The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-07-25

OF LOVE DIVINE
ny KENNETr p HARRIS. q
q Wopyrght 1902 by Daily Story Pub COZ q

nY KENNETr ,. HARRIs.

There was still the freshness Of the
dawn In the air. and In the grass and
fern that fringed the woodland road
along the ridge was studded with glob-
ules Of dew that flashed and sparkled
In rainbow tints as the sunlight fell
upon them through the trees. A little
to n side Of the road a girl with
brown hair was plucking scarlet and
black lilies and throwing them into a
basket and a young man with black
hair was watching her graceful move
ments with obvious admiration as he
leaned against the rough barked trunk
Of a hickory tree. They were both
well looking. she In a placid, gentle
way and he after the fashion Of the
southern man Of the best type.
The girl looked up. II should think
you might help me, now that you are
here" she said, reproachfully.
I'D rather look at you" he replied,
and I couldn't do that n 7 were pick
ing flowers. Besides, I want to talk
to you"
She coiored under his ardent gaze.
but her eyes met his bravely. That
sounds selfish" she said. AS If you
would rather do what you wish than
help me"
There may be a double meaning n
that, he returned, "but I'm not go
ing to take IT to myself. I'll put you
in the wrong-and pick flowers" He.
knelt in the patch OF lilies and began
to gather them and she smiled at him
gratefully.
and you'n be reasonable in every
thing else?" she asked.
ut depends upon what YOU call rea-
sonable. he replied. IF / thought that
you didn't care for me I'd be as rea-
sonable as you please. 1 wouldn't get
up at an unholy hour In the morning
in spite Of orders and wait for you to
come out, and then follow you and
infict my detested presence"
"Oh, Dick" said the girl, land you
know how glad 1 was to see you. But
you mustn't. You must be patient"
II think I am" he said, but why
you won't let me go squarely to your
father and ask for you l can't think.
The war is over now and it oughtn't
to take a man more than thirty years
to realize it. know that my dear dad
made up his mind to that long ago.
You'll see him at the Decoration serv-
ices to-day with a bunch of flags and
a basket of flowers and he'll be there
because he feels like It,"
IT'S different with him." said the
girl. You don't understand. Dick.
They we're all secession people where
we used to live and it seemed as II
they couldn't be unkind enough to him.
when they found that he was for the
union. All his friends deserted him
and when he left they destroyed all
his property. and all through the war
he suffered so much, and he came out
OF it broken and crippled and altered
so much. They think that he Is
soured, and l heard someone say once
that he couldn't talk about anything
but the war and abuse the South and
the Democrats. It wasn't true"
"Of course it wasn't" said the young
man, and he added, rather lamely,
Hes all right. That's what I say.
He's too sensible at heart to have pre-
judices. You just let me talk to him"
He tossed the flowers that he was
holding into the basket and took her
hands In his. She made no effort to
release them, but shook her head sor-
rowfully. 1T would kill him." she
said.
He dropped one hand and his arm
stole around her waist and she turned
her face to his and their lips met
in a long kiss.
Suddenly she broke away from him.
"Oh, you should not have done that, "
she cried. 1T can't be and you must
never-we must not meet again,
Dick. No" as he moved a step to-
ward her, "if you do l shall hate You.
You should understand. am all he
has and it would be the greatest un-
happiness of his sad life If he thought
that l cared for n of his enemies"
why, Good Lord" calculated the
young man, Pm no Johnny Reb.
never fought against the Union. /
wasn't thought of when the unpleas-
antness began"
But you know that your father
was" she said, and you know you
are a democrat
He laughed. 'Ill vote the republic
an ticket from this time forth if that's
all the objection" he declared.
"Then l wouldn't respect you" she
said promptly. and with a touch OF
present disdain in her voice.
you're hard to suit, Rachel" he
said. his brows drawing together In a
frown. at seems to me as If there
was something behind this. It's too
absurd that you should throw me over
for such a foolish idea
There was nothing placid In the ex-