of black cloth with a close fitting coat
+and riding trousers. This afternoon she also wore black riding boots of
+soft leather and a little derby hat. Her hair in the yellow afternoon
+light was much the same color as the ripened wheat.
+
+So intent was the small audience upon watching Jack's return and so
+intent were the new little Ranch girls upon their game, that no one saw
+a small figure rise suddenly from her chair, clap her hands together and
+then dart across the little space of grass toward the rapidly galloping
+horse. A moment later, and she was directly in the horse's path, not
+three feet away.
+
+There the baby stood stock still, her little white frock fluttering in
+the wind, her yellow curls flying, her face upturned, frightened now and
+quite still. The horse seemed to rear so high above her head that she
+caught no vision of the loved figure she had run forward to greet.
+
+Her mother saw her, and Olive and Jean, and they were not many yards
+away, and also the other children, who suddenly had quit their play and
+remained standing in a long line, still holding one another's hands,
+breathless, intent, terrified, unable in the surprise and terror of the
+moment to offer aid.
+
+"Baby!" Frieda called and darted forward, yet knowing instinctively she
+could not be in time. Olive and Jean would have run after her except for
+a swift call from Jack.
+
+They saw Jack hold her bridle easily in one hand, and then lean over
+from her saddle until her arm could sweep the ground, when with a single
+swift motion she lifted little Peace into the saddle, as she drew her
+horse to a standstill.
+
+"Don't frighten Peace, please, Frieda," she said, as she gave the little
+girl safe and smiling and pleased with her adventure into Frieda's
+outstretched arms.
+
+[Illustration: WITH A SINGLE SWIFT MOTION SHE LIFTED LITTLE PEACE INTO
+THE SADDLE]
+
+"And to think, Jack dear," Frieda murmured, still tearful half an hour
+afterwards although Peace was safe in bed, "that I sometimes have
+criticized you for keeping on with your riding when you might be doing
+such stupid indoor things as Jean and Olive and I enjoy. Had you been
+one of us, why, Peace might have been killed or worse this afternoon. I
+never saw any one do anything so quickly or so skilfully, Jack, as you
+lifted little Peace out of danger. Why, I--I had forgotten that you used
+to be able long ago to lean from your horse and pick up anything you
+wished from the ground. One would not have supposed that such an
+accomplishment could be so valuable as actually to save my baby's life.
+Say you forgive me for being so hateful about that other thing for the
+past ten days."
+
+Jack's arm was about her sister as they walked up and down before the
+house waiting for Professor Russell's return from the small hut situated
+about a mile away where he spent the greater part of each day engaged in
+scientific investigations.
+
+"But, Frieda dear, I was to blame and I am sorry," Jack replied. "Jim
+has not forgiven me yet. I was to blame this afternoon too, for I should
+not have ridden up to the house so swiftly when I knew the children
+were playing near. But I grew suddenly lonely for you and Olive and Jean
+and left Jimmie and Jeannette with Jim and rode quickly home to find
+you. Here comes your husband, I'll leave you and go home to the lodge.
+No, I don't want any one to come with me and I won't see you again this
+evening. Good-night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+JEAN AND RALPH MERRITT
+
+
+The marriage between Jean Bruce, the cousin of Frieda and Jacqueline
+Ralston and one of the four original Ranch girls, and Ralph Merritt, the
+young engineer of the Rainbow mine, had only taken place after a long
+and frequently interrupted friendship, since between them there were
+many differences of opinion, of taste and of ideals.
+
+Frankly as a young girl Jean always had cared greatly for wealth, for
+social position and for fashionable people, a viewpoint which had not
+altered with the years, as Jean freely announced.
+
+True that her husband had made a reputation for himself as an expert
+mining engineer and at different times in a small way had shared in the
+profits of the enterprises which his skill and ability had made valuable
+to the owners. Yet never at any time had Ralph Merritt acquired a large
+fortune for himself and his family. Notwithstanding his many fine
+traits of character he suffered from one weakness. In his effort to
+gratify and please his wife now and then he had speculated with Jean's
+private fortune and with his own, and although never confessing the
+fact, his speculations more often than not had been unsuccessful.
+
+In returning to the old Rainbow ranch to spend a few months, Jean and
+Ralph had been glad to say that the opportunity to be reunited for a
+short time with their old friends and former associations was not to be
+resisted. However, there was another motive, if they preferred not to
+speak of it. At the time of Jacqueline Kent's homecoming from England to
+the ranch after the death of her husband, Jean and Ralph were passing
+through a period of financial stress so that the visit to the big house
+with their two little girls would be a relief as well as a pleasure.
+There was a chance ahead, in which Ralph Merritt thoroughly believed,
+sure to put him on his feet again. Like most other patriotic Americans,
+at the outbreak of the war in Europe he had volunteered for service
+overseas and been captain in a mining corps in France. Returning home,
+if he were rich in experience, he was poor in worldly goods. There was
+nothing unusual in this, but unfortunately Jean and Ralph were not
+willing to begin over again by living simply and economically until
+Ralph could make new business connections. And the fault was actually
+more Jean's than her husband's, although she was not aware of the fact.
+Nevertheless, among the four Ranch girls, Jean, who loved money more
+than any one of them, was the only one without it. Naturally the war and
+the high taxes it entailed had decreased the value of the English estate
+which Jacqueline Ralston Kent had inherited from her husband, yet the
+estate was still large enough for Jack and her son to be entirely
+comfortable apart from her own private fortune, due to her share of the
+output of the Rainbow mine, which had been wisely and conservatively
+invested. Moreover, Jack's own tastes were simple and she wished to
+bring up her son in a simple fashion.
+
+Captain MacDonnell possessed only a small estate of his own, but Olive
+had inherited wealth from the grandmother who had appeared so
+mysteriously in her life during the year spent by "The Ranch Girls at
+Boarding School." Moreover, Captain MacDonnell and Olive apparently
+cared only for each other, for Captain MacDonnell's art, and the effort
+to forget his injury in the war in his new work and life. The truth was
+that a large part of her fortune Olive had devoted to the establishment
+and upkeep of an Indian school not far from the neighborhood of the
+Rainbow ranch. She and her husband preferred to live out of doors in a
+tent in the western country whenever the weather made it possible,
+partly because of Captain MacDonnell's health and also that he might
+constantly study the western types and scenes which he was painting to
+the exclusion of all other subjects.
+
+Frieda and her husband, Professor Henry Tilford Russell, were not rich;
+in fact, Professor Russell, having resigned his professorship at the
+University of Chicago, was at present making no income. Yet his parents
+were wealthy and adored Frieda and her little girl, and moreover,
+Professor Russell was at this time engaging in scientific experiments
+which might bring him fame and fortune or else achieve no result of
+importance. An expert chemist who had made several valuable discoveries
+during the war, Professor Russell believed that he had earned a year's
+holiday at the ranch and the opportunity to indulge in one or two of
+his private hobbies. So Jim Colter had offered him one of his small
+unused ranch houses in a comparatively isolated spot where the Professor
+could conduct his experiments with danger only to himself.
+
+Frieda worried over this possibility, but in the main allowed her
+Professor husband to have his way, having found out that without his
+work he was restless and miserable. There was a new Frieda in her
+relation to her husband following their disagreement and reconciliation
+told in "The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure," and the birth of
+their little girl. Now Frieda seemed to care only for her husband and
+child, and had become an almost too punctilious married woman and
+housekeeper in that she wished everyone else to conform to her ideas.
+
+Money problems therefore did not at this time trouble Frieda, whose
+interest was concentrated in her little girl's health and in her
+husband's success, not for any possible wealth it might bring them, but
+that he might enjoy the honors Frieda felt so sure he deserved. In the
+meantime she had her own income and knew that at any moment Henry's
+mother and father were more than anxious to supply any of their wishes
+or needs.
+
+So it was a little cruel that Jean, who cared so much for money, was the
+only one of the Ranch girls to endure not alone the pinch of a present
+poverty but a painful uncertainty with regard to the future. In fact,
+during the weeks of the reunion of the Rainbow Ranch Girls, Jean Merritt
+had been under a good deal more of a strain than the others dreamed,
+for, except for her few general remarks to Olive and Frieda, she had
+made no mention of her anxieties.
+
+Ralph Merritt had accompanied his wife and little girls to the ranch and
+remained with them a few days. Afterwards he had gone away, announcing
+that he had important business which must be looked into, but that he
+might come back at any time. There was nothing exceptional in this, as
+Ralph's interests had always required that he move about from place to
+place, seeing a number of men who oftentimes wished him to look at a
+mine before agreeing to undertake the engineering work in connection
+with it. At present among the interests that called Ralph away was the
+discovery of a gold mine concerning which his advice was desired.
+
+Ralph Merritt was a decided favorite with Jim Colter, the former manager
+of the Rainbow ranch and one of its present owners. Among the husbands
+of the four Ranch girls he always had liked Ralph best. But even he had
+not suspected that Ralph was in any difficulty, since the younger man
+had said nothing which might cause one to suspect the fact.
+
+One day, about a week after the visit from Mrs. Marshall, a note arrived
+asking that the former Ranch girls drive over to her home and have tea
+with her and a few of their neighbors.
+
+At first Jack insisted upon declining the invitation, saying that she
+had not been out of mourning for any length of time and felt a hesitancy
+in meeting strangers. But Frieda protested, declaring her sister must
+accept or appear unfriendly. Mrs. Marshall had stated that her other
+guests would be neighbors, some of whom Jack had known as a girl, and
+the others she should learn to know as she contemplated living at the
+ranch. So Jack had yielded as she ordinarily did to Frieda in all small
+matters, in a way trusting Frieda's judgment rather than her own,
+besides not wishing to appear selfish. Without the subject being
+mentioned between them again, Jack understood that her sister wished her
+to counteract if possible a former unfortunate impression.
+
+But Jean Merritt's refusal of the invitation was more unexpected and
+more determined, as usually Jean welcomed every social opportunity.
+However, she had a much better excuse to offer than Jack. She announced
+that she had received a letter from her husband saying that he might be
+expected to reach the ranch some time during the afternoon chosen by
+Mrs. Marshall, for her tea party and so there was no question but that
+Jean must not be argued into leaving home if she preferred to remain
+rather than run the risk of not being able to greet her husband upon his
+arrival.
+
+Apparently in her usual state of mind, Jean helped the other girls to
+dress, talking to Frieda about a number of casual subjects and walking
+half way toward the lodge to meet Jack, who came up to the big house a
+little earlier than the hour for starting. Senator and Mrs. Marshall's
+summer home was only a few miles away in the direction of the city of
+Laramie.
+
+After the others had gone and Jean was alone in her own room, her
+nervousness began to reveal itself first in a number of small ways.
+Restlessly she walked up and down her large and beautiful bedroom, which
+had been especially designed for her as a girl when Rainbow Castle was
+built after the discovery of the gold mine and before the marriage of
+any one of the four Ranch girls. The room was upholstered in rose,
+Jean's favorite color, with cretonne hangings of rose and white and a
+low couch by the window filled with cushions of the same material. The
+rooms set apart for Frieda, Olive and Jack in the big house were kept as
+nearly as possible as they had been arranged in the old days and Frieda
+was at present occupying her own apartment. But Jack had never loved the
+new place as she had the Rainbow lodge of the days before their fortune,
+and moreover preferred her own private establishment. Olive and Captain
+MacDonnell chose to enjoy more freedom and seclusion in their tent than
+had they lived with the rest of the family.
+
+This afternoon Jean for a time made no pretense of sitting down. When
+the motor had disappeared down the avenue of cottonwood trees she
+continued to walk up and down, now and then glancing out her open
+window. Ralph had written that no one was to attempt making an effort to
+meet him, as he was uncertain upon what train he would arrive. He would
+either find some one to drive him over to the house or else telephone.
+
+Jean had not dressed since lunch, yet her costume chanced to be a pretty
+brown skirt and a cream voile blouse, open at the throat and rather
+unusually becoming.
+
+However, in the midst of her restless movement, stopping for an instant,
+she gazed at herself in the mirror with distinct disfavor.
+
+"I am afraid I am losing the small claim I once had to good looks," she
+announced to herself with a frown of disapproval. "Certainly I am the
+least good looking of the four of us! I wonder if Jack is the beauty
+these days or Olive? Frieda is pretty, but she has not the air or the
+distinction of Jack, or Olive's rare coloring. Oh, well, I suppose I
+ought not to mind except for Ralph's sake! Yet if Ralph only brings home
+the good news I expect him to bring, I know I shall become a more
+attractive person! Sometimes I am afraid I have made things harder than
+I intended, yet Ralph knew my weakness before we married. He understood
+that I cared more for worldly things than I suppose one should. Oh, at
+the time we were engaged perhaps I did seem to care less for them and to
+think only of our life together, but one can't always live up to the
+best in one. Now I do intend to be more loving and considerate."
+
+Rapidly Jean began changing her simple costume for an afternoon dress, a
+rose-colored crepe de chine, by no means new, but one which her husband
+especially liked. And as Jean dressed, in spite of the fact that pallor
+was usual with her, a warm, cream-colored pallor extraordinarily
+attractive with her dark-brown hair and eyes, this afternoon her cheeks
+flushed to a deep rose. At the same time her eyes turned from the mirror
+to the window, hoping she might see her husband driving toward the
+house. Her ears also were listening for the sound of a telephone which
+might announce the fact that Ralph was at the station waiting to be sent
+for. She had decided not to drive over to meet him herself, as she would
+prefer to hear the news he must bring when they were alone.
+
+It could not be possible that the news would be bad news! Jean put this
+idea away from her at once. This could not be! Ralph had been so sure
+of the new gold mine in which he had lately invested almost everything
+they possessed. Perhaps he should not have made the investment before
+examining the mine himself, yet he had not been able to wait. The owners
+had insisted that he must take the same chance along with them or they
+would find some one else to make the investment. If the new mine was
+what they hoped and believed, large fortunes would accrue to them all;
+if not Ralph Merritt must share the fortunes of war.
+
+The afternoon passed, yet Jean continued to await in vain the appearance
+of her husband or the sound of the telephone. Not once did it ring
+during the long hours. Four o'clock and then five and still no Ralph.
+"After all, it would have been wiser to have gone with the others to
+Mrs. Marshall's tea, as it would have been far more interesting, and she
+would have felt less nervous than waiting alone," Jean concluded.
+
+Then by and by, woman like, Jean began feeling aggrieved. If Ralph were
+unable to return home as he had anticipated why had he not telegraphed?
+Surely he must appreciate her anxiety!
+
+Picking up a magazine, Jean dropped down upon the couch by the window,
+attempting to read. At first she found it impossible to concentrate her
+attention, but later became fairly interested.
+
+A quarter of an hour after, her door opening abruptly, Jean looked up
+with a quick exclamation.
+
+"Ralph!"
+
+"What's the trouble, Jean?" Ralph Merritt demanded with an irritation in
+his voice and manner most unusual with him, "I have been trying to
+telephone the house for the past two hours and finally gave up and have
+walked over from the station--three or four miles, isn't it? It felt
+like ten. Seems as if some one might have been interested enough to
+answer the telephone, especially as I wrote you I'd try to get the house
+in case I could not find any one to drive me."
+
+"But, Ralph, the telephone has not rung, I have been listening and
+expecting to hear it all afternoon. The connection must be broken. Yet
+what does it matter, now you are at home? What is the news?"
+
+"Matter is that I am dead tired," Ralph Merritt answered, flinging
+himself down upon the couch Jean had just vacated. His shoes were
+covered with dust, his face and hands were soiled, his clothes rumpled.
+In a flash Jean thought of the Ralph who had returned to the ranch in
+this same condition a number of years before and of their interview
+together on the porch of the Rainbow lodge. Ralph had promised her then
+never to speculate again, never to risk his hard earned money in a
+gamble, which is all that speculation is. Then Jean put the memory
+quickly away from her, as there could be no reason to recall it upon
+this occasion.
+
+She was standing looking down upon her husband.
+
+"Tell me quickly, Ralph, things are all right; they must be," she
+argued, her voice hoarse, her eyes having a peculiar hard brightness
+unlike their usual velvety softness.
+
+"Think I would not already have told you, Jean, if they were?" Ralph
+Merritt answered. "Suppose I would have spoken first of being tired,
+although I am tired straight through, if things had worked out as we
+hoped? The new mine is not worth the money it has required to buy the
+machinery. It is my fault. I should have known better and taken more
+time to consider and investigate. I was suffering from the same trouble
+that's taken hold of a good many young American fellows these days,
+trying to get rich in too great a hurry. I am sorry, chiefly for your
+sake, Jean dear, and the little girls, but more for you because the
+little girls won't mind seriously. I'll be able to make a living all
+right, but for a while I'm afraid not a big one, and these are hard
+times to make money go very far. I have an offer to go into New Mexico
+and look over another mine, and if it's any good I am to have the job of
+engineer."
+
+Ralph was now sitting up, his look of fatigue and discouragement a
+little less apparent as he continued to talk. He was a splendid looking
+young fellow, a typical American with a fine, clear-cut face, a strong
+nose and a sensitive mouth. The eyes he turned toward Jean were wistful
+at this moment.
+
+But Jean was white with disappointment and anger.
+
+"The old story with you, Ralph, always something in the future, nothing
+for the present. I trust you are not expecting the little girls and me
+to go with you on your wild goose chase into New Mexico. I suppose when
+I tell Jim Colter and Jack that we have not a cent to live upon, they
+will allow us to remain at the ranch for a time anyhow. If I were only
+as clever as Jack perhaps I might be able to support the family without
+your help. I have little faith left in you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+THE TEA PARTY
+
+
+"Jack, you will try to make yourself as agreeable as possible."
+Jacqueline Kent laughed: "Frieda dear, don't I always try? And is it
+fair of you to blame me when I am unsuccessful? But I know you want me
+to be as staid and well behaved this afternoon as if I were the Dowager
+Lady Kent, in order to conquer the reputation I seem already to have
+acquired in the neighorhood. Do they think me a kind of wild west show?
+Well, I will make my best effort."
+
+The motor in which Olive, Frieda and Jack were driving had by this time
+entered the grounds of the summer home of Senator and Mrs. Marshall. The
+house was a big frame building with a wide porch filled with attractive
+porch furniture and shaded by striped awnings of brown and yellow. The
+afternoon was a warm and lovely one and apparently the guests were
+preferring to remain out of doors, as several of them were wandering
+about in the yard before the house and a number were seated upon the
+veranda.
+
+As the motor from the Rainbow ranch stopped, Senator Marshall himself,
+accompanied by Peter Stevens, came forward to greet the newcomers. He
+spoke cordially of his pleasure in seeing them to Frieda and Olive, but
+his attention was attracted by Jacqueline Ralston Kent, whom he had
+known as a young girl.
