The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-12-05
Akin to Love.
BY KENNETr =. HARRIs.


Copyright. 1902. by Daily Story Pub. COD
When Hepburn first saw the young
woman he was rather taken with her.
A little later he decided that she was
altogether to self-reliant and seif-pOs-
sessed for his taste. There was a
man in the party who had really
achieved something In the world Of
art and was being lionized, a process
to which he seemed to take to rather
too kindly; a man who aroused an in
tolerable itching in the toes Of every
other masculine person present. Hep
burn noticed that Miss Pollard was
one of the very few of the women who
did not assume the attitude Of ador-
alton in the presence of the Genius.
Perhaps the Genius noticed it, too,
for he left his little circle Of lovely
worshipers and seating himself by
Miss Pollard's side honored her with
some Of his exclusive and original
views Of things, general and particu-
lar.
Hepburn happened to be close by
and heard the conversation, which
filed his soul with joy.
"A steel trap is leisurely, even dila-
tory compared with her" he said that
evening to a select audience of the
o~vershadowed. "She had him ratified
in the first round, and dazed and rub
bling the ropes before the third. You
never saw a girl with a quicker get
back, and he never really landed even
once"
"She must be all right" said Ted
dy Alderman, Il think I'll reward
her for that with a little Of my socie-
ty. am interested"
Il wouldn't be-" ~counseled Hep
burn. THE Genius isn't exactly a
fool even If he acts like an ass. AS
for you, you would simply be skinned
alive If you began being pretty to her.
1 wouldn't want to try it myself, I
know"
"Why?" asked Teddy.
"Oh, well, / take it all back" said
Hepburn. Il didn't mean to discuss
the young lady. She is mighty clever
and charming and handsome and
what do you say to a little gamer"
II Hepburn had continued with what
was in his mind he would have said:
she is too %self-poised, too ~independ-
ent, mentally and physically. A man
could never assume an attitude of
protection toward her. She rows and
shoots better than four-6fthe 81 the
men here. and couldn't have played.
T. the Ash-mgslE ha5taH idulf did
yesterday. Then she knows 700 mtch
for q woman and hasn't any femi-
nine f0ibles as far as ] have noticed.
There's not enough of the clinging
vine about her. Not that l care a
continental about her one way or the
other"
Being in this Indifferent frame of
mind Hepburn for some days avoided
Miss Pollard; then he concluded that
his avoidance might perhaps seem
marked, and after all. he had no
reason to dislike the young lady. He
was crossing the field to the tennis
court with Teddy Alderman when he
made up his mind to this, and he had
a vague idea that Teddy was babbling
about something, but his eyes were
fixed upon a figure in a white dress
half reclining in the shade of a noble
beech.
Isn't she a queen?" exclaimed Ted
dy, enthusiastically. Here's my
chance now. Don't you spoil the
sport, my son. You're due to play
with Polly, and Wen watch you"
He did not hear what Hepburn said,
which was perhaps just as well, but
strobe of and flung himself on the
grass at Margaret Pollard's side with
a sigh of relief. At the same time
Polly Alderman waved her racket
cordially at Hepburn and challenged
him to a game.
Presently Teddy's t~ete-a-tete was
broken up by the arrival of Jean VIII
son and Maud Patterson and Maud
soon after took him of to pump wa
ter from the spring in the ravine,
The two girls left together, watched
the players for some moments in FL
lence. Then as Hepburn made a par