Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1899-07-12
Not a Hero.
~ FANCES had been arguing and

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IL had silenced her opponent. He
- stood leaning against the stone
of the tower waiting her pleasure to re-
move from the scene of contest. But
her line OF thought held her fast. or
perhaps the beauty of Belgian land
scape would not release her. At all
events, she did move. and he waited.
Finally. he ventured To suggest:
Wont your Aunt Laura be tired of
wating:'
She turned her eyes from the brown
Scheldt flowing below as she answered
rarelessly: aunt Laura: O, she
doesn't mind. She preferred TO let MS
come up without her. She adores the
cathedral, and it isn't time to be hun
cry"
Ben Ripley had been in Antwerp four
hours, three of which he had spent with
Frances Deere. and for at least an hour
the two had been on the cathedral
tower engaged in the argument already
mentioned.
Ben had asked where Frances meant
to spend the winter. 1t was II natural
question. for they had been neighbors
and friends always at home in Amer
lea. Even when he was at college
there were vacations, aud she con
except In the intervals when. having
become too warm, he was obliged TO
undergo cooling process.
Her winter, she said, would be one of
masters for her. and she would work
at art. music, anguages-anything to
keep busy. Then he began to argue
that she was all wrong. She ought To
go home to her mother and not waste
her youth tshe laughed scornfully) and
her beauty tshe smiled proudly. Then
she asked him why he lived on Ban
bury read and studied mathematics at
Oxford instead of going into business
with his father In New York. He an
swered that he wasn't worth consider
Ing. that she was the only person In
climax of his whole argument was that
she should go hack to America engaged
to him and wait FOR the glorious life
they would begin together next year
when he had taken his doctors degree.
But she was relentless and wouldn't
even attempt to answer his questions
whether she cared for him at ALL She
grew little impatient and said he
ought TO see that she couldn't think
about such things: she was interested
In carrying Oh her studies and moth
ing else. Finally lns said he supposed
she expecsnd him TO- start back for Ok
ford that night and wanted 10 be con
tradicted. But she agreed that 1t would
be the most sensibe' thing to do.
So II had all ended. and she had be-
come absorbed In the landscape and
forgetful Of him until he mentioned
Aunt Laura and they started down the
tower. Ben was three or four steps
ahead. two-thirds OF the way down.
when he heard a stumble. Frances had
caught her foot in her dress and fallen.
He had just time to brace himself with
An arm against either wall when she
slid down upon him.
Get your footing quick and don't
faint" he said.
"l'm not going to faint" she an
swered, and | am quite myself ex-
cept that my hat IL crooked not that
Ii matters in the dark
Slowly he dropped his arms. and she
passed o. before him. AS they came
out Into the light he motioned TO
carriage crossing the narrow court.
There isn't a moment TO lose" he
explained, III | am going 10 get my
boat. You are sure you are not hurt =
perfectly sound. Did l frighten
your"
well. yes: Il didn't seem exactly safe
for either OF us 10 have come tumbling
down that way. But | must CO.
shall see you again some day. Frances"
Somehow he got the cathedral door
open for her, handed her an umbrella,
took Off his hat. pressed her hand. aud
entered the carriage. She couldn't fol
low his movements; she only felt his
ayes resting on her as II they could not