+
+Senator Marshall was a middle-aged man of distinguished appearance, over
+six feet tall, with white hair, bright blue eyes and an aquiline nose.
+Ordinarily his expression was one of good-humored tolerance. Yet Senator
+Marshall had the reputation for being a dangerous enemy and a man of
+strong will whom no one dared oppose upon a matter of importance.
+Notwithstanding the fact that his wife was feared by her neighbors as a
+woman whose authority no one was allowed to dispute, it was said that,
+although her husband gave way to her in all small issues, in larger ones
+she was compelled to do as he wished.
+
+To-day Jack was wearing an afternoon dress of black tulle over black
+silk, and a large black hat, which made her skin appear exceptionally
+clear and fair and her hair a deeper gold brown.
+
+"It was kind of you to come to see us the other afternoon, Mrs.
+Marshall, and I am sorry to have missed you," Jack said a little shyly a
+few moments later, when Senator Marshall had taken her to speak to his
+wife, leaving Peter Stevens to follow with Frieda and Olive. It was a
+misfortune from which Jacqueline Ralston had suffered as a girl and
+which she never had entirely conquered, that she was apt to feel less at
+ease with women than with men, as if they understood her less well and
+criticized her more severely.
+
+Now as Mrs. Marshall returned her greeting, although perfectly polite
+and cordial, Jack had an instinctive impression that the older woman saw
+something in her which she did not like, or else had heard something
+previously which had prejudiced her.
+
+"I am glad to meet you at last, Mrs. Kent. Considering the fact that you
+have been in the neighborhood so short a time I seem already to have
+_heard_ a great deal of you."
+
+If there was no double meaning in the words which were simple in
+themselves, nevertheless Jack flushed slightly.
+
+"But I am not a stranger in this neighborhood, Mrs. Marshall. I knew
+your husband a long time ago when my father was alive and I was a little
+girl trying to help manage our ranch. I don't think I forgave you for
+many years, Senator Marshall, because you were one of the lawyers on the
+other side when we had a difficulty over the boundary line of our
+ranch."
+
+"No, you were quite right not to forgive me, but remember you won the
+case and I lost, so that should make it easier for you to forgive and
+forget. I am sure I shall never have the bad taste or the poor judgment
+to take sides against you a second time upon any subject."
+
+Smiling, Jack glanced around her. Seated upon the porch were half a
+dozen or more persons whose faces were dimly familiar, some of whom she
+had not seen in a number of years, others fairly intimate friends, and a
+few complete strangers.
+
+Leading her about the circle, Mrs. Marshall introduced her to the
+persons whom she had never met and Jack herself paused to shake hands
+and talk to the others.
+
+There was something in her manner which the older woman observed with a
+sensation of envy, never having seen anyone before apparently so
+sincere and straightforward as Jacqueline Kent.
+
+An hour later Jack found herself at one end of the long veranda
+surrounded by a group of half a dozen persons including her host.
+
+"It is growing late, I am afraid we shall soon have to say farewell,"
+Jack suggested, looking about to discover Frieda and Olive. She had done
+her best to make herself appear as agreeable as possible according to
+her sister's direction, but already she was a little tired and anxious
+to be back at the ranch, seldom really enjoying conventional society as
+she believed she should.
+
+"But you must not think of leaving us, Mrs. Kent, until you have seen my
+son," Senator Marshall insisted. "He was forced to go to Laramie this
+afternoon upon some business for me, but I promised to keep you until
+his return. I suppose you don't realize that the girls in the
+neighborhood are already beginning to be a little jealous of you, now
+that you have the reputation of being the best horsewoman in the state.
+I am glad you are not a young man instead of a young woman, or you might
+become Stevens' or my political rival some day. Do I hear correctly
+that you mean to resume your American nationality as soon as you can go
+through the necessary formalities?"
+
+Jack nodded.
+
+"Yes, Mr. Stevens has been helping me, telling me what I must do. Yet I
+think it is not gallant of you, Senator, to suggest a woman has no
+chance in politics in Wyoming, the first state in the Union to allow
+women the vote."
+
+Senator Marshall leaned back in his chair, eyeing Jack with a smile.
+
+"So you are thinking of playing Lady Nancy Astor in the United States?
+Who knows but the idea is a good one. If the British Parliament accepted
+an American woman married to a British peer, I don't see why an American
+woman married to an Englishman, resuming her former allegiance to her
+own country because she loves it best, would not make a first-class
+member of Congress, perhaps defeat you, Stevens."
+
+"Why not you, Senator, if Mrs. Kent is elected to office from Wyoming?
+For that matter, I do not see why she should not have the highest honor
+in the gift of the state."
+
+As the two men were joking with one another, Jack rose and at the same
+instant saw a young man of about twenty-one coming hurriedly across the
+porch in their direction.
+
+She held out her hand at once, recognizing him as John Marshall, Senator
+Marshall's son, although never having met him at any time.
+
+"I am so glad you have not run away, Mrs. Kent, I want to ask you a
+great favor. I hear you can beat any ranchman in Wyoming swinging a
+lasso. Try it with me some day, won't you? It is great sport, but I've
+yet to see a girl outside the circus or a wild west show who is any good
+at it."
+
+Absurd under the circumstances, yet Jack blushed furiously and then
+laughed:
+
+"Am I never, never to cease to hear of my ridiculous exploit? You see,
+Mr. Marshall, I thought I was safe from observation that day, or perhaps
+it is more than probable I did not think what I was doing at all. And
+since that ten minutes of simply having a good time and trying to find
+out if I had forgotten what I learned as a girl, I have heard of little
+else. But you are mistaken in thinking I have any great skill with a
+lasso. I have forgotten the little skill I once possessed."
+
+"But you will let me see you attempt it again? It is the greatest sport
+in the world, beats tennis or baseball, or even polo. The girls in this
+part of the country are either afraid or else insist lassoing isn't
+ladylike or proper, some funny nonsense! A good many of them say it was
+shocking of you and that no well-bred girl would ever have been alone
+with a lot of cowboys watching their contest, let alone taking part. But
+I----"
+
+"See here, don't you think you have said enough, John?" Senator Marshall
+protested.
+
+But Jack only laughed and held out her hand.
+
+"I deserve nearly anything that may be said of me, but I thought I had
+come home to live in the west where one did not have to be conventional.
+Apologize for me, won't you? Yes, I'll ride with you with pleasure if
+you don't mind my bringing Jimmie and several little girls along to act
+as our escort. You see, I ordinarily ride with them every afternoon. I
+do wish we could try the lassoing, but I am afraid I don't dare."
+
+"Still, you will some day. I've an idea you would dare anything that you
+thought the right thing to do," John Marshall added so enthusiastically
+and making so little effort to conceal his admiration for Jacqueline
+Kent, who was several years his senior, that the group of older people
+about them laughed.
+
+A few moments later, thrusting his father and Peter Stevens aside, he
+insisted upon seeing Jack to the motor and handed her in with amusing
+and most unnecessary gallantry, as she was more than able to look after
+herself.
+
+Ten minutes later, leaning back in the car with her eyes closed, Jack
+demanded:
+
+"Were you pleased with me this afternoon, Frieda Ralston Russell?
+Goodness knows, I am tired enough with the struggle to be agreeable! I
+wonder why society wears me out and I can be outdoors and busy all day
+without fatigue."
+
+"You got on pretty well, Jack, only I was not with you all of the time
+and don't know everything you said. I do hope you said nothing
+indiscreet; but I am afraid Senator Marshall and his son liked you
+better than Mrs. Marshall did, and that is a pity."
+
+Jack yawned.
+
+"Olive, was there ever so much worldly wisdom possessed by any one
+person as by Mrs. Henry Tilford Russell? I am sorry if you think Mrs.
+Marshall did not like me, but she cannot be blamed for the fact and
+neither can I. As for the son, John Marshall, he is a nice boy, nicer
+than his father. I don't know why, but I never altogether trust Senator
+Marshall. However, I am talking nonsense; one talks so much nonsense at
+a tea party it is hard to stop immediately after. I hope Ralph is safely
+at home by this time. I was sorry Jean was not with us. It is so
+wonderful for the four Rainbow Ranch girls to be living together at the
+old ranch after all these years and all our experiences that I don't
+like our being parted except when it is unavoidable."
+
+"Don't talk as if we were patriarchs, Jack, and as if John Marshall were
+a small boy and you were old enough to be his mother," Frieda protested.
+"You are only a few years older than he is, after all! But it is nice to
+be together and I trust Ralph's arrival will cheer Jean up. She has
+tried not to show it, but Jean and I always have understood each other
+and I have seen lately that she is more worried over something than she
+wants anyone to know."
+
+"Well, please give my love to Ralph if he has returned and say I shall
+look forward to seeing him in the morning. No, I won't come to the
+house. Jimmie and I want to have dinner together and an evening alone,"
+Jack answered.
+
+About ten o'clock she was sitting out on the porch of the Rainbow lodge
+feasting her eyes on the golden glory of the October moon floating in a
+heaven of the deepest blue, when she heard some one walking toward the
+house.
+
+Jack was rarely afraid of the conventional things which most women fear,
+yet the steps seemed furtive and uncertain, so that she got up hastily.
+
+A moment later the figure of a young fellow appeared wearing the costume
+of a cowboy. The moonlight shone full upon his face, yet Jack did not at
+once recognize him.
+
+"'Pears as if ye didn't know me, yet I ain't surprised," he drawled. "I
+ain't seen you but the once when we rid over to the lassoing from the
+ranch house. My name's Billy Preston, come from the Kentucky mountains.
+The boys sent me up here to make you a little present. I was going to
+leave it on your front porch and sneak away again, expectin' to find you
+indoors or mebbe not at home."
+
+"Why a present for me? What is it? No one ever gives me a present any
+more, and who is it from?" Jack demanded as eagerly as a little girl.
+
+The young mountaineer thrust something toward her, rather a large bundle
+it appeared in the moonlight.
+
+"It's a new lasso, made of the finest horsehair in the market and sent
+you by the fellers who saw you ride that time. They say with a little
+more practice you'll learn what you set out to do. Anyhow, the fellers
+want me to say they are with you in anything you may be thinkin' about
+undertakin' out in these here parts. And say, you needn't be afraid, no
+matter what happens. We are all your friends; we like a woman who don't
+put on side and who kin ride straight and think straight and act
+straight. You know, I was brought up in the Kentucky mountains, and
+besides I fit two years in France. So I kin shoot, as we used to say
+down south, I kin shoot a fly off a telegraph pole, so if ever you
+should need any one to look after you, why, count on me."
+
+"Good gracious, thank you and thank everybody!" Jack murmured. "I am
+delighted to own the new lasso, although I'm afraid I shall never learn
+to use it properly. But if the Rainbow ranchmen wish me to know they
+are glad I am at home again, I don't know how to thank them enough.
+Please say I love every inch of this old ranch in the greatest country
+in the world. But I'm not thinking of any special undertaking except to
+live here and help a little with the care of the ranch as I once did as
+a girl. Just the same, I am deeply grateful for the honor you have paid
+me and the protection I feel sure every one of you would offer me if I
+should ever need it. I don't know what I should say to express my
+gratitude, but you'll see that the men understand."
+
+Billy Preston nodded.
+
+"Don't you worry, Miss--Mam," he added quickly. Yet he must be forgiven
+his mistake for Jack looked so like a young girl standing there on the
+old porch in her soft black dress in the yellow radiance of the moon.
+"I'll see they know you're pleased, but you ain't to disremember the
+rest of what I said. One ain't ever able to guess how things may turn
+out in this world or what troubles folks may git into."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+AN INTERVIEW
+
+
+Immediately following breakfast the next morning Jack and Jimmie went
+out to the tennis court near the Rainbow lodge, which they had recently
+been trying to get into condition. There they began batting balls back
+and forth across the net. Not old enough to play a good game of tennis
+for the present, nevertheless Jimmie Kent was determined to make as good
+a beginning as possible and to learn whatever his mother might be able
+to teach him. He was very like Jack rather than his English relatives, a
+straightforward, determined little fellow, self-willed and frank, with a
+vigorous body and an ardent love of outdoor sports.
+
+"You've missed that ball and it was such an easy one!" he called out in
+an annoyed tone, and then saw his mother run across the court waving her
+racquet.
+
+"Excuse me for the present, Jimmie, but here comes Frieda from the big
+house and it is so early for her to be out that I am afraid there is
+something the matter."
+
+Frieda Russell was walking a little more rapidly than usual and seemed
+to be slightly out of breath when her sister joined her and slipped an
+arm through hers.
+
+"Nothing has happened, Frieda? Peace is all right, and Professor Russell
+and the others?"
+
+The younger woman nodded and yet her face remained grave and there was a
+suggestion of a frown between her large clear blue eyes.
+
+"Yes and no, Jack. Oh, I know you hate any one to speak in so
+non-committal a fashion and yet one can not always be so direct and so
+certain about things as you are. Everybody is well at the big house,
+physically well I mean, and yet there is something I felt I wanted to
+discuss with you this morning before any one else sees you. I
+particularly want to talk to you alone, so suppose we sit down in the
+hammock on the front porch and you can see and tell me if any one draws
+near."
+
+A moment later, Frieda spread out her plaid blue gingham skirt with as
+much care as if it had been of silk and took off her big blue shade
+hat, holding it in her lap. She had always been extremely careful of her
+costume and her physical appearance as a young girl and now devoted even
+more attention to them, with the result that she had an air of
+daintiness which was very pleasing and that her skin remained as fair
+and soft as a baby's.
+
+"You are rather a comfort, you know. Jack, when one is in a difficulty,
+not that I always rely upon your judgment, but I do like to talk things
+over with you and get your point of view," she began. "The truth is I am
+worried about Jean and Ralph. Ralph returned to the ranch late yesterday
+afternoon and saw Jean while we were away. I did not see either of them
+until later when they came in to dinner together and then I have never
+seen Ralph or Jean look as they did. Even Henry noticed it, and you know
+he notices very little that has to do with human beings. He actually
+inquired if they were feeling ill, which was most unfortunate, since
+they both said 'no,' and then tried to behave as if there was nothing
+the matter. They were neither of them successful. I know Jim saw there
+was some trouble, but Jim is so wonderful, he never has interfered in
+any way with us since we married. We must first give him our confidence,
+and even then he is very careful.
+
+"Of course I do not understand whether the trouble is between Jean and
+Ralph or whether it is due to some outside cause. But I must say, Jack
+dear, that though she has confided nothing to me, I did think Jean's
+manner toward her husband a strange one. And yet perhaps I am a little
+suspicious or just over anxious because--well, because," Frieda
+hesitated a fraction of a second and then went on, "because Henry and I
+had that misunderstanding after we were married which made us both so
+dreadfully unhappy and except for an accident might have wrecked our
+lives. It's a funny thing, isn't it, Jack, when one marries one thinks
+one's problems are over. I suppose that is because one is very young,
+and then naturally one finds out that if the old problems are over,
+there is an entirely new set. Even you and Frank used to have little
+differences now and then! And yet here you are still little more than a
+girl, and a widow, with a wholly different life to live until you marry
+again. Don't shake your head. One never knows. You always insisted,
+Jack, that you would not marry when you were a girl, and yet you were
+married before any one of us.
+
+"But I am wandering from my subject. You see, about Jean and Ralph, I
+don't know what to do, or whether any one of us has the right to attempt
+to secure their confidence unless they first offer it to us. At
+breakfast this morning Ralph Merritt announced that he was leaving the
+ranch again to-day and might be gone for some time. He was going to some
+frightfully hot place in New Mexico to see about a lately discovered
+gold mine, but Jean and the children would not go with him. And Jean
+made no protest of any kind. She did not even try to persuade Ralph to
+stay on at the Rainbow ranch for a few days until he had a chance to
+rest and they could be together for a little while. I never saw Jean
+behave so queerly or look so strangely. She was white and cold and
+severe, although she does look so unhappy, almost as if she were ill.
+You know she has always cared for me more than for you or Olive, and yet
+when I put my arm around her this morning and asked if she felt badly,
+she almost pushed me away and said that I would soon grow too tired of
+her to care whether she were well or ill. Of course she will probably
+talk to me later on, yet it is funny. One might not think it, yet Jean
+is really more reserved than the rest of us.
+
+"But what I am worrying over is, that by the time Jean makes up her mind
+to confide in any member of her family, Ralph will have gone. And if he
+goes, somehow I have a strange presentiment that it may be a long while
+before we see him again. Do you suppose you could speak to him? Ralph
+said this morning that he was coming to the lodge to have a talk with
+you as he really has never seen you alone since your arrival in this
+country. You and Ralph are pretty good friends! I don't know why it is,
+Jack, but boys and men talk to you more freely than they do to most
+girls or women, so will you undertake to find out what is the difficulty
+between Jean and Ralph before Ralph goes away? Try to learn if the
+trouble is some outside thing in which we could be useful. I know Jim
+Colter wants to offer to help Ralph, if he needs help, he admires and
+likes him so much, but I don't think Jim dares, Ralph looks in such an
+uncomfortable mood."
+
+Without even an exclamation to interrupt her sister's story, Jacqueline
+Kent had listened intently, her gray eyes a little clouded, her
+sympathetic face responding to every suggestion.
+
+"Yet, Frieda, you feel I ought to question Ralph when Jim, who is his
+dear friend, is unwilling? I am afraid not, Frieda dear. You realize I
+have seen so little of Ralph and Jean since their marriage, as I have
+been living in England and they have been in the United States except
+while Ralph was in service in France. Secretly I confess I am a little
+afraid of Ralph, more than I am of either your husband or Olive's, Ralph
+is so quiet and apparently so self-sufficient. If he has made up his
+mind to a certain action I cannot believe that any one save Jean _could_
+influence him."
+
+"Yes, but Jean won't _try_ to influence him this time, at least this is
+my impression," Frieda added hastily, "and Ralph feels sorry for you at
+present, Jack dear, and admires the way you are facing things. He said
+so last night at dinner, said quite plainly that he admired you more
+than any one of the former Ranch girls, which was not especially polite
+of him, although I did not mind, even if Henry was there and might feel
+he had made a mistake in marrying me instead of you, not that he could
+have married you, as you were engaged already. But I must get back home
+now, or else Ralph may arrive and perhaps believe I have been gossiping
+about him."
+
+Hastily Frieda jumped up.
