The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-12-05

what he called the attraction of re-
pulsion. He could talk well when he
pleased and he exerted himself to
talk his best when they we're thrown
together, but from any verbal en-
counter he Invariably came away with
a feeling that he had been woreted
and he often chafed at tho mockinE
zones Of her voice ara fe bh eou
temptuous look ia the depths tQt her
grey eyes. Tn was particularly con-
scious Of that look one day at tie
beach. He was teaching Maud Pat.
terson to swim and there was a good
deal of the vine about Maud. Mar
garet swan like a mermaid and Hep
burn resented that. He rather re-
scented the way Teddy Alderman was
following her about, too, and the
fact that she seemed rather to like
that idiots attentions did not increase
his-well, his respect for her.
There came an evening at last, how
ever, when his old feeling Of warmth
and affection for Alderman revived.
He had watched him strolling In the
ravine path that ran below the house;
just a glimpse here and there between
the trees and he had noticed that the
woman with him and to whom he
was talking earnestly was-Margaret.
1t was not at that moment, when a
strange pain shot through his breast
and the blood swelled and thrObbed at
his temples, that the old feeling re-
turned. 1t was when Teddy came
striding back alone, his head upon
his breast. his face white and drawn
and his eyes blank and unseeing, that
he felt kindly and pityingly.
Teddy" he said.
ooh, go to the devil" said Acker-
man roughly, and walked on.
For a moment Hepburn stood look
ing after him uncertainty, rage rising
within him at the thought of the in
jury done to his friend by hat cold,
heartless, unwomanly-! Then came
an impulse to confront her, to upbraid
her, pour the walls of his wrath and
contempt upon her. An u~nreasoning
impulse Of anger that sent him swiftly
through the wood to where Margaret
sat crOuched in the fern beside the
path, sobbing as if her heart would
break, and at the sight Of her and the
sound Of her weeping Hepburn's anger
passed from him and the scales fell
from his eyes.
Margaret" he cried.
She started to her feet and her face
hardened. She did not speak, but
made an abrupt gesture Of dismissal
and turned from him. Her whole at
titude was Of aversion, but as he
seized her hand and compelled her to
look at him the tears were still in her
eyes and upon her cheeks and It en-
boldened him.
"No." he said, Il must tell you nav
what / would never have told you be-
fore. for / thought you less, or more,
than woman and now know you for
what you are. love you"
"Hard and un~feminine, as I am
she laughed scornfully, u thought
Miss Patterson was your ideal. Wen.
I am sorry that this happened, Mr..
Hepburn. Good night"
"But not unkindly," he implored.
Il know well enough that you could
not care for me-. yet I was weak
enough TO tell you"
"You weakl'' she ex 'laimed.
GAS weak as water Ia your hands,
Pitiably weak. miserabiy weak, and so
pity me at least You pltied-hiin.
know
Because Of his weakness2 No. And
yet perhaps Il was, she said. with
eyes that softened as they looked on
him kneeling az her feet. "But Dc As
different with YOU, because
eyes. you are hard, and yet / love