Arizona republican., 1898-07-08

"Why do you ask such questions?" she demanded. "How can you speak of trifes, after that-that-" Her voice gave way, and thought heard a sob.
 "Listen," said I, earnestly. "In that lies the reason for my rambling talk. 1 hadn't intended to tell you so. but it's the fact. Now you might as we'll hear all. When you finished your ride you were worn out. Apparently you hadn't been run away with, but evidently the horse had kept you at work. Then came the call for you to help us. It braced you up, of course, but the strain, coming after the first one, left you bundle of exposed nerves, so to speak. It wouldn't do to let you go to your room in such a state. Why, you would have had night of horrors, lying awake for hours, tossing, turning, try ing to shake off the nervousness which held you prisoner. If you fell into doze it would be to wake as suddenly as if under shock of electricity, to wake to find your muscles rigid and your heart pounding like hammer. And even when physical weariness overcame you at last, your sleep would be broken by dreams a dozen times more terrible than the experiences you've gone through. I know what you are think ing, and I tell you your thoughts must be turned into another channel. It's to try to turn them that I've brought you out here, that I've gabbled about noth- ings."
 ''I understand" she said, softly. ''I understand. and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. If spoke irrita- bly, won't you pardon me? I'm sorry, so sorry, now that understand"
 There's nothing to pardon, unless it is the brusqueness with which I've blurted out my reasons fo- getting you away from the house,
 "You are not brusque," she said, and walked on in silence. I.could guess how she was striving to dismiss the scenes of the evening from her mind. At last shes spoke of her aunt, expressing re- her couch unassisted.
 Don't worry," said I. Mrs. Clark will be only too happy to take your place tonight. Besides, it is probably just as well that Mrs. Loring should not have an immediate opportunity to over whelm you with questions. That would be bad for both of you. I can't have you sacrificed, even On her altar"
 'Sacrificed?'" she cried. ''Dr. Nor ris, you don't realize what my aunt IS to me. She is the best, the kindest wom- r h,x- l., T. me as daughter-has loved me more than many a daughter is loved. A sac rifce! There is nothing I would not gladly do for her.
 T believe you. And my belief is one of the strongest reasons for advising you not to see her tonight. Please re- member the promise you gave me-"
 She halted for an instant, as if in pro- test that the pledge had been exacted when she did not fully understand it's meaning, but she did not offer to turn back. As we strolled on, gradually drew her into talk, and after little she seemed to have freed herself from the spell which had been upon her. At the outskirts of the village we turned to the right, avoiding the main streets, walked slowly toward the bank of the inlet, up which small coasters occasion ally sailed from tine bay. From one of the old wooden piers we could make out the shape of a yawl gliding seaward on the ebbing tide. The voices of two men on board the boat came to our ears over the black water, in which glistened the pin-point reflections of the stars.
 q envy those men drifting along so easily" said the girl. 1.-The water al ways has q fascination for me. Per haps I would risk even the darkness if we coull change places with them.'
 ''No doubt we could get another boat l suggested.
 T fear it is too late,'' she answered, with a faint laugh, the first had heard from her since 1 watched her start on the ride to Bassettville.
 "Confound the clock!" cried. ''It is responsible for half our disappoint- ments.''
 Nevertheless, we get on very poorly without it.
 "All prejudice, and inherited preju- dice at that
 Did you ever try to do without one ?"
 More than try-Pve had to-" said I, !.