+
+"Good gracious, Jack, isn't that Ralph on his way here this instant? It
+is either Ralph or some one like him! Let me slip into the house and
+stay there until you persuade Ralph to go for a walk, then I'll run
+home. I hope Jean will be too much engaged to miss me, I did not mention
+to any one I was coming over to the lodge. Good-by, dear; anyhow, you
+can do your best to follow my advice."
+
+Scarcely a moment after Frieda had disappeared Jacqueline Kent went
+quickly forward to greet Ralph Merritt, who was walking slowly across
+one of the fields in the direction of the Rainbow lodge. At once Jack
+believed that even had Frieda not forewarned her, she must nevertheless
+have observed the trouble in Ralph's face.
+
+"I have come to say good-by and hello at the same time, Jack," he
+announced. "Sorry not to see more of you, but I'm off for New Mexico
+this afternoon, I don't know for how long a time."
+
+Perhaps there are occasions in this life when frankness may not be
+desirable. But the spiritual frankness of Jacqueline Kent, which did not
+consist of saying unkind things to people under such a guise, but of
+going directly to the heart of what she felt and believed and of
+expecting the same thing of other human beings, nearly always served.
+
+She did not hesitate at this instant.
+
+"Ralph, I believe you are in some kind of difficulty. I think I have
+guessed partly by your expression and also because you would not leave
+the ranch so abruptly and with the suggestion that you may not return
+for many months without an important reason. I wonder if the trouble is
+a money one, Ralph, because if it is, you must let me help you. You know
+I have a fairly large estate and it is costing Jimmie and me almost
+nothing to live here at the lodge, and Jean,--Jean has been like my
+sister since the days when we spent our girlhood here as the 'Ranch
+Girls of the Rainbow Lodge.'"
+
+Ralph shook his head.
+
+"You're a trump, Jack, but that is out of the question. Suppose we walk
+down to the Rainbow mine. I had not intended talking to any one, but
+perhaps it is best I should, and somehow, Jack, it is not so hard to
+confess one's mistakes to you as to most persons. I can't take your
+money because I have already lost most of Jean's and all of my own. Jean
+hates poverty and has lost faith in me besides. I don't altogether blame
+her, yet it has been hard for a good many of us to get started in the
+old fashion since the war ended, and these days the Government has so
+many regulations about mining gold that only where the output is large
+does the work pay. What I want to ask you, Jack, is to look after Jean
+and the little girls while I am away. I'll come back when I have made
+money, not before."
+
+The man and girl had come to the neighborhood of the old Rainbow mine
+and stood near the edge of one of the disused pits.
+
+"Yes, I understand, Ralph. Moreover, you have decided that it will not
+be worth while to attempt any more work in the Rainbow mine, at least
+not unless a new lode is discovered. Now I wonder, Ralph, if it has ever
+occurred to you how much Olive and Frieda and Jean and I owe to your
+former skill in working the Rainbow mine in the past, how much of our
+fortunes are actually due to you? Does that not make a difference? Are
+you not more willing to let me be of assistance to you until you are
+able to repay me? Won't you at least promise me to talk to Jim Colter
+and to ask his advice before you leave?"
+
+Ralph shook his head.
+
+"No, and even if I were willing, and I am not, Jean would never consent.
+Many times she has told me how deeply she appreciated that fact that you
+and Frieda shared alike with her the output of the Rainbow mine when she
+was only your cousin and with no legal right to your inheritance. Having
+lost Jean's money, although she gave me her consent, even urged me to
+the investment, she has lost faith in me. What is more serious, I am
+even beginning to have less faith in myself. Yet I don't know why I am
+telling you all this, Jack, I had not intended to do more than say
+good-by. What hurts worse is that Jean does not care for me any more; I
+wonder now if she ever did care as I did. You know how important she has
+always counted wealth and position and I believed once I could give them
+to her, but lately I have failed and so Jean is disappointed. Funny
+thing marriage, Jack!"
+
+"Funny thing life, Ralph, one is just a part of the whole! I think you
+are mistaken about Jean, but I have no right to express an opinion. Only
+if you do consider it wiser to fight it out alone, don't worry over Jean
+and the little girls. Jim would look after them even if I were not here.
+Queer that Jim, who came to us first as a cowboy and then the manager of
+the Rainbow ranch, should have been even kinder than an own father! Not
+that I think of Jim as so much older than I am! However, 111 stand by
+Jean through whatever comes, Ralph! And after a time, even if she is
+disappointed and hurt for the present, she is sure to change. I wish I
+dared to tell her the mistake she is making, only I don't dare. In any
+case, I'll do my best."
+
+Ralph Merritt held out his hand.
+
+"Shake hands, Jack, and let us say good-by. But before I leave you I
+want to say to you something else, something which may surprise you. I
+believe you came back to this country for some good purpose, Jacqueline
+Kent, some purpose none of us recognizes at present and you least of
+all. But if the day should come when you feel that some work calls you,
+don't be afraid to undertake it. Life has a queer fashion of preparing
+people for what she wishes them to accomplish, without their knowing."
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"I wonder what there can be ahead for me, Ralph? Yet some day I must
+find something, as I shall never marry again. Life on the old ranch is
+restful and charming, yet I suppose it won't continue to be enough. So
+let us wish each other good luck here in the shadow of the old mine
+where we discovered the 'Pot of Gold.' There must be other kinds of gold
+at the end of other rainbows."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+A YEAR LATER
+
+
+"It is harder to endure, Jack, because so much my own fault, all my life
+I must feel in a measure responsible, and I cannot feel hopeful as you
+insist you do, perhaps for that very reason. However, we must not talk
+too much of this now, to-morrow will be time enough. You must keep all
+the strength and self-control you possess for to-night."
+
+It was more than a year later, and Jean Merritt and Jacqueline Ralston
+were in Jean's beautiful bedroom in the big house on the Rainbow ranch.
+Jean was sitting on a low couch with her hands clasped tightly together,
+while Jack was moving restlessly up and down the large, fragrant room.
+
+"But I can't make a speech to-night, Jean, not after the bewildering
+news we have just received, although I will not believe it to be final.
+Why did I ever think I could? Yet surely there is a sufficient reason
+now for me to be excused!"
+
+"Sit down for a few moments please, Jack," Jean answered with such an
+evidence of self-control and of unselfishness that her companion
+suffered a swift emotion of shame and compunction.
+
+"Now there isn't any question but you must go on to-night with what you
+intended doing. Remember we all have decided that, for the time at
+least, it will be wiser to keep secret the information we have just
+received. Therefore you cannot make this your excuse for failing to
+speak as you planned. If you fail to speak this evening it will appear
+either that you are afraid to say what you think, or else that you have
+changed your opinion."
+
+Jack flushed.
+
+"But I _am_ afraid. Am I not the last person in the world you would ever
+have dreamed attempting a public speech? And here I am involved in the
+effort to make one to-night, simply because I began talking first to our
+own ranchmen and then to the men on the neighboring ranches of some of
+the work I thought we ought to undertake in Wyoming. When I first began
+I did not know I was making a speech. To-night I shall probably know it
+without being able to make it. Still, I don't want to talk about myself
+in the face of your problem, Jean. Now let us go over the news you have
+received and see if we both understand. Ralph has been away over a year,
+hasn't he, working always at the mine in New Mexico and writing
+regularly? The mine so far has not proved a success, but Ralph insisted
+that he still had faith in it and never spoke of leaving, or changing
+his work. Now word arrives that two weeks ago he had a serious fall into
+a pit which had been left uncovered, but that he seemed not badly hurt,
+only a little bruised and shaken and that he had continued with his
+duties that same day as if nothing had occurred. Then next morning, as
+he failed to appear, one of his men going to look for him found his tent
+empty. He has not been seen since. Yet no one had heard him go away in
+the night and there was nothing to suggest that he had intended
+remaining away, as his clothes and private papers were left behind.
+Naturally the people at the mine believed we had heard some word of him,
+and I believe we soon shall hear. Ralph will write or come to the
+Rainbow ranch, I am convinced of it. What is it you really think, Jean?"
+
+Jean shook her head.
+
+"I don't know what to think. Some tragedy may have happened to Ralph, or
+he may simply have grown too weary and discouraged to remain where he
+was any longer."
+
+Getting up, Jean began walking up and down the big room with its
+rose-colored carpet as if her uncertainty and unhappiness must have a
+physical outlet.
+
+"I have never told you in so many words, Jack, although I must have said
+enough for you to guess that Ralph and I parted without the tenderness
+and faith I should have shown him even if I believed he had made
+mistakes, because the mistakes were made chiefly for my sake. I thought
+I had learned a good deal in this year of his absence, but perhaps it
+was not enough, so I must bear this new anxiety. Ralph would have been
+happier married to you, Jack, than to me; I have thought this a good
+many times. You care nothing for wealth and society; I have always cared
+too much until lately. Now after this year with all of you at the old
+ranch I was learning a new set of values; except for wanting Ralph I
+have been so happy here just as we used to be as children, even if we
+have a new group of younger Ranch girls. Now, unless I hear from Ralph
+within the next twenty-four hours I mean to go to New Mexico to find
+him. I should have been with him through this year, enduring the
+hardships he has been forced to endure, instead of living in comfort and
+idleness here at the ranch."
+
+"But you have not lived in idleness, Jean, whatever else you may accuse
+yourself of. Managing this big place, keeping house for Jim and his
+little girls and for Frieda and her family is hardly being idle. Jim
+says he has not been so at ease since Ruth died. It's funny Jim told me
+he thought it wiser for Professor Russell to go in search of Ralph
+unless we receive word immediately than that he should go, although Jim
+and Ralph are devoted friends. Jim says that Henry is a scientist, but a
+more practical man of affairs than the rest of us give him credit for
+being. Yet somehow I don't believe Jim is willing to leave us alone at
+the ranch, not only his own little girls, but you and Frieda and Olive
+and me. He insists on driving me over to Laramie to-night, although I do
+not feel he likes my speaking in public. However, when I asked his
+advice he merely said: 'Go ahead, Jack, do what you wish to do; your
+life is your own. If I am an old fogy and should prefer you to stay
+quietly at the lodge, I never have expected it of you since you came
+back and resumed your American citizenship. As long as you don't go too
+far I'll stand behind you.'"
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"Of course I don't know what Jim means by 'too far,' but I suppose he
+will tell me in time. Now I am going away, Jean dear, and leave you to
+try to rest. Remember, I believe firmly that we shall hear from Ralph
+within the next few days, or the next few hours, who knows? But Olive
+and Captain MacDonnell will stay with you to-night, as Frieda and
+Professor Russell wish to drive over to the Woman's Club with me. At
+least if I am to make a speech I am glad it is to be made there. Frieda
+is too funny. She is torn between being rather proud of my being a
+sufficiently prominent person in the neighborhood for people to be
+willing to listen to me, and thinking it unwomanly of me to attempt to
+speak. Besides, I think she shares my present conviction that I am going
+to break down and so disgrace myself and all of us. Yet it is such a
+simple thing I wish to talk about, and anyone ought to be able to say
+what one thinks."
+
+As Jack rose, Jean placed her hands on her cousin's shoulders, her brown
+eyes gazing steadfastly into Jack's gray ones.
+
+"No, it is not going to be difficult for you to-night, Jack, not after
+you have once started with your speech. It will be difficult at first,
+of course, to face an audience of men and women for the first time in
+your life. You have said a good many times just what you will say
+to-night, but I know that you have never considered before that you
+_were_ making a speech. But it will be a success, Jack, because to you
+it is always a simple thing for people to be straightforward and honest
+and public-spirited. Now go and lie down yourself for an hour or so. I
+am going to see what the little girls are doing."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"No, I am going off for a ride alone, Jean. It is funny, but Billy
+Preston, one of our cowboys, told me I should not ride alone, not even
+over our own ranch. Already there seems to be a good deal of feeling
+against me because of what I have been advocating. As if I were of
+enough importance to be considered dangerous! But please don't speak of
+this to any one else; I must ride alone now and then, and I have
+promised Jim never to leave our ranch without an escort. It is curious
+that I can think better on horseback than at any other times. Other
+people manage the same thing by lying down, or walking through the
+country, or in crowded city streets. I believe some writers can only
+dictate when they are striding up and down their rooms. But I am off
+now, really this time, Jean. I'll have a light supper at the lodge, as
+we start about seven. In the morning I'll tell you the worst, or
+probably Frieda will tell you before I can see you."
+
+A moment after Jacqueline Kent was gone.
+
+After her departure Jean suffered a stronger sensation of
+discouragement. It was always true that Jacqueline Kent possessed a
+vitality so keen and a sweetness of character so inherently sincere,
+that one was apt to be stimulated and cheered by her companionship.
+
+Later in the same day driving toward town, Jack remained unusually
+quiet. She was riding in the front seat of a Ford car seated beside Jim
+Colter and listening with some amusement to her sister Frieda's
+conversation with her husband, which Frieda had not the slightest
+objection to having overheard.
+
+"I feel perfectly convinced that Jack is going to break down, Henry, or
+perhaps not even be able to begin her speech when she faces her
+audience. I do wish I had not come. Of course you and Jim won't mind so
+much because you are no real relation to Jack, so I shall feel much more
+embarrassed than anyone else. However, my one comfort will be that if
+Jack does make a complete failure to-night she will never attempt to
+speak in public again. I don't see why she should care so much what the
+other ranchmen in Wyoming do, so long as we are successful with our own
+ranch. But then one never has been able to count upon what Jack would
+think or do. We are not in the least alike."
+
+"But my dear Frieda," Professor Russell expostulated, speaking in a
+hushed voice intended only for Frieda's ears, "don't you think it unkind
+of you to suggest failure to your sister at this late hour? If you did
+not wish her to speak you should have remonstrated earlier."
+
+"Oh, I did talk to her; indeed I am sure I have discussed nothing else
+for the past week. Sometimes I have told Jack I would never forgive her,
+if she went on with what she had been doing, and then again I advised
+her to make a perfectly wonderful speech at the Woman's Club to-night,
+just to show the stupid people who object to her how clever and charming
+she is, and how right. Of course I think Jack is right about a few
+things now and then."
+
+In answer to Jack's gay laughter from the front seat and Jim Colter's
+chuckle, even to her husband's amused smile, Frieda continued
+undisturbed.
+
+"Frieda dear, you are a tonic and I won't dare fail if you feel as you
+do about me," Jack called back over her shoulder. "You are more
+refreshing than Jim, who tells me I am sure to succeed in convincing my
+audience to-night, when deep down inside of him he is sure I will not.
+Yet you won't desert me if the worst happens, Frieda?"
+
+Frieda shook her blonde head.
+
+"No, Jack, I shall never turn my back upon you really, no matter what
+you do, even if I disapprove of it most dreadfully, perhaps not even if
+you should run for some public office in the state of Wyoming as if you
+were a man. Of course the suggestion is absurd, but I did hear some one
+say you might become an influence in the state of Wyoming."
+
+"Yes, that was absurd, Frieda dear," Jack returned, resting her head
+lightly on Jim Colter's shoulder and closing her ears to Frieda's patter
+in order to try to think more clearly of the task ahead of her.
+
+The subject upon which Jacqueline Kent was to speak to-night was a
+simple one, so simple that she had not understood why there should be
+any opposition to her suggestion. In the beginning it had been only a
+suggestion.
+
+Jacqueline Kent desired the ranchmen of Wyoming to increase the number
+of their livestock and to have larger herds of cattle, and droves of
+sheep, with a view of making the state of Wyoming the most important
+ranch state in the country. The world was never before in so great need
+of food and clothing.
+
+Yet soon her little talks with the Rainbow ranchmen and the men from the
+adjoining ranches became known throughout the neighborhood. Then to her
+surprise Jack discovered that a large number of the prominent men in
+Wyoming opposed her suggestion. Among these men were Senator Marshall
+and her former acquaintance, Peter Stevens, who was employed as an
+attorney to limit the supply of livestock raised in Wyoming.
+
+To-night Jack had been asked to present her view of the question before
+a group of men and women in the Woman's Club in Laramie. The building
+was a large one. Later, when Jack stepped out upon the platform she
+faced an audience of several hundred persons.
+
+An instant the faces swam before her and her courage failed. Then she
+appreciated that her first sentences could not be heard beyond the first
+few rows of chairs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+A MAIDEN SPEECH
+
+
+Nevertheless Jack looked very young, attractive and frightened. Her
+color had vanished, her wide gray eyes held an expression of appeal for
+patience and understanding.
+
+She was dressed in the costume she ordinarily preferred in the evening,
+a black tulle over black silk, cut with a square neck and with elbow
+sleeves, and, although of exquisite material, made in a simple fashion.
+Usually caring little for jewelry, to-night she was wearing a pearl and
+amethyst star which her husband had given her years before.
+
+As her glance now swept the audience she beheld the faces she especially
+wished _not_ to see, Jim Colter's, her sister Frieda's, and her
+neighbors, Senator and Mrs. Marshall's. Not far away and staring fixedly
+at her was the somewhat grim countenance of her former acquaintance,
+Peter Stevens.
+
+Upon Jim Colter's fine, deeply lined face--his coal black hair was now
+turning slightly gray--was a look with which Jack had been familiar
+since her girlhood. The look said more plainly than words that Jim was
+always there to fight her battles and whether she succeeded or failed,
+she could count upon him. Frieda's face was set and white and miserable,
+her blue eyes open to their fullest extent, announcing as plainly as her
+lips could have stated:
+
+"Why, why did I ever permit Jack to make such a spectacle of herself?
+Have I not warned her that she could never make a public speech? Yet
+after all, the fault is partly mine, as I should never have allowed her
+to undertake such a task!"
+
+It was Frieda's honest conviction that, as she had a great deal more
+common sense than either her sister or husband, it was not only their
+duty but their privilege to yield to her judgment in practical matters.
+
+The expression with which Senator Marshall regarded her, Jack believed
+she recognized as one of amused tolerance, not unmixed with
+satisfaction. He had talked seriously to her of the mistake she was
+making in her present ideas. He also thoroughly disapproved of women
+attempting public speeches under any conditions whatsoever, and of this
+Jack also had been kindly informed. Mrs. Marshall's attitude did not
+affect Jacqueline Kent in any fashion. Long before she had accepted the
+fact that Mrs. Marshall did not like her and resented any influence she
+might have gained in the neighborhood. Especially Mrs. Marshall had
+seemed to dislike her stepson John Marshall's boyish friendship and
+admiration for his neighbor. If John had come to hear her speak to-night
+he was not seated with his parents, for Jack's subconscious mind was
+registering these small and unimportant impressions even as her lips
+moved almost inaudibly in the address she was endeavoring to make.
