Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-08-14

many fancies OF the life pulsing just
beyond the piny peaks.
Now her mind was filled with the
one subject SO much discussed: she
turned IL over and over. viewing II on
all sides: now reasoning with herself
As to this or that possibility. this or
that decision. but eventually return
Ing to the first conclusion which was
to her so convincing that 1t sent her
over the mountain to the town to dis
cover II possible the truth. and at the
court was the place to learn what she
wished to know-it there were any
place to learn It ere the whole world
should know.
As she passed over the mountain
and down on the other side the town
lay out before her; n thriving town:
smoke arose black from the towering
chimneys. the whir of machinery. the
rattle OF wagons and din on everyday
life We're borne up to her as sounds
Of strange land. The knowledge be-
gan TO grow In her mind that the life
In the slow little settlement beyond
the mountain was too narrow. too
shut into itself. too lacking In energy
and growth. But this was new
world TO her and she shrank from II.
not from any foolish feeling OF inferi.
ority; such q thought could hold no
room In her mind. but rs a Wild ami
NAL instlnciiyely shrlnks back TO It's
natural world. Then the feeling left
her: the old thought drove every fear.
every other feeling away: she had
come for purpose and rs yet IL was
not accomplished.
She passed steadily down the road
looking neither TO righ, nor left. Tn.
court house was at the farther end OF
tn. town: she had heard them say so.
long. low. white building with wide
steps and q bell In the tower
AT length she came to IL: she knew
she Was right: long. low. white
building With Wide steps and bell In
tho tower.
She walked up the steps and turned
III. handle OF the door. but could not
open IL. This ending of her journey
had not entered her head. For n mo.
m.nt 81. stood In doubt what to do.
P-opl. passing on tn. street looked
cnriously ~ her. A boy who was
sitting as,ridc OF the fence called TO
her that the door VAS locked: but II
sh. wanted the lookup 1, was down
around tn. corner.
Sh. did not kro~ he MAS laughing
~ her. she walked down the steps
and spoke TO him. She asked him
where she could md tn. Judge. She
~as looking at him with her straight.
level glance. and he VAS dIseone-rt~,.
The judge. he said. lived In The house
on the hin: II she came down IN.
main street she mus, have passed IL.
Not bit Of her resolution was
gone as she r-iraccd hcr steps. but
she walked swiftly. for 1, was grow.
Ing late. She found II without ,rou-
BILE; she mounted the steps and knock.
Cd a; the biz door. She did not know
she should ring IN. bell No one
came. She knocked again and louder.
then aEain she waited. No one came
II the Judge ~src gone where should
she aud him
A step sounded on the gravel a, tn.
side Of the house. she turned and
faced the newcomer.
'Dolorrs." exclaimed young Green,
In astonishm-nt.
A rcd fush crcp, In her face.
II want to so. the Judge" she
said. Erav.iy. and there was a >Jist.
fulness In the large. dark eyes raised
To his for an instant that caused his
heart TO throb strangely while flush
also arose In his own face.
My father He Is ro, at home.
When the court adjourned at three hs
took the train TO N. II you wish
TO see him I am sorry. VIII no, do
] instcad7 Com. In. Miss johnson: my
mother would be pleased TO meet
you.'
She was unused to being called
Miss Johnson" and scarcely heard
the unfamiliar ramc.
He opened the door. waiting for her
10 pass in.
Il wont stay" she said. The Judge
is not at home. | came to see the
| Judge.
She turned down the steps. and he
closed the door. following her.
III you will no, go inside. may I
walk with you. Miss Johnson
She bowed her head. and they pass
ed mp the street together in silence.
That the people they passed. and
whom her companion greeted. turned
and looked curiously after them she
did rot know: had she known IL would
have affected her little. She came on
an crrand. and could not accomplish
| IL: that thought was uppcrmost in
her mind. blended as II always was in
thinking OF It. with the face and
eyes OF the young man beside her
Dolores" he said at last. when
they were climbing the rough road
beyond the town. unconsciousiy using
the rame. Dolores. why did you
| wish to see my father to-day? II must
be something special or you would
not have come. Could not de as
wcil?~
Some way his kindly heart was
aching for her with the remembrance
Of that swift. wis,ful glance of the
brown eyes into his own. and he
would comfort her IL he could.
She did not look at him: her gaze
was fiIed on the pines away on the
mountain behind which the sun was
setting. But he knew she heard and
would answer presently.