San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-05
CHAPTER III

Presently there was nothing left Tor
the June zephyrs to tease but the fiut-
tering bannerets of gray Spanish moss
pendent from the unfading wooden rain
bow and the leaves of the big church
Bible, that had been left open after the
preliminary reading of chapter.
Strong Martin had selected the banks
of the creek for his battle-ground with
conscience. 1t would be pleasanter down
there on the waters pebbly brim, where
no one was likely to intrude today.
He was hidden from the view Of the
hungry churchyard feasters by the high,
sandy banks of the creek that were
fringed with trailing blackberry bushes
and blue eyed periwinkles. From the
spot he selected he could hear the clat-
ter of dishes and the lively chatter Of
the feeders and the fed.
With his eye closed he saw it all.
In an agony of indecision he flung
his hands outward and upward and
groaned aloud: "If l stood alone, it
would be different 1t would be easy.
But-the old folks-and-Liza." Then,
with clinched fist and resolute lips, sit
is forced hand" And again in voice
almost of despair he said it: "a forced
handl A forced handw
| Upon the calm afternoon air the
| clangor of bell smote sharply. 1t was
the bell in the little wooden belfry of
the red brick church calling the multi
tude back to the closing exercises. The
cows were slowly climbing the opposite
bank of the creek The blue crane un-
| tucked its small head to reconnoiter.
Strong Martin got up and stretched his
cramped legs, stamping vigorously with
his benumbedfeet.
"a profitable hour, " he said bitterly.
81 came here to settle matter of con-
science. am sure of only one thing:
am hungry No, of two things. The
knot is knottier than ever. 1t is a forced
hand. -
AS he clambered precipitately up the
steep bank of the creek he suddenly
came face to face with Mamie Colyer
In one hand she held cup of coffee, in
the other loaded plate.
Il have been looking for you ever
since you left the church. 1 saw you
when you came out. Here, take it. You
must be dreadfully hungry" She was
not looking at him. She could not. She
was so absurdly short and he so CORE
spondingly tall that his grateful glance
could only perch on. the befiowered
crown of her big hat.
81 am hungrier than thought. 1t
was good of you to think of me, Miss
Mamie. l did not expect it of you"
"Others have been thinking of you
and talking about you /"
"Yes?"
Her hands were free now. He had
taken the cup of coffee and gulped it in
three or four mouthfuls. His utterance
was somewhat impeded by sandwich.
''No one has thought of me in this
way. 1t was very sweet of you, Mamie. "
"But l am angry with you. Quite
angry"
] She employed her liberated hands in
putting her large Gainsborough hat far
enough ON the back of her head to give
him the full benefit of an extremely
stern gaze which she had carefully pre-
pared for the occasion.
"Adrien Strong says you are acting
like an imbecile He is very much up
set about you"
! There was tang of wormwood in
his voice as he answered, 81 think Adri-
en- will not suffer much ON my account.
"Adrien Strong is very fond of you. f"
she said decidedly.
| His own name, shouted in Adrien's
voice. came clearly and shrilly through
the lacy screen of elder blossoms. The
girl put her hand out hurriedly for the
empty plate and cup
There, go. Everything is waiting
ON you. You are beautiful looking
valedictorian. Wait! l know it's dread
fully bold, but can't let you go back
looking like defeated prizefighter
She stood on tiptoe close in front Of
him. Her slim brown fingers gave his
cravat a savage little jerk, bringing the
bow around from under his left ear.
"There, you look just one degree less
disreputable. Do smooth your hair down
trifle. -
He was beaming ON her in an ecstasy
of gratitude. 1t was so pleasant to have
some one care whether he was hungry
or satiated, trim or disreputable.
"Dogo. If you stand there much Ion
ger looking so ridiculously grateful,
shall forget that l am angry with you.
/ am sorry, so sorry-for-everything.
But, of course, ] don't believe it. -
Don't believe what?" Strong asked,
vaguely interested in the words, vivid
ly in the speaker, whose soft, upturned
eyes had altogether forgotten to look
stern.
Don't believe anything" With sud
den passion she stamped her small foot.
"There, 60 have only made matters
worse by coming here. Adrien is call
ing you. Adrien says it is ridiculous to
suppose you could have taken those
things"
"He did, did he?" The boys voice
was choked with the sudden up leaping
of passion