+
+However, the one face which seemed to arouse Jack more completely than
+the others was that of her former acquaintance, Peter Stevens. In the
+past year Peter Stevens had become more than an acquaintance. If they
+were not friends he appeared to enjoy calling at the Rainbow lodge, for
+one could count upon seeing him there probably once a week. His
+expression at present was undoubtedly one of pleasure at her failure.
+Jack felt distinctly angry.
+
+"Louder," some one called from the back of the hall, and hearing the
+call, she paused and an instant remained silent. Speaking again, it was
+apparent that both her manner and voice had changed. The self-command
+which had in a measure deserted her was slowly being regained.
+
+"I am sorry, I fear a good many members of my audience have not been
+able to hear what I have been saying," she answered, speaking in a
+fashion which seemed to take the men and women who were her listeners
+into her confidence, making the greater number of them her advocates
+rather than her critics. "I suppose it is scarcely worth while
+confessing that I have never made a public speech before and have no
+idea how much one should raise one's voice. Yet the subject I want to
+talk about to-night is such a simple and direct one that I really and
+truly don't see why it should be discussed in any public fashion. I am
+only here because some of you felt it might be wise for me to state my
+opinion. Nevertheless, I am sure I agree with any of you who feel my
+opinion may not be valuable.
+
+"Most of you know that I came back from England more than a year ago and
+because I loved my own country better than my adopted one, I have
+resumed my American citizenship. Yet when I speak of loving my country
+I think I mean first of all that I love my state, the state of Wyoming,
+where I was born and lived as a girl, and that the parts of Wyoming I
+love best are her great and beautiful ranches.
+
+"On my return, to my surprise I discovered that instead of the ranches
+in Wyoming having increased in the last few years and the quantity of
+livestock become greater, they now cover less acreage and the livestock
+is smaller in number. I was sorry; our state is so lovely, with its
+broad stretches of fertile prairies, our rivers and streams, and our
+hills set like a rim of jewels about them. So first I began talking to
+the men on our own ranch, the Rainbow ranch, asking them if it would not
+be possible to increase the number of our cattle and sheep. Since the
+close of the war we have heard of nothing but of how hungry the world
+is, at least the European world. So I did not dream there could be any
+objection if I talked to other ranchmen beside our own and asked them
+what their plans for the future were to be. We all know that many of the
+men who are now working on the ranches in the United States intend
+owning their own places as soon as possible. Many of them are soldiers
+who, having returned from the war in Europe, now wish to lead an outdoor
+life and enjoy the freedom and the independence which the ranch life
+offers. And wherever and whenever I have talked to the former soldiers
+who have come to dwell in Wyoming they have seemed to agree with me.
+
+"The views of the people who oppose the idea of increasing the number of
+our ranches and the supply of our livestock I confess I am too stupid to
+understand. They seem to feel that Wyoming's future lies in her cities,
+in her mineral deposits, and even in her recent large manufactories.
+
+"They believe we will receive less for our cattle and horses if we raise
+a greater number. Yet say this is true, and I do not accept its truth,
+how will the ranchmen be injured if the cost of the increase in his
+expenses is covered by the greater number of his stock? And this we have
+found to be the case in the past years' experiment with the livestock on
+the Rainbow ranch."
+
+Jack paused again, but this time not because she was either frightened
+or embarrassed. She had given up the effort to make a speech after
+having undertaken it, having discovered that she was not being
+successful. Since then she had been talking to her audience in the same
+fashion that she would have spoken to any single individual who might
+have expressed an interest in her subject.
+
+"I wonder," she remarked clearly and distinctly, "if there is any one
+present who is entirely unprejudiced and is willing to state the other
+side of this question, to explain why the state of Wyoming should cease
+to be a great ranch state. Perhaps Senator Marshall or Mr. Peter Stevens
+will speak upon the subject."
+
+As Jack ceased there was a momentary pause followed by a ripple of
+laughter. The word "unprejudiced" had amused her audience. Peter Stevens
+was known to be employed by the interests who wished to decrease the
+supply of cattle in the state, while Senator Marshall's political party
+advocated the same point of view.
+
+However, Senator Marshall so far accepted Jacqueline Kent's challenge as
+to arise in his place. Bowing, he said blandly:
+
+"I never argue a point with a woman."
+
+And first his retort was greeted with a murmur of indignation and then
+of renewed laughter.
+
+Gazing directly into his face, Jack protested:
+
+"But, Senator Marshall, do you not consider that the day has passed for
+failing to argue points with women? We are voters and if points cannot
+be argued, at least certain questions must be made plain. To-night we
+are in a Woman's Club built largely with the idea of offering women the
+opportunity to find out some of the problems they intend to understand."
+
+A few moments later, having received no reply from Peter Stevens, who
+seemed to have chosen to ignore her request, closing her speech more
+eloquently than she had begun it, in the midst of friendly applause,
+Jack bowed and withdrew from the platform.
+
+A little later amid a group of friends and acquaintances unconsciously
+she still held the center of the stage.
+
+"You were not so bad as I expected, Jack, although I was a little
+disappointed in you," Frieda found time to murmur, feeling in the midst
+of her pessimism a great sense of relief. Not only was the speech over,
+but in spite of it Jack was looking extremely pretty and no less
+feminine than she had previously.
+
+Jim Colter simply nodded his head to reveal his satisfaction, while her
+brother-in-law, Professor Henry Tilford Russell, shook hands, announcing
+frankly:
+
+"You did yourself credit, Jack, not to _attempt_ to make a speech. It is
+better to talk simply upon a subject until you know more about it, and
+afterwards for the matter of that."
+
+But outside Jacqueline Kent's own family, many of her friends were
+enthusiastic.
+
+"I do not see why we should not ask you to run for an office in the gift
+of the state of Wyoming some day, Mrs. Kent," the President of the
+Woman's Club declared in a tone sufficiently loud to be heard by a large
+group of persons. "No one denies that an American woman, Lady Nancy
+Astor, is making an excellent member of the British Parliament. Why
+should we be so much more conservative than England? Moreover, Lady
+Astor is an American woman."
+
+In return Jack laughed, failing to attach any seriousness to the
+suggestion.
+
+"Yes, but unfortunately I have none of Lady Astor's gifts," she
+responded. "Nevertheless there may be some one in Wyoming who has, and
+perhaps it would be interesting if Wyoming, one of the first states to
+give the vote to women, should be represented by a woman in Washington.
+You would dislike the idea very much, wouldn't you, Senator Marshall?"
+
+Senator Marshall, who had come up to shake hands with Jack, nodded
+vehemently.
+
+"I should indeed dislike it; I still am sufficiently old-fashioned
+enough to believe that woman's place is the home."
+
+A voice behind his shoulder interrupted.
+
+"Nonsense, father, you are simply afraid of Mrs. Kent as your possible
+rival, for if ever she is elected to Congress the next step will be to
+defeat you for the United States Senate."
+
+The voice was John Marshall's, the senator's son and Jack's devoted
+friend.
+
+"Thanks, but don't make the Senator disapprove of me any more than he
+does at present. I must live in peace with my neighbors."
+
+A little to Jack's surprise Peter Stevens made no effort to shake hands
+with her or to speak to her, although she remained half an hour in the
+Woman's Club after her poor effort at speech-making was concluded. Peter
+Stevens was there also talking to other friends.
+
+She was standing alone out on the sidewalk waiting for Jim Colter to
+drive up with the car, Frieda and her husband having moved a few feet
+away to speak to some one, when Peter Stevens' voice said unexpectedly:
+
+"Good-night, Jack. I suppose it would make no difference to you to
+realize how intensely I disliked your speaking in public this evening."
+He and Jack within he past year had returned to their youthful custom of
+calling each other by their first names.
+
+However, Jack's answer surprised him.
+
+"Oh, I don't know; perhaps you are right. I might consider you an old
+fogey, Peter, to object to girls and women speaking what they believe to
+be true, but it is probably true that at least no one should speak in
+public who has no more talent than I possess. You were kind not to make
+me appear worse by displaying your learning and eloquence afterwards.
+No, I am not being sarcastic; every one says you are learned and
+eloquent. Yet in spite of your reputation, I have the courage to think
+you are mistaken about a number of matters. But here is Jim with the
+car, so good-night. Why, yes, of course I'll be glad to see you at the
+lodge; differences of opinion need not destroy friendship."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE PROPOSALS
+
+
+One spring day an automobile containing four men and two women drove up
+and stopped before the Rainbow lodge.
+
+The half dozen guests must have been expected, because within a few
+moments after they were ushered into the big living-room of the lodge,
+which had altered but little in character in many years, Jacqueline
+Kent, who had been Jacqueline Ralston in the old days, came downstairs
+to greet her visitors.
+
+The call could not have been merely a social one, else Jack would
+scarcely have appeared so pale and preoccupied and so unlike her usual
+radiant and vital self.
+
+Slowly she had descended the stairs, and entering her own living-room
+had shaken hands with four of the six persons whom she knew and had then
+been introduced to the other two. Afterwards she sat down in a chair and
+listened quietly, rarely doing more than introduce a sentence now and
+then.
+
+At the close of nearly an hour, when the visitors, declining to remain
+for dinner, had risen to say farewell, Jack also stood up, facing them.
+
+She stood with the mantel and the bookshelves forming her background.
+Upon the mantel were several of the possessions she had treasured in her
+childhood, Indian bowls of strange shape and antiquity, her father's
+pistol, the first nugget of gold she and Frank Kent, who was afterwards
+to be her husband, had discovered in the Rainbow mine. In the old
+bookshelves were the self-same books she and Olive and Jean and Frieda
+had read and studied in their girlhood, studied far too little until the
+coming of Ruth to act as their governess.
+
+Outside the big living-room windows Jack could see the long double row
+of tall cottonwood trees now grown through the years to mammoth
+proportions and away and beyond the purple fields of the blossoming
+alfalfa and the newly sprouting tender green spears of grain, all her
+own beloved and familiar background.
+
+"I am sure you realize I appreciate the honor you have done me," she
+said finally, speaking in hesitating fashion. "Yet I do not believe I
+dare give you my answer this afternoon. You have been kind enough to say
+that I may have two more days for considering your proposal, and within
+that time I shall of course let you hear. You are sure you cannot stay
+longer, not even for tea?"
+
+Ten minutes later, on the porch of the lodge Jack stood alone, watching
+the automobile containing her six callers roll down the avenue between
+the cottonwood trees and pass out the gate which separated the lodge
+grounds from the rest of the Rainbow ranch.
+
+For a short time Jack continued her watch, glancing first in one
+direction and then in another as if expecting some one else to approach
+with an evident wish to see her.
+
+The afternoon was in early May. The air blowing from the snow-capped
+hills closer to the western horizon brought with it the fragrances of
+damp wooded places, mingled with the wealth of prairie flowers over
+which it had more lately passed.
+
+Jacqueline Ralston Kent threw back her shoulders, lifted her head and
+inhaled a deep breath.
+
+"I wonder why Jim, Jean, Frieda and Olive do not come to find out what
+decision I have reached," she remarked aloud. "This must be some
+prearranged plan that I am to be left alone for a time. And yet it is
+unlike my younger sister, Frieda, not to continue to express her opinion
+and insist I agree with it whether or not it happens to be my own.
+Perhaps being left alone may be more effective than the usual family
+opposition toward bringing me around to their way of thinking. Yet the
+family is divided in their viewpoint, and so whatever I may do I must
+please some of them and displease others. If I am to be left alone I
+think I'll go for a ride. I wish Jimmie were here to go with me; I
+intend to talk my problem over with Jimmie--this and every problem we
+ever have to face. But of course with Jim looking after the branding of
+the new calves this afternoon what chance have I of Jimmie's being
+anywhere near?"
+
+Not long after, with her costume changed to her riding-habit, Jack went
+back to the stable of the lodge and finding no one there, saddled her
+own mare, a present from Jim Colter several years before, and rode off.
+
+Before leaving, she explained to the old half-Indian woman who looked
+after her small household that she would not return until dinner time.
+If she were late Jimmie was to eat his dinner and not wait for her.
+
+It was true that Jacqueline Kent felt she was facing this afternoon one
+of the greatest decisions of her life, almost as important a decision as
+her marriage. Perhaps in some persons' eyes a more important decision,
+since it was more unusual than marriage in the lives of most women.
+
+It was so strange and so unexpected that at present Jack herself was
+scarcely able to accept the momentous fact. Yet here it was before her
+staring her in the face, awaiting her judgment and shutting out the dim
+spring loveliness of the sky and plains.
+
+"Should she or should she not? Would she or would she not?" The refrain
+had a stupid sound in Jack's ears. She caught herself wondering which
+was grammatical and then concluded that both expressions were right in
+her case, since both her future and her will were involved in her
+present conclusion.
+
+Who would have believed that upon her return to Wyoming, her simple
+desire to become an American citizen again and later her interest in
+the prosperity and happiness of her state could involve her in such a
+situation? Within the last hour, was it really possible that she,
+Jacqueline Ralston Kent, one of the four original "Ranch Girls of the
+Rainbow Lodge," had been asked to accept the nomination for the United
+States Congress and become among the first women representatives in the
+country?
+
+Jack bit her lips, put her hand to her face to feel the sudden flush
+which had suffused it at the thought of her own unfitness for so great a
+responsibility.
+
+Then she gave her horse its head and started upon a swift canter; for a
+little while she must put away the question which so troubled her.
+Appreciating her own lack of knowledge and of training for the task
+ahead, why not decline at once and for all time ever to consider it? Yet
+on the other hand, had she the right to evade so wonderful an
+opportunity? She was young and could learn a good deal of what she
+should know in order to meet such a responsibility. Moreover, she did
+have the interest of her state at heart and some of her friends and
+acquaintances must have believed in her, else the nomination would never
+have been offered her. Besides, if she were honest, frank, and
+open-minded, would it not be a wonderful experience? Jack was only
+lately a girl, and in her heart of hearts felt it would actually be
+great fun to be among the early vanguard of the women who were to hold
+important political offices in the United States.
+
+"Yet of course, even if I conclude to accept the nomination, I won't
+unless Jim Colter finally gives his consent. I refuse to be regulated by
+Frieda. Besides, why worry? After all, there is not one chance in a
+hundred that I shall ever be elected!"
+
+Lightly Jack touched her horse with her riding whip; she had believed an
+ordinary gait would suffice to distract her thoughts for a little time,
+but evidently this was not sufficient. Her horse was moving quickly and
+evenly over the smooth road and still her thoughts had continued
+unchanged. He must break into a run--a run so swift and headlong, as if
+in a race for a goal, that all her thought should be centered upon his
+control. She needed to feel the strong rush of the wind in her ears, the
+splendid sensation of being a part of the movement which she so enjoyed.
+
+She had promised not to ride outside of the Rainbow ranch alone, an
+absurd promise which several of the cowboys had suggested, and which Jim
+Colter had insisted upon. She had made enemies within the last year by
+the outspoken position she had taken upon a number of questions. At
+present there were rumors that if she accepted the nomination to
+Congress she would be forced to regret it. Yet these rumors appeared to
+Jack as nothing save stupid gossip and sensationalism and not to be
+regarded.
+
+However, boring as it might be upon occasions like this afternoon, when
+she would like to have gotten as far away from the Rainbow ranch as her
+horse could take her within a two hours' ride, nevertheless she intended
+keeping her promise.
+
+The outermost borders of the Rainbow ranch were enclosed by a high
+paling fence to prevent the escape of the cattle.
+
+When she had ridden a little more than an hour Jack arrived at one of
+the borders of the ranch, in the same vicinity where at one time there
+had been a serious dispute with a neighbor over the boundary line. This
+was near the end of the Rainbow creek, at one time considered chiefly
+valuable for the watering of the stock and afterwards found to contain
+valuable gold deposits.
+
+Those had been strenuous and fighting days at the Rainbow ranch. First
+there was the effort to make a living for the family and then to achieve
+a certain amount of education for the four Ranch girls. Afterwards had
+come the adjustment of their legal rights to the ranch, in the days when
+the possibility that gold might be discovered made the possession too
+valuable to pass to four obscure young girls. How the manager of their
+ranch, a fellow named Jim Colter, who so far as the neighbors knew at
+that time had sprung from nowhere, had fought and won their battles for
+them!
+
+Well, those old days had passed and this afternoon Jack concluded that
+no such perilous times could ever return, whether or not she chose to be
+among the pioneers and enter the political arena.
+
+By this time she had ceased her rapid gait and had come to the bridle
+path which led along the far side of Rainbow creek. The path ascended
+among high rocks and crags, almost the only hilly portion of the entire
+ranch. At the top there was an especially fine view.
+
+At present Jack rode slowly, allowing her horse opportunity to rest now
+and then after his swift run.
+
+[Illustration: JACK REINED IN HER HORSE AND SAT STILL SILHOUETTED
+AGAINST THE SKY]
+
+Jack herself felt in better spirits, more exhilarated. Not having fully
+reached a decision, nevertheless she had managed for a brief time to
+banish the question to her subconscious mind, hoping it was still
+wrestling with the problem and might later help her with its solution.
+
+She glanced among the rocks and crags, remembering how she and the other
+Ranch girls had played hide and seek among them as children. Long before
+when Wyoming was largely inhabited by Indian tribes the Indians had
+lived among these rocks sheltered from their enemies. Indian treasures
+had been discovered buried under the earth or fallen between crevices of
+stone.
+
+Reaching a level space of ground, Jack reined in her horse and sat
+still, silhouetted against the sky. Behind her the sun was setting in
+purple and gold clouds. Below she caught a glimpse of another figure on
+horseback approaching in her direction. Putting her hand to her lips
+Jack called "Hello." She was under the impression that the rider was
+either Jim Colter or one of the Rainbow ranch cowboys, and they were all
+her friends. As it was growing late it might be pleasant to have an
+escort home.
+
+A lifting of a hat and a wave of a hand returning her greeting, Jack
+uttered a little exclamation of surprise.
+
+She waited until Peter Stevens had climbed up the bridle path and was
+beside her.
+
+"I have come to ask you, Jack, if there is any possibility of your
+accepting the offer which was made you to-day? Please understand that it
+is no secret. There has been talk of your nomination for Congress for a
+good many months, not weeks. I presume you realize that if you accept
+you will be my opponent? I also am to run for the same office, unless
+you would like me to withdraw. I am willing if you wish to have me do
+so. Yet I would give up a good many more important things in my life if
+I could persuade you to refuse this nomination. I know you think I am
+old-fashioned, narrow, dogmatic, yet with all my heart and all my
+intelligence I oppose the thought of our American women holding public
+office. And you of all women, Jack! Why, with all the experience of life
+you think you have had, you are little more than a girl. It must be
+impossible for you to realize the jealousies, the calumnies and feuds
+that will be aroused by your action. In this past year I have seen you
+fairly often; never so frequently as I desired, yet you must have
+learned to know whether you like or dislike me. Won't you be my wife,
+Jack, and go with me to Washington in that capacity and not as my
+political adversary? I would do a great deal to prevent your making such
+a mistake."
