The Delta independent., 1898-01-28
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L.
But she met 1t with steady eyeA The
Innocence Of her own heart made her
take on = dignity which conquered the
man before her. He began to realize
something Of that which he bad hardly
thought worth the analysia
Laurel" he said suddenly, ''yoa
are q goddess. Great heaven, why can
not I have you always as have you
now? Society and conventionalities,
what bosh they arsi Simplicity and dig
nifty constitute manner. And you would
win homage at the court Of any quesn. !"
He clasped the shoulders until they
hurt. But she did not move. She only
looked at him calmly, unbewildered.
"Yo' kin hev me, she said in her
slow, tender tone that pulsed and trem-
bled as she spoke. Before yo' come
yo' n tn tall UNI b'longed T. tn
clouds n the great mountain. S'ci'ty?
I dunno what that do mean"
There were gentleness, innocence and
reserve in her nature. 1t shook the shal-
lower one. Craymer lowered his head
until the pure eyes could not look into
his own. He was sitting o little below
her upon the mossy hillside. and his
face had been lifted as he spoke. Now
she slid her arm about his neck and
drew his head against her breast. She
ran her fingers lightly through his hair.
She touched his cheek with Q slow.
gentle motion. Then, bending her head.
she pressed her lips upon his forehead
with a slow, solemn kiss, as she might
have kissed the child IL 1t had been
kneeling in prayer before her.
His lips had never touched her. Hers
had never before touched him. He had
sometimes reached out to caress her
hands-they were 70 like to brown
birds in their slow. fluttering motions.
And he had moothed the long braids
of her hair as he had done today. but
whenever he encountered the fierce. re-
proachful eyes Of Wilmot after each Of
these later visits he had comforted him
self that no harm had been done. Sho
was the same untamed girl woman that
they had found at the first, with her
heart untouched by anything earthly
Q devotee of the clouds and Of the state
ly, NOW wreathed mountain.
CHAPTER "
The ladies arrived next day. AoAl-
word and his guests went to meet them
upon long. swinging buckboards Of the
primitive sort, with chains upon which
to rest the feet and long, yielding straps
for the back. These wese voted By the
merry party to be moro delightful pleas
urs wagons than even the Irish jauntins
car.
The days that followed were filled
with laughter, with music, with break
neck canters upon swift ponies and with
evening promenades upon tho long ve-
Eanda Of the old rancheira.
After time Craymer became restless
and complained that he must do some
thing beside sketching merry people in
stylish clothing-however picturesque
ly they might be "set." He must get
OF for 4 whole days work. He would
not plan another days pleasure until
he had earned it with work.
Wilmot was not with the others
when this complaint in its final strength
was entered upon. He CHANGED, how.
ever, to come up in time to catch its
impost. Craymer did not seem to notice
his coming, but turned toward his BE-
trothed, who looked at him kindly.
A half hour later the two men stood
alone together.
my reason for speaking" said Will
mot, "is that would warn you. Cray
mer. You are an attractive fellow
and'-
Thanks, awfullyp'
"This is not play" said tho other
fiercely. Then calming himself. "You
are to be married soon?'
"Not until September
"Well, September is coming" he
insisted in Nemesis tone. I'm Sep
tember then?'
"Yes, Of course. Why do you ask?''
"For this reason: With that answer
want you to relinquish going where
you intend to go tomorrow.
"And by what right do you ask IL!
It's about time that your volunteer es-
pionage should cease. I shall do - I
hanged please in this and every other
matter" He turned and walked away.
Wilmot by . strong effort smothered
the indignation that stirred him and,
following him. laid . hand upon his
shoulder and said in gentle tone: ct beg
your pardon. II you will wait . few
days and give the subject little serious
thought. will not trouble you again. +"
Craymer said something which sound
cd like an assent. Wilmot accepted Il
and was turning away, when the otass
asked bluntly:
why don't you go there yourself
and take her out Of those brutal sur
roundings? You haven't been foolish
enough to bind yourself to any ono.
There are ways Of getting On with It.
Some elderly aunt or maiden cousin
could chaperone, and 'twould take
blamed little worldly contact foe her to
outshine them all I say," he insisted