+
+More surprised than she cared to show, Jack shook her head, her face
+slowly flushing.
+
+"I am sure you are very kind, Peter, and I do appreciate the honor you
+have done me, because I do realize how great a sacrifice you are making.
+Yet perhaps you need not have been put to such a test, for although I
+cannot accept your offer, perhaps I shall not accept the other offer
+either. I know my own limitations for such a distinguished office as
+well as even you can know them. However, I make no promise. Will you
+ride back to the lodge to dinner with me?"
+
+Peter Stevens shook his head and an hour after Jack arrived at the
+Rainbow lodge alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+A DECISION
+
+
+Jack, however, did not reach a decision that night, although many hours
+she lay awake continuing to revolve the subject in her mind.
+
+The next day the opposition she again encountered was even keener than
+any that had gone before.
+
+Not long after breakfast Frieda made the first family appearance,
+bringing her little girl with her.
+
+Seeing her sister approach, Jack, who had stepped out of doors for a
+moment for a breath of fresh air, feeling more fatigued than she
+scarcely ever recalled being at this hour of the morning, gave a quickly
+suppressed sigh and then held out her arms to Peace.
+
+Thoroughly she and Frieda had gone over this question of her possible
+nomination when the matter simply had been under discussion. Frieda had
+then aired her views as fully as it seemed possible that any expression
+of opinion could be aired. Not for a single instant was Jack even to
+allow her mind to rest upon the idea. "A woman politician in the
+family!" Personally Frieda felt and announced that she could not endure
+the disgrace.
+
+From the first had she not warned her sister that public speech making
+would lead to something more disastrous?
+
+Now as Jack greeted her sister she was painfully aware that Frieda's
+face wore the familiar expression it was wont to wear when she had
+appointed herself both judge and jury in a case and allowed no counsel
+for the defendant.
+
+Pretending to ignore the expression, nevertheless, Jack felt a little
+ominous sinking of the heart. She was not prepared to allow Frieda to
+make this decision for her, and had so informed her, as gently and
+firmly as possible, in their previous talks together upon the self-same
+topic.
+
+And Jack did not wish to be drawn into any further argument this
+morning, and certainly not with her sister. All her life she had hated
+argument more than any one of the four Ranch girls, and in the old days
+used often to run away for a ride or a long walk, leaving the matter to
+be settled by the other three, who discussed the point to exhaustion.
+
+"Glad to see you, Frieda dear, it is nice to see you so early in the
+morning and with the baby, especially when I am tired, which does not
+happen often to me. Will you come indoors or shall we walk about among
+your old violet beds? They are blooming in special abundance. Perhaps it
+may amuse Peace to gather some and take them home to the big house. I
+always feel as if I were selfish having so much more enjoyment from your
+flower beds than the rest of the family. Remember, Frieda dear, when you
+planned to be a florist and to rescue the family by selling violets? It
+was sweet of you."
+
+"I'll stay outdoors and Peace can gather the violets if she wishes, but
+I did not come down to the lodge at this hour to discuss violets. I
+never do anything early in the morning, as you know, unless it seems to
+me excessively important. I know those people appeared here yesterday
+afternoon, Jacqueline Ralston Kent, to offer you the nomination for
+Congress; they want you to become a Congressman, or Congresswoman. Who
+ever heard of such a foolish title? Now I wish to know precisely what
+answer you gave them. I would have walked down to the lodge last night
+with Henry, except that both Henry and Jim Colter insisted I should
+leave you alone and give you time to think the matter over for yourself
+before I spoke to you again."
+
+"But you haven't anything _different_ to say, have you, Frieda, so why
+let us talk of it at all?"
+
+"To that I will agree only upon _one_ condition, Jacqueline Kent. You
+must promise me to refuse this nomination once and for all time and
+never so long as you live have anything to do with politics either in
+this country or in England."
+
+"That is rather a tall order, don't you think, Frieda?" Jack answered,
+purposely looking in another direction rather than toward her sister's
+face.
+
+Frieda always would appear to her a grown up and glorified baby, so
+long, when they were little girls together, had she looked upon Frieda
+almost more as a mother than as an older sister.
+
+"Yet unless you do promise, Jack, it can never be the same between us
+again. So please listen carefully before you reply.
+
+"I know at other times I have objected to small things that you wished
+to do and sometimes you went ahead and did them without regard to my
+feelings or my judgment and I never said anything much afterwards even
+if they did not turn out successfully. But this is a _big_ thing and a
+_different_ thing, and if you act against my wish I told Henry last
+night I should never really forgive you, even if for the sake of
+appearances we pretended that things were the same. I have been much
+embarrassed recently at your becoming a prominent person in the
+neighborhood; of course I wished you to be prominent socially and to
+become a leader, like Mrs. Senator Marshall. She would then be obliged
+to take second place, in spite of her husband's distinguished position.
+But the idea that you, my sister, could actually become interested in
+politics!" Frieda pronounced the word as if it were a deadly poison.
+"Why, it simply never dawned upon me, not for the longest time! When we
+went about to parties together after you had been in Wyoming a year I
+began to hear people say laughingly that Wyoming needed a young and
+charming woman to represent her in political life so that she should not
+fall behind the other states. So why were you not the person, as Lady
+Astor was in England? The cases were a little alike, you had married an
+Englishman and had the title of Lady Kent, but after your husband's
+death had preferred to return to your own country, renounce your title
+and resume your American citizenship. You had gone through all the
+necessary legal formalities to attain that end, you were clever and
+good-looking and your actions had proved you were a thoroughly patriotic
+American. The fact that you said you did not belong to any party was
+perhaps best of all, as women needed to be independent in politics. They
+were the new voters and should not be slaves to parties as so many
+American men were.
+
+"This is as nearly as I can remember what was said about you, Jack.
+There were other things, not so flattering, but I presume most persons
+would not like to mention them before me. However, I paid little
+attention at first, as I thought it was all just talk, because most
+people have so little to talk about really. Even when you began making
+speeches about the things you wish to have accomplished in the state of
+Wyoming (as if your opinion was of any value), why, I did not trouble
+specially! It all seemed so absurd! Indeed, when you spoke to me a few
+days ago of what might occur and declared that the nomination for the
+Congress of the United States might actually be given to you, though I
+said everything against it I could at the time, I did not really believe
+it. Then yesterday afternoon actually it happened! But perhaps you
+refused to consider the suggestion, Jack. Indeed, I feel sure after what
+I have said to you and knowing Jim Colter's attitude, even if he has
+said but little, you must have refused. If so, I am sorry to have tired
+you by talking so much; I am sure I hate talking at any length unless I
+feel it my duty."
+
+"And you do feel it your duty this time, don't you, Frieda?" Jack
+answered, slipping her arm through her younger sister's.
+
+"Still, having done your duty, don't you think that after all I may be
+allowed to use my own judgment in this decision? Suppose I happen to
+think that life just now is offering me a great and surprising
+opportunity! It is surprising for me to have been chosen for this
+distinction; I feel this as keenly as any one of my family or friends,
+knowing my deficiencies, can feel it! Now don't you think it's unfair to
+threaten me, Frieda, to threaten in the one way which you know hurts
+most, the loss of any part of your affection, if I cannot make up my
+mind to do what you think best for me, not what I may think best for
+myself? I have never in all our lives, Frieda, suggested that any act of
+yours could possibly make me care for you less."
+
+Frieda's voice wavered a little.
+
+"Yes, I know, Jack, but then I would never do anything so rash and so
+foolish as what you contemplate. To see your name in the newspapers, to
+know that people are everywhere discussing your private affairs, making
+up disagreeable stories about you if they wish, for you know you are
+unconventional, Jack, and sometimes do give people opportunities to
+misjudge you, well, I simply can't bear it. So come on, baby, let us go
+back home, I see we are in the way here. I apologize, Jack, for wasting
+your time and mine. I had some socks of Henry's I wished to darn, and I
+should have been much better employed, as I see you already have reached
+your decision. Well, Jack, I am sure something very unfortunate will
+come of any such decision; when you become a public character you will
+certainly never be the same person to me."
+
+Frieda had slipped her hand inside her little girl's and was about to
+move away when Jack's arms went round her and her gray eyes, filled with
+tears, gazed into Frieda's implacable blue ones.
+
+"Frieda, in spite of all your sweetness, don't you realize that you are
+rather hard sometimes? I wonder if life will ever teach you to be
+different?"
+
+Frieda's eyes wavered an instant.
+
+"I see nothing to be gained by discussing my weaknesses of character. So
+long as I satisfy my husband and child I can manage without your good
+opinion, especially now I know that my interest and my wishes have not
+the slightest effect upon you." Frieda walked resolutely away.
+
+Several minutes after her departure Jack continued standing in the same
+spot. Frieda had opened her eyes. She had been thinking that she was
+still uncertain of her decision and now knew that unconsciously her mind
+was made up. She intended to accept the nomination which had been
+offered her and to do everything in her power honestly to win the
+election.
+
+Returning to Wyoming where she had lived as a child and young girl, she
+had confided to Jim Colter that she must look for some new and
+absorbing task to fill her life now that her married life was over. What
+this interest would be she had not then conceived. What it might be in
+the future was still uncertain. Yet the next step lay straight ahead.
+
+Never in all their lives had she and Frieda had so serious a difference
+of opinion, and Frieda's words and manner had hurt more than anything
+that had happened since her return to the security of her former home.
+She could only hope that Frieda would relent, that Professor Russell
+would use his influence in her favor. Nevertheless, although frequently
+led by Frieda in small matters, on this occasion she had not been in the
+slightest degree affected. This was a big decision which she faced, a
+decision in which Frieda had but scant right to interfere. Of course she
+must allow for prejudice, certain suggestions which her sister had put
+forward had made her wince more than she cared to show. But over and
+against the small things was there not the one big opportunity that she
+might serve both her country and other women if she did not fail too
+completely in the work which might or might not lie ahead?
+
+Then in a boyish fashion wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of
+her hand, Jack laughed. "Oh, Frieda will probably forgive me if I make a
+success, never if I am a failure! People forgive nearly everything to
+success."
+
+"Jimmie," she called a little later, running around the side of the
+lodge where her small son was engaged in playing with a magnificent St.
+Bernard dog which had been a recent gift from Jim Colter, "won't you go
+up into the woods behind the Rainbow creek with me and spend the day? We
+will take our lunch and I'll take my rifle. I don't believe there are
+many animals left in our woods these days, but there used to be years
+ago and at least we can play at being pioneers."
+
+But Jack and Jimmie were not to escape so easily.
+
+Opening the gate which led from the front yard half an hour later, they
+came face to face with Jean Merritt and Olive MacDonnell.
+
+"Trying to run away into your beloved outdoors in the usual fashion,
+Jack?" Olive said, smiling. "Well, you may go after a while, but Jean
+and I wish to talk to you first."
+
+"Please don't," Jack murmured, slipping a hand into the hand of the two
+other original Rainbow ranch girls. "Frieda has already reduced me to
+tears by overmuch conversation this morning. One could scarcely describe
+the conversation as argument, as I was allowed to say nothing. Oh, I
+know, Olive, that you and Jean will not be so obdurate as Frieda and
+will allow me a point of view on the subject, but just the same, spare
+me, because I have made up my mind, provided Jim Colter does not
+positively refuse his consent. I shall not go against Jim's command,
+although I may against his wish. Otherwise I mean to accept the
+nomination, poor, uneducated, inefficient, stupid female person that I
+am and ever must remain."
+
+"Jack, you have _one_ member of your family who will stand by you
+whatever comes, as you have stood by me in the past year," Jean Merritt
+announced. "I have not said a great deal while the rest of the family
+has been doing so much talking and yet I believe I am glad of your
+decision. I know one is prejudiced against the idea, not so much of
+women in politics as of a young woman like you, Jack, who is so
+beautiful and charming and sincere and one who happens to be so near
+one's own affections. I suppose disagreeable things will be said of you,
+yet I know of few women so brave and so straightforward, or better able
+to bear calumny. And I don't see why people think that marriage always
+protects a woman from unhappiness; it has not protected me."
+
+Jean rarely spoke of her own sorrow and only in moments of the deepest
+emotion, so that Olive and Jack both flinched at the close of her little
+speech, and temporarily at least Jack's problem took second place.
+
+In more than a year, since Ralph Merritt's departure to act as mining
+engineer in a gold mine in New Mexico, no human being who had ever known
+him before had laid eyes upon him. In all the time since, no word had
+arrived of his mysterious disappearance from the mine, and no word had
+ever been received from him addressed either to Jean or to any one of
+his family or friends. Utterly and completely he had vanished. Months
+had been spent by Professor Russell in investigating his whereabouts,
+every clue had been followed, yet from the moment Ralph was known to
+have gone into his own tent to lie down until the present, no other
+news of him had been unearthed.
+
+"I still have faith that things will adjust themselves for you some day,
+Jean, I don't know exactly why. I appreciate I have no possible evidence
+to support the idea, but I have always believed and do still believe
+that Ralph will come back some day and be able to explain the mystery of
+his disappearance."
+
+Jack gave Jean's hand a tight squeeze.
+
+"Jean, it does help a lot to have you say you will stand by me. I may be
+brave to-day, but to-morrow I shall probably turn coward. Olive, what
+about you and Bryan?"
+
+Olive let go her friend's hand and did not answer for a moment. She was
+always quieter and more reserved in her manner than the other Rainbow
+ranch girls.
+
+"Bryan and I talked over your possible decision until after midnight,
+Jack. Bryan argued you would accept, I argued you would not. Bryan seems
+to have known you best. He says you are made of the right material for
+what you are to undertake. Yet he dreads it all for you as much as I do,
+the fatigue, the misunderstanding. It seems impossible to me, Jack, as
+you must appreciate, and yet you and I are wholly unlike. But I believe
+you are the most courageous woman I have ever known, just as you were
+the most courageous girl. One thing Bryan wanted me to say both for him
+and for me. He believes you will not care for the notoriety, not even
+for the fame, if it should come to you, but only for the opportunity.
+And he and I both want you to understand that we will do _everything_ in
+our power to help you, whatever course you may pursue. You see, dear,
+Bryan insists I feel toward you like the old axiom, 'My country, right
+or wrong, but still my country.' However, I told him the old axiom was
+not only stupid but wrong. One's country must be right, and so must your
+choice be."
+
+"Hero worship, or rather heroine worship," Jean remonstrated. "Olive had
+that same absurd attitude toward you as a girl, didn't she, Jack? So
+small wonder you think you are a sufficiently important person to be
+nominated for the Congress of the United States! But don't let us keep
+you any longer from your beloved woods. Jimmie evidently does not know
+the poem about the small boy: 'Who was never bad, but always good, who
+never wriggled, but always stood.' So good-by and a happy day."
+
+"You'll tell Jim to come in to speak to me before he goes to bed," Jack
+called back over her shoulder, as she and Jimmie started off together.
+"I must send word in the morning what my decision is and so I must see
+Jim first."
+
+After a day in the woods Jack was undressing for bed, having decided
+that it was too late to expect Jim Colter, so she must try to get hold
+of him before he left home next morning, when she heard a familiar
+whistle.
+
+"I'll be down in a minute, Jim," she called, thrusting her head out the
+open window. "Will you come in? The door is open."
+
+"No, I'll wait out here," came the answer back. "Don't dress, I shall
+only stay a moment. Some business detained me."
+
+A little later, with her hair in two gold braids and holding a violet
+dressing gown close about her, Jack faced the real test of the long day.
+
+"May I, or may I not, Jim?" she demanded.
+
+Jim Colter shook his head.
+
+"You are a full grown woman, Jacqueline Kent, not a child, not even a
+very young girl. Not that I remember having reached decisions for you
+even in those days."
+
+"Which means I was always obstinate, Jim."
+
+"Always a bit obstinate, Jack."
+
+"But I am not obstinate to-night, Jim Colter, and I won't if you say
+no."
+
+Jim shook his iron-gray head.
+
+"I shall not say no, Jack; you must decide as you think best."
+
+"And if I go wrong you'll help me meet the consequences, even though you
+would rather I chose the other way?"
+
+"So help me, yes, Jack Kent."
+
+"All right, Jim, unless you forbid me, I have decided. If I am elected,
+and in ninety-nine chances in a hundred I won't be, do you suppose I
+will have to spend the greater part of my time away from the old
+ranch?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE CAMPAIGN
+
+
+A few weeks later, had Jacqueline Kent been altogether outspoken, there
+were many hours when she would have confessed her regret at not having
+obeyed her sister Frieda's command. One could hardly describe Frieda's
+attitude otherwise.
+
+Certainly Jack had not been able to imagine the degree of excitement and
+controversy aroused by the simple fact that a comparatively unknown
+young woman had been nominated for membership in the Congress of the
+United States. If it were in her power and the power of the men and
+women voters supporting her she intended to be elected. Nevertheless,
+Jack had not understood either the amount or the character of work that
+would be required of her personally to accomplish this result.
+
+In the past electioneering had appeared as a fairly amusing pastime.
+Living in England, she had often seen Englishwomen engaged in it. They
+had not at that time been electioneering for themselves, but for their
+husbands or brothers, fathers or friends. Their method had been to drive
+about from one village to another talking to the village people and
+asking their support, or else stopping to argue or plead with the
+passers-by along the country roads. At big political meetings, which men
+and women attended together, speeches were made and questions put to the
+speakers. In the past Jack had frequently accompanied her husband to
+these gatherings, where she had been greatly entertained. Then she had
+been a spectator with no personal role to fill. Now the situation was
+wholly changed.
+
+A curious fact, but in the United States, supposedly less conservative a
+country than England, the nomination of a woman for a high public office
+was creating a greater storm of protest and of indignation than had been
+aroused in England by the same act. True, Jack was not the first woman
+chosen for this same office in a western state. But the fact that the
+number should increase, many persons in Wyoming declared to be alarming.
+
+Now when Jack went to political gatherings, she found herself not only a
+center of attention and of controversy, but more often than not was
+compelled to make a speech. Never regarding herself as a good speaker,
+and always frightened, she never learned to enjoy the opportunity.
+
+Moreover, as Frieda had warned her and as she had not fully appreciated,
+there was hardly an issue of the daily papers in which some information
+or misinformation concerning her personal history did not appear.
+
+At first Jack refused to allow her photograph to be reproduced,
+insisting that people might wish to know what she thought and why she
+thought it, but certainly could have no interest in her appearance. Yet
+this was so absurd a position, as her friends and acquaintances agreed,
+that Jack was obliged to surrender. Afterwards she was forced to see
+photographs of herself, or at least what claimed to be photographs, in
+papers and magazines throughout the entire country, so that if ever she
+had possessed any personal vanity Jack considered that it would have
+been hopelessly lost. Now and then she used to carry the newspapers
+containing her pictures to members of her family, asking them if it were
+really true that she looked as the pictures indicated? Sometimes the
+family cruelly said the likeness was perfect and at others they were as
+annoyed as Jack herself.
+
+But she really did not enjoy the political meetings as she had expected,
+or the notoriety, or the personal enmity oftentimes directed toward her.
+
+Since the afternoon of her meeting with Peter Stevens by the Rainbow
+creek he had declined to do more than bow to her in public. The reason
+Jack did not fully comprehend. She had not intended to be frivolous or
+ungrateful concerning his proposal. She had not believed for a moment
+that he really cared for her. Peter was a confirmed old bachelor and
+always freely expressed himself as disapproving of her from the
+afternoon of their first re-meeting after many years. At the time she
+had been engaged in an escapade which had annoyed Peter Stevens almost
+as much as her present one.
+
+Peter had not resigned as her political opponent. The only remark he had
+made to Jack which was at all friendly was to say to her one day when
+they were passing each other on the street in Laramie, that the greatest
+kindness he could pay her was to defeat her in the present election.
+
+Yet notwithstanding all the worry and the work, Jack did not agree with
+him. She did not intend to be defeated. She meant to win, else why the
+struggle and the fatigue and, more often than she confessed, the
+heartache?
+
+Frieda had never forgiven her. This Jack had not at first believed
+possible, yet as the days passed Frieda did not relent. Instead she
+appeared more annoyed and more unyielding, continuing to insist Jack was
+disgracing not alone herself but her family by running for a political
+office as if she were a man.
+
+In fact, had it not been for her little girl, Jack feared that Frieda
+would have declined speaking to her. But Peace continued to adore her
+and Frieda would do nothing to frighten or grieve the child. The year or
+more spent at the ranch for the sake of the little girl's health had not
+been successful. Peace seemed to grow more ethereal, more fairylike with
+each passing day. She was like a spring flower, so fragile and delicate
+one feared the first harsh wind would destroy her. Yet if she were at
+all seriously ill, it was Jack she wanted, Jack who seemed able to give
+a part of her vitality to the child, when Frieda was oftentimes too
+frightened to be helpful.
+
+Therefore during the spring and summer of Jack's political campaign, if
+Frieda was not entirely estranged from her sister, it was only because
+Peace was occasionally ill and needed her.
+
+Moreover, Jack had to endure Jim Colter's regret. Little as Jack had
+known what experiences she would be forced to pass through in a
+political campaign, Jim apparently had known even less. Now, although he
+was not given to looking backward when no good could come of it, more
+than once he had been driven to confess to Jack that he wished to heaven
+he had opposed her acceptance of the political nomination with every bit
+of influence he possessed.
+
+Jack could see that it was agony to Jim to hear her name and character
+discussed as it had to be discussed were she to win enough popularity to
+elect her to office.
+
+Not that he talked to her upon the subject during the few evenings when
+they were at home and saw each other a short time alone.
+
+"You need a rest from the plagued thing, Jack, and so do I. To think
+that I actually agreed to allow one of my little Rainbow ranch girls to
+enter a campaign for office in Washington, D. C!" If Jim Colter had
+been speaking of a much worse place his tone could not have been
+drearier.
+
+However, what worried Jack even more was that Jim insisted upon
+accompanying her wherever and whenever she was forced to attend any kind
+of political meeting. For this purpose he was neglecting his own work on
+the two ranches, and growing older and more haggard, chiefly, Jack
+thought, through boredom and the effort to hold his temper.
+
+He did not always manage to keep his temper, however; on several
+occasions, although Jim never reported the fact, he came to blows over
+remarks he overheard. When Jack asked questions he simply declined to
+answer, and as Jim Colter was the one person in the world of whom
+Jacqueline Kent was afraid, she did not dare press the matter.
+
+Naturally Jack made enemies, as every human being does who enters
+political life, and she was unusually frank and outspoken with regard
+both to her principles and ideas. But there was one enemy she made whom
+both she and Jim Colter especially disliked and distrusted. He was a
+young man who had been employed as a private secretary by Senator
+Marshall and was helping to manage Peter Stevens' election to Congress.
+
+Senator Marshall had made a friendly call upon Jacqueline Kent at the
+time of her nomination, protesting in a fatherly fashion against her
+permitting herself to be put up as a candidate.
+
+Afterwards he declared he had the right to oppose her election in favor
+of Peter Stevens. This right Jack never disputed. Mrs. Marshall led the
+opposition against Jacqueline Kent among the conservative women in
+Wyoming.
+
+In fact, among her own family and her more intimate friends and
+acquaintances Jack possessed only three staunch and always enthusiastic
+supporters, her own small son, Jimmie Kent, who accompanied her to most
+of the day-time political meetings, Billy Preston, the young Kentucky
+mountaineer who after soldiering in France had decided to try his fate
+as a cowboy in Wyoming, and John Marshall, Senator Marshall's son.
+
+Billy Preston assured Jack that he was making it his business to see
+that every cowboy in Wyoming voted for her. John Marshall declared that
+he proposed showing his father who had the greater influence in the
+state. He protested that his father had lost all chivalry by assisting a
+man when a woman was his opponent. If he would not descend to the
+tactics employed by Alec Robertson, his father's secretary and Peter
+Stevens' campaign manager, nevertheless, he was backing Mrs. Kent to win
+against all odds.
+
+"The boy is falling in love with Jacqueline Kent, I am afraid, my dear,
+as he has never showed the slightest interest in politics in his entire
+life until recently," Senator Marshall confided to his wife toward the
+latter part of the summer.
+
+"Nonsense, Mrs. Kent is older than John, and is not an especially
+attractive woman!"
+
+And although Senator Marshall did not agree with his wife, he pretended
+to accept her opinion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+IN THE THICK OF THE FIGHT
+
+
+"But I do think it would be wiser of you not to be present, not this
+afternoon. I could take a message saying you were not well."
+
+Jack laughed.
+
+"Yet the fact is I am perfectly well, John Marshall, and besides I am
+not a coward, or at least if I am a coward there are other things of
+which I am more afraid."
+
+Jacqueline Kent and her neighbor, John Marshall, were having an early
+luncheon on the front porch of the Rainbow Lodge upon a fairly warm day.
+Jack, however, appeared to be dressed for a journey. She was wearing a
+seal brown tailored suit and a light chiffon blouse. Her hat and gloves
+were lying on the railing of the veranda.
+
+"Besides," she added lightly, "I do not believe anything uncomfortable
+will happen. The story has been spread abroad merely because I am a
+woman and am supposed to be easily frightened."
+
+As luncheon was over, with a little nod for permission, John Marshall
+arose and began walking up and down the porch.
+
+"You may be right, of course, and yet I confess I feel nervous. It is
+nonsensical that so much excitement has been aroused by this campaign,
+makes one think perhaps we are less civilized than we thought we were! I
+myself believe there won't be any actual rumpus. But I would not be
+surprised if a few ruffians, hired for the occasion, do try to interrupt
+your speech by making a lot of noise. I must say I am surprised that
+Peter Stevens allows such tactics to be employed against an opponent,
+especially a girl who had been his friend."
+
+Jack shook her head.
+
+"Peter Stevens says that the kindest thing he can do for me is to defeat
+me, and sometimes I think perhaps he is right. So from that viewpoint he
+does not consider it makes any difference what methods he uses. However,
+I am not so sure Peter himself knows everything that is going on. He may
+or he may not. He does not come to the meetings of my supporters and
+friends and I suppose his manager, Mr. Robertson, does not tell him
+everything that takes place. But please do not confide to any member of
+my family, if you should see one of them before we leave, what you have
+just told to me. You probably won't see any one. They are too worn out
+and bored to pay attention these days to my goings out or my comings in.
+My sister scarcely speaks to me and the remainder of the family are busy
+with their own affairs. Fortunately for me, Mr. Colter is away for
+several days on business. But to show you I really don't think there is
+going to be any disturbance this afternoon, I am going to take Jimmie
+along with me to the meeting as usual. Poor Jimmie, he is dreadfully
+tired hearing me talk, and yet seems to have an instinctive feeling that
+he has to stay by and look after me. You have pretty much the same
+feeling, haven't you, and I want you to know I am extremely grateful,"
+Jack added. "I'll go now and find Jimmie, as we ought to start in a few
+moments if we are to be on time."
+
+"Very well," John Marshall returned. "But if you don't mind I'll ride
+down to the ranch house first. I want to speak to Billy Preston. He
+telephoned I would find him at about lunch time."
+
+Jack frowned for an instant and then nodded agreement.
+
+She guessed that her two young men friends were to discuss the self-same
+news that John Marshall had just repeated to her. It seemed unnecessary,
+still she did not feel that she had the right to object.
+
+The word John Marshall had brought was that an effort was to be made to
+break up the meeting at which she was to speak during the afternoon. The
+meeting was to occur in a fairly large sized village not far away in
+which she was supposed to have but few friends. The village was one of
+the manufacturing towns in the state, and her friends were among the
+ranchmen.
+
+But Jack honestly did not believe any serious outbreak would occur. She
+was not always foolhardy, although this was occasionally one of her
+weaknesses of character; she simply thought this afternoon that an
+effort was being made to frighten her away. Afterwards it would be easy
+to say that a woman candidate to an important political office who could
+be so easily frightened should hardly be entrusted with the service of
+the state.
+
+Within half an hour, John Marshall having returned, he and Jack and
+Jimmie and the chauffeur were motoring toward the desired destination.
+
+"Billy Preston will be at the meeting with a few of the cowboys from the
+Rainbow ranch and from a few of the other ranches in this neighborhood,
+so if there _is_ trouble there will be some people on _our_ side," John
+Marshall insisted with boyish satisfaction when the car had taken them
+several miles from the lodge.
+
+"What?"
+
+Jack clutched her companion's sleeve for an instant, her voice and
+manner for the first time revealing alarm. "You don't mean you and Billy
+Preston have actually made arrangements for a difficulty. I did not
+think there could be one simply because an effort might be made to make
+me stop talking. I can do that readily enough and I intend to stop if
+any trouble begins. Now I think I had better give up after all and go
+back home. John, you were foolish."
+
+"You can't go back now, it is too late," the young man argued. "The
+crowd will already have started to the meeting and if you don't turn up
+and they are disappointed it may lose you heaps of votes. And it is
+going to be pretty close if you do win. Everybody says it depends upon
+your personality and good sense and your magnetism. You have got to win
+people over and to make them forget the prejudice against you. You have
+got to show them that you have been studying this whole question of
+government and really know a thing or two. Funny to be calling yourself
+an 'Independent' and belonging to no old-time political party. I don't
+know whether the idea is a good one or a bad one. But don't be worried
+about Billy Preston and his little party. There won't be more than a
+dozen in all and Billy has promised they won't make as much noise as a
+whisper if things go well and the game is a straight one."
+
+Shaking her head, Jack glanced nervously at Jimmie.
+
+"But suppose they don't go well? I shan't even begin to make a speech,
+John Marshall, until you promise me on your word of honor that you will
+see Billy Preston and tell him from me that he and my other friends are
+to say nothing and do nothing, whatever takes place. If there is any
+difficulty Jimmie and I will quietly come out and climb into our car and
+start back to the ranch. And if my speech is no better than they usually
+are, I cannot feel that the audience will be deeply disappointed."
+
+"Very well, I promise," the young man answered.
+
+The frame building where she was to speak, a rough one-story shack,
+sometimes employed for revivals, was larger than any hall in which
+Jacqueline Kent had ever attempted talking before.
+
+As she stepped up on the platform she found that her audience was also
+larger than the ones to which she had tried to grow accustomed in these
+last few months.
+
+But the people were quietly seated and there appeared no unusual
+excitement or confusion.
+
+Gratefully Jack observed that the larger number were women. The men were
+at the back toward the rear of the hall.
+
+There were to be no other speakers during the afternoon, so as soon as
+she had been introduced Jack began her speech.
+
+From the beginning she was fearful that she was going to interest this
+audience even less than she believed she interested most audiences. And
+in her heart of hearts Jack was always puzzled why anyone should be
+influenced by what she had to say.
+
+[Illustration: NOT A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS, BUT OF UGLY, EVIL-SMELLING
+WEEDS AND TIED WITH A RAG INSTEAD OF A RIBBON]
+
+Her causes were to increase the size and number of the ranches in
+Wyoming, increase the number of the livestock, and bring the
+producers of food and the consumers closer together. She frankly stated
+at all times that she was not interested in politics. She simply wanted
+the chance to make human beings happier by giving them the kind of
+government they desired and ought to have.
+
+"I am afraid you will have some difficulty in hearing me," Jack stated,
+"but that need not trouble you as much as it does me, because after all
+you will not have lost a great deal. There are a good many reasons why
+it is harder for a woman to be a candidate for an office than a man, and
+I suppose having to make speeches is one of the hardest."
+
+"Louder!" some one shouted at the back of the building.
+
+Jack tried again.
+
+"Louder!" the voice repeated. "How do you think you are going to make
+yourself heard in Washington if you can't be heard here?"
+
+The joke was at her expense and Jack laughed good-naturedly.
+
+"Ain't going to make any difference, she ain't never going to get
+there," another man shouted.
+
+"Perhaps not, but I am going _to try_," Jack answered, still with entire
+good nature.
+
+But she flinched unconsciously at this instant and stepped backward. A
+large bouquet had been thrown directly at her, not a bouquet of flowers,
+but of ugly, evil-smelling weeds and tied with a rag instead of a
+ribbon.
+
+As it fell several feet away from her, Jack soon continued her speech as
+if she had not noticed what had occurred.
+
+"Shame! Put him out!" some one interrupted.
+
+"Please don't. It is not important," Jack replied.
+
+Yet if her manner failed to reveal the fact, she was nervous. By turning
+her head she could see Jimmie seated upon the platform beside the
+principal of the public school, who had just introduced her to the
+audience.
+
+Jimmie had jumped up indignantly when the bunch of weeds fell beside
+her, but had been persuaded to sit down again.
+
+The persons in the rear of the building were undoubtedly becoming
+noisier.
+
+Jack flushed so hotly that the tears came into her eyes and her cheeks
+were flaming.
+
+Never had she been treated with anything like this discourtesy before.
+Evidently she was not to be allowed to make a speech, scarcely to begin
+one.
+
+Swiftly Jack thought of Jim Colter, of his anger and disgust should he
+behold her in such a plight. She had not expected this nor anything like
+it.
+
+There was scuffling now in the rear of the building, as well as shouting
+among her audience.
+
+Jack suffered a feminine desire to weep over the unkindness and the
+humiliation of her present situation, yet she was not in the least
+afraid. At no time in her life was Jack ever a physical coward.
+
+The uproar continued, growing greater. Women were crying out in terror.
+
+Yet Jack Kent stood her ground. Quietly, as if nothing were happening
+and in spite of her humiliation, knowing that no one could hear, she
+went on with her speech. Jimmie had come and was now standing beside
+her, holding tightly to her hand.
+
+"It's a shame! She is so young and pretty and is not half the coward any
+man is who doesn't give her a fair show!" a woman shouted in a voice
+which chanced to be heard.
+
+The next moment Jack felt a hand placed on her elbow.
+
+"Please come away. It is as I feared; they don't mean to hear you,"
+John Marshall urged.
+
+Jack shook her head.
+
+"No, I'll stay till I finish."
+
+It was an autumn afternoon and unexpectedly a storm had broken. Outside
+were flashes of lightning and the rain beating against the small
+windows. In the building some one suddenly switched off the electric
+lights, and before they were switched on again there was an uproar that
+was deafening.
+
+"For Jimmie's sake you must get away," John Marshall insisted.
+
+"Very well, for Jimmie's sake I do give up," Jack returned, "but for
+goodness' sake don't think either of us is afraid."
+
+Drawing back from her companions Jack again went to the edge of the
+platform.
+
+"You won't listen to me this afternoon, and I don't want to make anybody
+uncomfortable or frightened by going on with my speech in the midst of
+so much noise, nevertheless I am coming back some other afternoon to try
+again, so good-by to my friends, and I trust my enemies may have better
+manners next time."
+
+There was a little burst of applause from the spectators who could hear,
+and immediately after Jack, Jimmie and John Marshall slipped away.
+
+The car was waiting at the back of the building with the starter already
+in action. Before Jack was able to realize exactly what was taking place
+she was several miles on the journey home toward the Rainbow ranch.
+
+"Do you suppose things quieted down as soon as I disappeared?" Jack
+inquired. "You were right, I should not have gone. I wish I were not one
+of the most hard-headed people in the world. After all, I don't suppose
+women do belong in political life. I hope there may not be any serious
+trouble over me."
+
+"But you were awfully game, Mrs. Kent," John Marshall replied, "and I'm
+not so sure women don't belong in politics to keep things like this
+afternoon's proceedings from happening."
+
+It was not six o'clock when Jack and her companions arrived safely at
+the Rainbow lodge. John Marshall had too much good sense to come in, in
+answer to Jack's invitation.
+
+Personally, as soon as she got indoors Jack felt she never had been so
+tired in her life.
+
+After undressing and putting on a house dress she lay down in the
+hammock and remained there, eating her dinner on a small table with
+Jimmie seated beside her. When Jimmie had gone to bed, still she did not
+stir.
+
+At about eight o'clock, however, she arose and picked up a white crepe
+shawl, winding it about her, as it was growing cooler. She intended
+walking over to the big house before she finally went to bed.
+
+No member of her family had been near her all day and it was strange
+that she had seen and heard nothing of Olive or Jean.
+
+Frieda never came down to the Rainbow lodge any more unless she were
+obliged to come.
+
+Yet the family must know of her intended speech that afternoon, although
+they discussed her affairs as little as possible. At least she could
+hope they would never hear of the scene that afternoon in which she had
+been obliged to appear as a central figure. Especially she hoped Jim
+Colter would never hear.
+
+In fact, Jack wanted to see her family before trying to sleep that
+night. She believed she was still both too excited and too tired to
+sleep for several hours. Moreover, she wanted to find out if Jim had
+returned home and if not when he might be expected.
+
+She must see Billy Preston the first thing in the morning and beg him to
+use his influence with the other cowboys never to mention to Jim what
+had occurred during the afternoon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+CONSEQUENCES
+
+
+Jack found the veranda of the big house deserted, which was most unusual
+at this hour of the evening.
+
+Only a dim light was burning in the drawing-room. But the front door was
+open and she walked in without knocking or calling.
+
+Undoubtedly there was a subdued atmosphere about the place. Not yet
+half-past eight, so surely not all the family could be in bed. At this
+hour one could at least count upon finding the two oldest of the four
+new Rainbow ranch girls, Lina and Jeannette. Lina was extremely studious
+and given to doing a great deal of reading at odd hours. She bore no
+resemblance to the oldest of the four original Ranch girls, but was like
+her mother.
+
+Ordinarily one could find her in the library at this time, when she
+could count upon being fairly undisturbed.
+
+Jack went from the drawing-room to the library on the left side of the
+house. If not Lina, Professor Russell might be discovered there. He and
+Jim Colter's oldest daughter had developed a shy friendship from the
+fact that they often remained together in the big room reading for hours
+without speaking or disturbing each other.
+
+But to-night there was not even a dim light in the library.
+
+At the foot of the stairs Jack waited, puzzled and frowning for an
+instant. Then she called softly, "Jean, Jean, what has become of
+everybody? Certainly you cannot all be asleep!"
+
+As no answer followed, Jack started up the stairs. After having gone a
+few steps she called a second time.
+
+Instead of Jean, however, Frieda appeared.
+
+"Please don't make any noise," she admonished, "Peace is ill."
+
+Jack ran up swiftly to where her sister was standing.
+
+"How long has she been ill and why haven't you let me know?"
+
+With a slight gesture of nervous irritability the younger of the two
+sisters drew away.
+
+"Since yesterday, but not seriously so until to-day."
+
+"Then why didn't you let me hear this morning? No member of my family
+has been near me all day. Do the others know?"
+
+Frieda nodded.
+
+"Yes, but I thought it best not to disturb _you_ with the news. You are
+fond of Peace, I suppose, even if you do prefer a public career to the
+affection of your family. I knew, of course, that you were going
+somewhere this afternoon to address an audience and I thought you would
+wish not to have anything interfere even mentally with your speech."
+
+"I see," Jack answered, with her usual gentleness and good temper. She
+was wounded, but Frieda's attitude toward her had been like this for
+some time, and to-night, when she appreciated that her sister was
+especially troubled, was scarcely the moment to refer to their
+differences. "Of course I should have preferred to know. Is Peace very
+ill?"
+
+Frieda shook her head.
+
+"No, not at present, but I am uneasy and we have sent for a nurse."
+
+"Won't you let some of the other little girls come down to the lodge and
+stay with me?"
+
+A second time Frieda shook her head.
+
+"No, they have gone to Olive. Jean has gone with them. You know Olive
+and Captain MacDonnell have an extra sleeping tent and I thought it best
+you should not be annoyed by them either."
+
+This time Jack was unable wholly to restrain herself.
+
+"Why should I have been annoyed, Frieda? I am not so impossible a
+person, am I? And the work I have been trying to do lately, even if you
+do disapprove of it, has not turned me into an ogre. But I won't worry
+you to-night, although I do believe, Frieda, you really intend to be
+unkind. Has Jim come back? I have not seen him for several days and if
+he is at home and not busy I thought perhaps he would walk back to the
+lodge with me."
+
+Never in her life from the time she was a small girl had Frieda accepted
+reproof in an humble spirit, except under a few and very exceptional
+circumstances. The truth was that she had been spoiled all her days,
+first because she was the youngest of the four Rainbow ranch girls, her
+mother having died when she was little more than a baby, and later by
+her husband, who was a good deal her senior.
+
+Now in spite of her sister's long self-restraint, Frieda showed
+resentment.
+
+"It is your own fault and your own choice, Jack, that you no longer seem
+one of us as you did in the past. You can't have everything, you know,
+be a public character and a----"
+
+"And a human being? I think you are mistaken, dear. I am very far from
+being a 'public character' as you express it, and I don't like the
+expression. Yet it seems to me that the celebrated women I have read
+about or known have been rather more human than most people, and not in
+the least anxious to be discarded by their families because they have
+found other things to occupy them outside of domestic life. I'll see you
+in the morning. Is Jim in his room, or has he gone with Jean and the
+little girls?"
+
+Frieda frowned.
+
+"Jim has not come back and that is another thing that is worrying us,
+although not a great deal. He wrote to say that he would return home
+this afternoon before dinner and we waited dinner for him an hour. But
+no word and no Jim. I suppose it is foolish to be uneasy, but Jim so
+rarely breaks his word even in the smallest matters, and he might have
+telephoned. It would not be pleasant to have Jim disappear as Ralph
+Merritt has, would it? It is funny, but now we are grown up, we seem to
+depend upon Jim as our guardian as much as we ever did. I don't see how
+we could get on without him."
+
+Frieda ended her remarks without any special significance; nevertheless,
+her last few words continued to repeat themselves in Jacqueline Kent's
+mind during her walk back to the lodge.
+
+The storm of the afternoon had passed over and it was turning a good
+deal colder. Jack was not ordinarily impressionable and yet it seemed to
+her that to-night the sky possessed a peculiar hard brilliance, as if
+the mood of the outside world and the persons she loved were both harsh
+and unsympathetic.
+
+Even Jean and Olive had not been near her in twenty-four hours, and if
+they should pretend they were trying to spare her, she knew that in
+former times they would not have wished to keep her shut out either from
+their happiness or sorrow.
+
+Jim Colter would be different. Never at any moment in her life could
+Jack recall that he had been either harsh or unsympathetic, although
+stern he might be and had been when he thought it necessary. How
+infinitely kind he had been concerning this latest adventure of hers,
+regardless of his own disapproval.
+
+About her difficulty of the afternoon he must never hear if she could
+keep the news from him. Yet of course if he had to know, Jack felt she
+would prefer to describe the situation herself, making as light of it as
+possible. All of her family and friends would be angry should they learn
+of it, even if some of them believed she deserved what she had received.
+But Jim would take the matter far more to heart.
+
+How stupid of Frieda to talk of their ever having to get on without Jim
+Colter's guardianship! In any case it could not mean so much to Frieda,
+who had her devoted if eccentric husband always at her service. Besides,
+Frieda and Jim had never been devoted friends. Jim had cared for Frieda,
+of course, as her guardian and for Jean and Olive, but the other Rainbow
+ranch girls had never shared his interests and tastes as she had done.
+
+Jack drew her shawl more closely about her and started to run toward
+home. She was feeling uncommonly forlorn and depressed. Yet surely the
+day had been a sufficiently trying one to depress almost any human
+being!
+
+The following morning Jacqueline was in the act of dressing when she
+heard Jean's voice calling her from below.
+
+"Jack, hurry, will you, and come up to the big house. Peace is ever so
+much worse and the news has just reached us that Jim was hurt yesterday
+afternoon. No one understands exactly what has happened. Billy Preston
+telephoned, saying he was with Jim and would remain with him. We are not
+to go to him for the present. I answered the telephone myself and tried
+my best to find out how badly Jim was hurt. Billy says he was not run
+over and had not had a fall, only there had been some kind of an
+accident. He would not say what kind and I guessed by his voice that he
+was not telling all the truth."
+
+"I'll be with you in half a moment if you'll wait for me, Jean,"
+responded Jack.
+
+A little later she joined Jean. "I wonder if you can tell me the name of
+the town where Jim was hurt yesterday?" she asked. "Surely Billy
+Preston told you as much as that! I must go to him of course."
+
+The name of the town was what she had expected to be told. It was the
+village where she had attempted making a speech the afternoon before and
+been interrupted. Jim must have known of her plans and also learned of
+what might take place. How like him to have gone quietly to her
+protection without letting her hear of his presence! Yet in what way had
+he been hurt and how serious was his injury? Whatever other consequences
+she might hope to escape, for Jim's hurt she was entirely responsible.
+Whatever Frieda might say of her selfish interest in her own future, of
+her desire for a career outside her own home and family, she would never
+be able to deny that Jim Colter had suffered because of her.
+
+"Will you see that a car is ready for me immediately, please, Jean. I
+won't come back to the lodge. Jim will want me if anyone and I have the
+first right to go to him, because I am responsible."
+
+Jean was scarcely listening.
+
+"You won't be able to leave just now, Jack. After all Frieda's
+antagonism toward you she has been begging to have you come to her
+since dawn. You seem to be the only person she wants."
+
+Jean nodded.
+
+"There is only one hope. The doctor means to try a transfusion of blood.
+I don't know from whom. We have all offered."
+
+"Oh, Jean," Jack's voice shook, "I am the one person who will be best. I
+am stronger than any one else and Peace has always responded to my
+vitality. Yet if I am chosen I can't go to Jim."
+
+"The choice is pretty hard, Jack. If you can not go Olive and Captain
+MacDonnell and I will. And some one will come back with the news as soon
+as possible. Yet you may not be the one."
+
+However, as Jean Merritt looked at her cousin she had little doubt. In
+spite of the fatigue and chagrin of the day before, even of her anxious
+night, Jack walked with the swinging grace of perfect health and poise.
+At this moment of dreadful double anxiety, harder upon her than any one
+save Frieda, she was for the time when the need was greatest, perfectly
+self-controlled. No one had ever seen Jack break down until the moment
+for action had passed.
+
+"It is because I have been so unkind to you, Jack darling, _this_ is my
+punishment," Frieda confessed brokenly, meeting her sister outside
+Peace's door. "But I have wanted to make up more times than you can
+dream, only I am so dreadfully spoiled and do so hate to give in, and I
+have despised your running for a public office chiefly I suppose because
+I realized it would separate us. Peace won't know you."
+
+Two hours later Frieda and Jack were in Frieda's bedroom, Jack undressed
+and in a loose white wrapper, her hair braided in two heavy braids.
+
+"Now you must not be a goose, Frieda, dear," she expostulated. "I am not
+in the least danger from the blood transfusion, as the doctor has just
+told you. I may be laid up for a little while afterwards, perhaps not
+long. And there are many chances that Peace will get better at once. You
+know how glad I am of the opportunity to help. What is the use of being
+a healthy person if one cannot be useful."
+
+"But, Jack, you may be more exhausted than you dream. You may be forced
+to give up your political work for several weeks. And Henry said only
+yesterday that these were the most important weeks of all, if you are
+to be elected. At the very last people will probably have made up their
+minds one way or the other."
+
+"Oh, well, perhaps the question of my election is not so important to me
+as you may think, Frieda. In any case it does not count the tiniest
+little bit in comparison with either you or Peace, now that you actually
+need me. When I accepted the nomination for Congress I did not know that
+anybody needed me especially except Jimmie. I thought perhaps I was
+freer than most women."
+
+Jack was talking to distract Frieda, who had not been told of Jim
+Colter's injury and so did not realize the extent of the sacrifice her
+sister was making.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE ELECTION
+
+
+"When do you think we will hear, Jack?"
+
+"Toward late evening, Jim. At least I was told that at about eight
+o'clock a fairly good guess could be made. But suppose we don't talk of
+it. Let me read to you."
+
+Jim Colter, who was lying on a couch in a large sunny, empty room moved
+a little impatiently.
+
+"If you lose the election, Jack, it will be because of the demands we
+have all made upon you in these last weeks. You had nothing much to go
+upon but your personality, your chance of pleasing people and convincing
+them of your sincerity, and here you have been shut up at the Rainbow
+ranch for weeks. It has not been in the least necessary for you to take
+care of me, any one of the girls could have looked after me equally
+well. You are not a born nurse, Jack, as the saying goes. So when you
+recovered and I was safe at home you should have gone on with your
+election campaign."
+
+"Really, Jim, 'ingratitude, more fierce than traitors' arms, quite
+vanquished him,' or her, in this case. If I'm not a 'born nurse' you
+don't dare say that of late I have not become a cultivated one.
+Moreover, if the other girls could have taken equally good care of you,
+please remember that they have been doing their share, they and every
+member of this household! Do you suppose a man can continue in perfect
+health for as many years as you have and then in case of illness not
+require a regiment of nurses to look after him? But confess, if I am not
+a good nurse, you can growl more successfully at me than at any one
+else."
+
+"Am I growling, Jack? Perhaps I do pretty often, but at present it is
+because I regret so deeply that you have to devote yourself first to
+Frieda and Peace and afterwards to me, when you have needed all your
+time and energy for your political work. If you are defeated I shall
+always feel responsible."
+
+"Vain of you, don't you think?" Jack answered. "Besides, Jim Colter, you
+are well enough now for us to talk of something that I have been
+thinking of for a long time. Never have you confessed to me or to any
+one else, so far as I know, how in the world you happened to be so
+seriously hurt. In the first place, what brought you to town on that
+especial afternoon when you were supposed to be miles away attending to
+some business connected with the ranch? Then arriving there, how did you
+manage to get into the midst of a rough-and-tumble fight? Billy Preston
+did tell me this much. But I presume you must have ordered him to keep
+quiet, else he would not have been so non-committal."
+
+Jim Colter stared at the opposite wall rather than toward the figure of
+the girl sitting near him, or through either of the two large windows
+with wide outlooks over the Rainbow ranch. It was mid-afternoon of an
+early autumn day with a faint haze in the air, unusual in the prairie
+country.
+
+"I don't believe I feel equal to talking, Jack, not just at present, or
+for any length of time," he answered a trifle uneasily. "Perhaps I'd
+better try to sleep."
+
+"Very well," Jacqueline Kent agreed, smiling and at the same time with a
+serious expression in her eyes. "But, Jim, when you wake you might as
+well decide to tell me the truth. Don't you suppose I have guessed the
+greater part of it?"
+
+There was a silence for some time in the big room, Jim Colter closing
+his eyes, Jack staring out the window at the familiar scenes she loved.
+
+By and by, when he did not believe she was aware of what he was doing,
+Jim opened his eyes and stared at his companion's profile.
+
+Jack looked more fatigued than he often remembered to have seen her; she
+had less color, less her old suggestion of vitality. There were circles
+under her eyes, little hollows in her cheeks. Yet she did not look ill
+and one could scarcely marvel at the change in her after the past trying
+months, first the strain of her effort at electioneering on her own
+behalf, and more recently the tax which he and Frieda's little girl had
+put upon her.
+
+If she were elected to Congress would she ever be the old-time Jack
+again? Jim Colter had to suppress a sigh of dissatisfaction over the
+thought, which may have sounded more like a groan. To think of Jack with
+her youth and charm shut up within the Legislative halls in Washington
+was not only an absurdity, but something far worse! Well, of course if
+caught by a wave of enthusiasm and desire for change, Jack should be
+elected to the United States Congress he must arrange to spend part of
+the year with her. The two older of the new little Ranch girls must go
+to school and Jean Merritt would look after the others. The Rainbow
+ranch and his own adjoining ranch would have to be turned over to one of
+his assistants, since Jack would need him more than any other person or
+any other thing.
+
+Then Jim Colter closed his eyes. Would she actually need him more, or
+was it because he cared more for her need than for any possible human
+demand that could be made upon him? Always he had been tremendously fond
+of Jack, unhesitatingly more fond of her than of the other three Ranch
+girls in her gallant but wilful girlhood. Now, since his own loss and
+hers, and since Jack's return to the Rainbow ranch, surely there was no
+point in denying to himself that the affection which held him to her was
+stronger than ever, stronger than any other emotion in his life.
+
+"Jim, you are not asleep, you are only pretending," Jack said suddenly.
+"Now tell me, didn't you go over to the village on the day you were
+hurt because you heard I was to make a speech and there might be
+trouble? And didn't you arrive so late you felt it best not to tell me
+to go home, because I had already started to speak? And after the rumpus
+began and Jimmie and I were safely on the way home didn't you try to
+find out who was responsible for the discourtesy to me? Afterwards what
+happened, Jim?
+
+"Jack, I suppose I forgot a good many things I should have remembered,
+first and foremost that I did not wish you made conspicuous and that I
+was older than I used to be, and that I ought by this time to have
+learned to control my temper."
+
+"Yes, but Billy Preston declares that when he arrived you seemed to have
+half a dozen persons against you and that you were managing pretty well.
+It was disgraceful of you, Jim; you who have been preaching for as many
+years as I can remember that there was to be no fighting on the Rainbow
+ranch for any cause whatsoever and that no excuse would be accepted by
+you as a justifiable one. What influence do you suppose your sermons
+will now have among the cowboys? As for making me conspicuous, it seems
+rather a funny thing that neither you nor I recognized that running for
+a public office is apt to make one conspicuous. One can hardly vote for
+a person one has never heard of."
+
+Jim sighed.
+
+"Yes, you are right, Jack, but it is too late now to discuss this side
+of the situation. If you are elected it won't be any better; sure to be
+worse, in fact. I suppose you realize that if you live in Washington the
+greater part of the year, you'll have to bear with my society most of
+the time."
+
+Jacqueline Kent bit her lip for an instant and then shook her head.
+
+"Good of you to suggest it, Jim, but out of the question of course.
+Jimmie and I'll have to manage somehow, trusting members of the family
+will visit us now and then to see how we are getting on. But as for you,
+you are too much needed here at the ranch, besides having to look after
+the new little ranch girls. I could never accept the sacrifice."
+
+"Yes? But I don't see how you are going to prevent it, Jack," Jim
+answered abruptly and in a tone Jack had never contradicted in her life.
+Always Jim Colter had been the one person whose will was stronger than
+her own, even in the important matters in which she always felt she had
+the better right to judge.
+
+"Oh, well, we won't quarrel on the subject yet, Jim, because of course
+there are ninety-nine chances to one that I won't be elected. I must go
+now and dress for dinner. Here comes Professor Russell to sit with you.
+I'll come back later if I hear the returns to-night."
+
+A little after eight o'clock on this same evening, a group of Jacqueline
+Kent's friends, her own family, and Jacqueline herself, were standing
+talking together in the drawing-room of the big house; occasionally one
+or two of them disappeared to come back with the latest news of the
+election returns.
+
+Earlier in the afternoon the reports from the neighborhood districts had
+given a majority to the feminine candidate. Later, when the counting
+began to take place in the cities, there appeared a change in the
+results, with Peter Stevens leading. Then Jacqueline Kent's victory
+seemed assured by a sudden spurt in the figures giving her an important
+lead throughout the western portion of the state.
+
+"Do you think we will know to-night without doubt?" Frieda Russell
+inquired of John Marshall, who had driven over and had dinner with his
+friends at the Rainbow ranch.
+
+"One cannot be positive in any election until the next day, Mrs.
+Russell," he assured Frieda, "but I think between ten o'clock and
+midnight we can be pretty positive, at least that is the view my father
+takes, and he has been in politics nearly as long as I can remember. He
+told me to tell 'Jack' as he calls her, that he congratulates her
+whatever occurs, whether she is defeated or elected."
+
+"Well, I don't know what to hope," Frieda murmured. "For months I have
+been praying Jack would _not_ win, and now to-night I feel I may hate it
+if she is not elected. You know I shall also feel responsible in a way
+since so many of Jack's friends insist that her taking no part in the
+campaign during the last weeks has made such a difference."
+
+"Oh, that could not be helped! And sometimes I think, though I have done
+my best to help Mrs. Kent win, that she is too young and that an older
+and perhaps a different kind of woman might be more suitable. See, even
+after all she has been through, she looks like a young girl to-night. I
+don't believe she cares very much."
+
+Frieda glanced toward her sister, who was standing before the
+drawing-room fire laughing and talking to several friends and appearing
+less perturbed than she herself felt.
+
+Jack was paler than usual and there were circles under her eyes which
+Frieda knew were uncommon, notwithstanding her eyes and lips were both
+smiling. She wore a white serge dress trimmed with silver braid, her
+hair was slightly parted on one side and coiled low on her neck.
+
+"One cannot always tell how Jack feels, she is braver than most persons.
+Frankly, I don't know any more than you do how much she is interested in
+winning. I do think she scarcely realized what it meant when she was
+originally nominated. It isn't like Jack to turn back once she has
+started, although I believe she did find the publicity harder to bear
+than she anticipated. You see, an older person, or one who had had more
+experience in political life, would have understood, but Jack has lived
+in England for the past years. On her return home it appeared a
+wonderful experience to play some part in American politics, as the
+women are beginning to do in England. I don't think Jack realized she
+might not be fitted for a political career when other people began
+urging her forward."
+
+John Marshall laughed.
+
+"No, I don't feel she is unsuited to a great career, but it was of her
+personally I was thinking. If you'll excuse me for a few moments I will
+go to the telephone again. It is growing late and my father has promised
+to telephone me from headquarters at a little before ten o'clock. Even
+if he has been working for Peter Stevens because he wants a man to be
+elected rather than a woman, we can count on his figures being
+accurate."
+
+John Marshall disappeared. A quarter of an hour passed and he did not
+return. In the meantime three or four other persons went away to join
+him.
+
+The clock on the mantel was striking half-past ten when Jack herself
+heard the noise of a horse galloping toward the house. It was she who
+walked quietly to an already open window and stretched forth her hand to
+receive the telegram.
+
+"This telegram comes from Cheyenne, I suppose it will be official and we
+shall know the best or the worst," she announced. Then opening it she
+read aloud:
+
+"Victory conceded to Peter Stevens. Better luck next time."
+
+Afterwards, in the brief silence which followed, Frieda Russell burst
+into tears.
+
+"But, Frieda," Jack expostulated, slipping an arm about her sister and
+smiling as she faced the group of people gazing directly at her, "I
+thought you wanted me to be defeated. You have never wished for anything
+else." She turned to the others. "I can only say that I am deeply
+grateful for everybody's kindness, yet the voters of Wyoming probably
+have acted wisely. All women may not need longer preparation before
+holding public office, but I am afraid I do. Now if you will pardon me,
+I confess I am tired and would like to say good-night."
+
+Running swiftly upstairs, Jacqueline Kent paused for an instant outside
+her former guardian's door. She had been staying in the big house during
+his illness.
+
+"Is that you, Jack?" a voice asked instantly. "Well, what is the news?"
+
+"I was defeated, Jim. Peter Stevens is the next Congressman from
+Wyoming."
+
+"Well, Jack, I'd hate to tell you how glad I am. Are you very deeply
+disappointed?"
+
+"No, Jim, I am not. I believe I feel relieved. But please don't tell
+other people. Good-night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE HEART'S DESIRE
+
+
+"Mrs. Kent, there is some one down at the ranch house inquiring either
+for you or for Jim Colter. He will not give his name. Since you do not
+wish Mr. Colter to be disturbed I thought it best to bring the message
+to you. The man looks as if he had been ill for some time and his
+clothes are pretty shabby, but otherwise he seems all right."
+
+The man who was speaking was one of the new ranchmen on the Rainbow
+ranch whom Jacqueline Kent had lately employed.
+
+As Jim Colter had not recovered from his injury so rapidly as might have
+been expected, Jack had taken upon herself the entire management of the
+Rainbow ranch and was assisting with the management of the adjoining
+place, which belonged to Jim Colter.
+
+"Yes, thank you, I am glad you came to me; I'll ride down to the ranch
+house as soon as I can get away. I have some things that must be
+attended to first. You'll see that the man is properly cared for until
+I can get there."
+
+"Yes."
+
+Smiling after he had turned his back, the ranchman rode away.
+
+It suddenly had struck him that Mrs. Kent looked absurdly young for the
+responsibilities of her present position, but that they did not seem to
+trouble her in the least, in fact she appeared to enjoy them. Moreover,
+she was extremely popular with all he employees on the place, who would
+do a good deal to win her thanks.
+
+This morning Jack's costume was an extremely businesslike one, a dark
+brown corduroy riding habit with a short skirt and trousers and a fairly
+long coat. It was a cold morning in early December. She had not yet put
+on her hat and gloves, as she was waiting to consult with a neighboring
+ranchman in regard to the purchase of a thousand head of cattle.
+
+Jimmie had gone off to school an hour earlier with the four little new
+ranch girls and Jean's two daughters. These daily excursions to school
+were an annoyance to Jimmie and he would have preferred to have walked
+or ridden his pony instead of being driven in the family motor car with
+so many girls. However, as the school was five or six miles from the
+Rainbow ranch, this appeared one of the crosses he was forced to endure.
+
+Half an hour later, following a talk with her neighbor, Jacqueline Kent
+was on her way to the ranch house.
+
+A busy day lay ahead of her. First of all she had agreed to buy the
+cattle for the Rainbow ranch at the price offered, subject to Jim
+Colter's approval. But as Jim rarely interfered with her recent control
+of the ranch she did not expect him to object to her latest venture. In
+the afternoon, escorted by Billy Preston, whom she had promoted to being
+one of her chief assistants, she intended riding over to look at the
+cattle. In the meantime, beside her housekeeping, which was already
+finished for the day, she had to look at some fencing that needed
+repairing, consult with a veterinary surgeon concerning an injury to one
+of the finest mares on the ranch, and hear reports from several ranchmen
+who had charge of details of the work upon the place.
+
+Nevertheless, Jack felt extremely fit and not in the least perturbed by
+the number of her duties, as this was the character of outdoor life she
+had always loved and been trained to since her childhood.
+
+The question of the man who was waiting to see her at the ranch house
+did not particularly absorb her attention. Frequently of late men had
+wished to see her either to ask for employment on the Rainbow ranch or
+to discuss projects for new agricultural schemes to raise grains in
+greater abundance by a more scientific development of the soil.
+Moreover, there were always persons who insisted that the Rainbow gold
+mine could be made to yield a fresh output of gold by the application of
+new methods in mining. But at least Jack had nothing to do with the
+Rainbow mine, always referring any such enthusiasts to her scientific
+brother-in-law, Professor Russell, now that Jim Colter was taking a
+temporary rest from the affairs of the place, the first he had ever
+taken for as long as Jack had known him.
+
+Billy Preston was standing on the front porch of the ranch house in
+spite of the coldness of the day and as Jack rode up he came forward to
+help her dismount.
+
+"The fellow waiting to see you is rather a queer looking beggar, so I
+thought I'd hang round till you'd had a talk with him," Billy grinned
+boyishly. "We don't want another of the Rainbow ranch managers knocked
+out in a fight at present."
+
+"But I was knocked out in a fight, a big one, Billy Preston, by failing
+to be elected, and you have all been awfully good not to reproach me
+after taking such a lot of trouble in my behalf."
+
+"Oh, but we cowboys are glad you lost, though as long as we thought you
+wanted to win the boys on the Rainbow ranch and a good many other
+ranches were for you to the last man. No one of us really liked the idea
+of your either being elected or being licked. But now it can't be
+helped, it's kind of pleasanter to think of you just trying to run the
+old ranch."
+
+"Trying, Billy? But I thought I _was_ running it," Jack returned,
+"although I suppose you realize the men are still doing the work and
+trying to humor me at the same time. Well, it is kind of you and it is
+fun. Now show me my man and stand outside, Billy, to see nothing
+happens. But please remember you are an assistant ranch manager these
+days and hide that dreadful Kentucky mountain pistol."
+
+Inside the ranch house living-room, a crude enough place but bright and
+comfortable, there was a fire burning in the fireplace and a man sitting
+slumped before it in such a position that Jack upon entering the room
+could not see his face.
+
+He heard her, however, and got up and stumbled forward with both hands
+outstretched.
+
+"Ralph Merritt, but we thought you were lost forever, thought you
+were--" Jack hesitated and stopped an instant. "Why, we have sought for
+you all over the United States in every possible place and in every
+possible fashion! But you have been ill. Do sit down, you can't know how
+glad I am to see you. Don't try to talk to me, let us go first to Jean.
+It is cruel to keep her in ignorance another moment."
+
+Ralph Merritt shook his head.
+
+"No, Jack, I want to talk to _you_ first. I am glad it is you rather
+than Jim Colter. Then you can tell me what I should do next. I have been
+ill and in a strange way and so perhaps I need advice more than one
+usually does. I will sit down, if you don't mind and you'll be seated."
+
+It was one of Jacqueline Kent's good qualities that she did not talk
+when talking was unnecessary.
+
+Now she dropped into the nearest chair, opened her coat and took off her
+hat and gloves.
+
+"Try and tell me from the beginning if you can remember, Ralph. We have
+heard nothing of you or from you since the news that you appeared to
+have been slightly hurt at the mine in New Mexico and then disappeared."
+
+Ralph Merritt nodded.
+
+"I will try to tell as much as I can remember although it is remarkably
+little. I remember the fall at the mine and also that I did not seem to
+have been much hurt, only bruised and shaken up a bit and that my head
+ached a good deal from a blow I had received. I recall going into my own
+tent a little after dusk and lying down because my head ached. Then, you
+may not believe me, yet the truth is, I know of nothing else that has
+taken place in my life for over a year, nothing until a few months ago."
+
+"Yes, go on," Jack answered. "The blow on your head occasioned a loss of
+memory?"
+
+"A complete loss of memory. How I ever got my living in the meantime,
+whether I worked or whether I was cared for through other people's
+kindness I am not sure, except that I did work on a farm for a time and
+probably worked on others. I know this from some one who befriended me
+and partly guessed what my trouble was. Through this friend I was taken
+to a hospital and an operation performed and my memory partially
+restored. I now remember perfectly everything that took place before my
+injury, but nothing in the interval between then and now."
+
+"But that is not important, Ralph dear; perhaps it is better not to be
+able to recall what must have been days of suffering. The wonderful
+thing is now that you are alive and at home again, and with Jean and the
+little girls well and waiting for you."
+
+Ralph Merritt shook his head.
+
+"I am afraid returning in the plight I am in at present will not be a
+pleasant surprise for Jean. Remember I told you, Jack, that I would not
+come back until I had earned money enough to make Jean happier. I told
+her the same story. And I haven't the money, in fact I haven't even the
+chance of making it until I am stronger. So I want you to tell Jean for
+me that I am alive and care for her and the little girls as much as I
+ever did, and have not yet given up hope of accomplishing what she has a
+right to expect of me. Then if you'll tell me about the family I'll be
+off again. I'll write Jean, but I thought it might be best that you
+speak to her and explain what has occurred first."
+
+"I will do no such thing, Ralph Merritt," Jack returned more sharply
+than she was in the habit of speaking. "You'll see and talk to Jean
+yourself in a quarter of an hour. Don't you think Jean has had a long
+enough period of agony and suspense? The desire of her heart is to know
+you are alive. She asks for nothing else, has asked for nothing else all
+along. I do wish men were not so stupid. You always believe the wrong
+things girls and women say. Jean did care for wealth and position, most
+people do, but that is no reason to think that she did not always care
+more for you than anything or anybody else. I'll ride up to the big
+house this instant and try to prepare Jean a little for seeing you. But
+right away you are to follow me. If you are strong enough to ride
+horseback Billy Preston will saddle a horse and ride up with you."
+
+Jack was already up and half way to the door.
+
+"Don't be long. Jean already has been waiting a long time, and I shall
+tell her nothing except that you are here."
+
+"All right, Jack," Ralph Merritt answered and squared his shoulders,
+appearing fifty per cent more like his former self than before Jack had
+spoken.
+
+At eight o'clock that night Jacqueline Kent was walking up and down the
+front porch of the Rainbow lodge alone. There was a light snow falling
+outside and she had slipped on a fur coat, but her head was uncovered.
+
+At a little distance away she heard a familiar whistle.
+
+"Do hurry, Jim, I can't wait any longer," she called out. "You promised
+to come over immediately after dinner."
+
+"Yes, and I'm here," Jim returned, "dinner has not been over ten minutes
+at the big house, and please remember I am a semi-invalid and cannot
+walk with white hot speed. I can only report, 'all is well.' Jean and
+Ralph both appear extraordinarily happy and Ralph Merritt does not look
+so ill, not half so badly off as I do. I won't have the honor of being
+the family invalid taken from me. He and Jean expressed themselves as
+being disappointed at your not coming up to dinner, but I told them you
+wanted them to have the dinner to themselves, which they managed to have
+along with Professor Russell and Frieda and six small girls clamoring
+for attention beside your humble servant. You might have asked me to
+dine with you."
+
+"Why, I never thought of it, but then you would have if you had wished
+to anyhow. Besides, you should of course have been at home to welcome
+Ralph. I trust you told him right away that we were going to start work
+on the old Rainbow mine so Ralph can stay here at home and have
+something to do at the same time. I have decided on this; there must be
+gold enough in the old mine to pay expenses and to give Ralph a good
+salary, and otherwise it does not matter. Oh, Jim, please do come in out
+of the snow. I want to tell you also that I am going to buy a thousand
+new head of cattle for the Rainbow ranch. It is all right, isn't it?"
+
+"It is _not_, Jack. Rainbow ranch has all the cattle it can take care of
+at present. We have stocked up as far as we ought to go unless we can
+buy more land for grazing and raising grain, and I don't see any
+prospect of that in this immediate neighborhood."
+
+"But I have almost made a bargain for the cattle, Jim."
+
+"How far has the bargain gone?"
+
+"Oh, the agreement was not positive until I had consulted with you, but
+I thought I was being allowed to run the Rainbow ranch. Of course if you
+interfere with what I think best, why it is not managing the ranch at
+all."
+
+"But I never agreed to allow you to run the ranch into debt, Jack, and
+that is _what would_ happen if you have to pay for feed for a thousand
+new head of cattle this winter."
+
+In silence the man and girl continued to walk up and down the porch of
+the Rainbow lodge.
+
+"Want me to give up trying to manage the ranch, Jim? Now you are better,
+I suppose I am only a nuisance."
+
+"I want you to keep on if the work interests you and if you are willing
+to listen to my advice now and then. You have some ideas for running
+things that are considerably better than mine, but I have had a good
+deal longer experience."
+
+"All right, Jim, I am sorry," and Jack slipped her hand through her
+companion's arm. "Good gracious, what a hard-headed person I am and
+always have been, Jim Colter. I wonder if that is why life seems to find
+it necessary to give me so many knocks?"
+
+"Has it given you more than most people, Jack? Are you more disappointed
+over that wretched election than you have been willing to confess? If
+you like, go ahead and buy your cattle then. I only don't want you to
+lose money, because the ranch belongs to you girls and I suppose I
+always shall feel more or less responsible. If it were mine----"
+
+"I have no desire to lose the family money," said Jack, "and I am
+properly penitent. I even no longer _desire_ one thousand new cattle
+purchased for the Rainbow ranch."
+
+"But what do you desire then, Jacqueline Kent? Suppose just for an
+experiment you tell me your greatest desire. We were speaking on the
+subject at dinner to-night. Jean of course felt that she had received
+hers in Ralph's return. Frieda announced that she was in a fair way to
+be fully satisfied now Peace was growing strong and well and Professor
+Russell had succeeded in his latest scientific experiment, and also I am
+obliged to state that Frieda added the negative fact that she was
+particularly pleased that you had failed in your recent political
+enterprise."
+
+Jack laughed. "How exactly like Frieda! It is the things she has that
+she is grateful for and the mistakes I am not permitted to make because
+of her excellent advice. But don't worry over me, Jim, at present my
+greatest desire is to walk up and down the lodge porch with you and see
+the sky and the prairie beneath the stars and feel the damp sweetness of
+the wind with the little eddies of snow. What is your heart's desire,
+Jim Colter?"
+
+"To be always with you, Jack, I suppose," Jim Colter answered as
+unexpectedly to himself as to the girl beside him. His voice did not
+hold the light raillery of hers. "Queer ambition, isn't it, for a man
+old enough to be your father, who has been your father after a poor
+fashion! I don't know, Jack, I have not meant to tell you this, but I
+always have told you pretty much everything that was in my mind, and
+after I say this I want you to forget it. I care for you differently
+from the old days, Jack. Of course I appreciate the differences between
+us more than any living human being can appreciate them, the distance
+from the earth to the stars is small in comparison. And I want you to
+care for me always, Jack, in the old friendly, daughterly fashion."
+
+"But I don't feel like a daughter to you, Jim, and never have, certainly
+not as a little girl, so why should I begin now? I simply like you
+better than any one else in the world except Jimmie, now you have made
+me think of it, and we understand each other better. I suppose I would
+have taken this for granted if you had not spoken. What do you suppose
+we ought to do about it, Jim?"
+
+"Nothing, Jack."
+
+"But suppose I should want to do something? And suppose what I wanted to
+do should become my heart's desire? Would you withhold it from me, Jim?"
+
+"Yes, if I thought it would do you harm."
+
+"But suppose it would not do me harm, but bring me great happiness, what
+then?"
+
+Jim Colter made no reply.
+
+Jack smiled.
+
+"Ah, Jim, you never can make me believe that you will refuse to travel
+with me to the Land of the Heart's Desire, since it is a journey one can
+rarely take alone."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+THE "RANCH GIRLS" SERIES
+
+BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK
+
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS AT RAINBOW LODGE
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS' POT OF GOLD
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS AT BOARDING SCHOOL
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS IN EUROPE
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS AT HOME AGAIN
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS AND THEIR GREAT ADVENTURE
+
+    THE RANCH GIRLS AND THEIR HEART'S DESIRE
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's
+Desire, by Margaret Vandercook
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS--THEIR HEART'S DESIRE ***
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