The Washington herald., 1906-11-11

-~A'N - a AyAAt-fRNt+N - AclaAeAAANI eaAii
strong comunon-sense," thought Harley
musing over the letter. She wants the
romance without paying the price. Now
l wonder If that is not rather more the
characteristic Of women than Of men
On the day following the receipt Of this
letter, look of JOY came over the face OF
the candidate and there was a visible ex-
hiiaration throughout his party Men
worn, exhausted. and covered with the
dust OF the great plains. began to fresheu
up themselves as much as they could;
there was a great brushing Of soiled cloth
ing, hauling out Of clean collars, a
sharpening of razors. and a general in
quiry, How &c / look2" The whole at
mosphere OF the train was changed and
IL became much brighter and livelier. 1;
was the candidate himself who wrought
the Transformation, after reading a letter
with the brief statement. Mrs. GraysOn
and Sylvia will join US to-rlorrOw."
All had begun TO pine for feminine
society. as soldiers. long on the march. de-
sire the sight of women and the sound
Of their voices. It is true that they saw
women often. and many Of them-some
who were beautiful and some who were
not-as they sped through the West, but Il
was always a fitting and blurred glimpse
! haven't got an impression Of the fea-
lures of q single one OF them, com
planned the elderly beau. Tremaine Now
two women whom they knew we'll and
liked would be with them for days. and
they rej0iced accordingly.
II was et a little junction station IN
Eastern Colorado, In the clear blue-and-
silver Of a fine morning. that Mrs. Gray
son and Sylvia met them. Mr. GraysOn
and hfe ~f1r laa al
miles on a branch line for speech at a
town of importance, and they had be-
gun the return journey before daylight
In order to make the connection. But
when the gray dawn came through the
dusty car windows, II was odd 10 see
how neat and careful all appeared, even
under such difficult circumstances.
Harley was surprised 70 realize the
eagerness with which he looked forward
10 the meeting and put it down TO the
long lack OF feminine society. But he
wondered If Sylvia had changed. If the
nearer approach Of her marriage with
King" Plummer would make her re-
served and with her outlook on the future
that is. as one apart
He had a favorable seat in the car and
be was the first 10 see them. The june
ton was a tiny place of not more than a
half dozen houses standing in the midst
Of a great plain. and Il made a perfect
silhouette against the gorgeous morning
sunlight Harley saw two slender figures
outlined there in front of the station
building. and. despite the distance. lie
knew them There was TO him something
typically American and typicaIly West
ern IN these two women coming alone in
70 that vast emptiness and waiting there
IA the utmost caImness. knowing that
they were as safe as II they were in the
heart Of a great city. and perhaps safer.
He knew, too, which was Sylvia: her
manner. her bearing. the poise Of her
figure, had become familiar TO him.
Slender and upright, she was in harmony
with the majesty Of these great and silent
spaces. but she did not now seem bold
and forward 20 him; she was clothed in a
d-ferent atmosphere altogether.
There was a warm greeting for Mr..
Grayson and the hand or fellowship for
the others Harley held Sylvias fingers
In his for a moment-just a moment-and
said with some emphasis:
Our little party has not been the same
without you Miss Morgan
I'm glad 90 hear you say a." she
replied, frankly, "and I'm glad 20 be
back with all Of you. It's a campaign
that / enjoy"
1t can be said for it that it is never
mOnotonous."
That's one reason why 7 ike it."
She laughed a little. making no attempt
20 conceal her pleasure at this renewed
touch with fresh. young life. and. be-
cause II was so obvious. Harley laughed
also and shared her pleasure He noticed.
too, the new charm that she had in ad-
dition 10 the old a softening Of manner,
a slight appeal that she made. without
detracting In any wise from the impress
sion Of strength and self-reliance that
she gave
Where did you leave King Plummer?''
he asked. unguariedly.
In Idaho" she replied, with sudden
gravity. He is well. and / believe that
he Is happy. He is umpiring a great
quarrel between the Cattlemen and the
sheepmen, or. rather. he is compelling
both 10 listen 10 him and 10 agree to a
compromise that he has suggested. So he
Is really enjoying himself You do not
know the delight that he takes in the
handling Of large and rather rough af-
fairs"
i can readily guess it: he seems to
have been made for them"
But she said no more Of King Plum
mer. quickly turning the talk 20 the
campaign, and showing at once that she
mad followed every phase OF IL with the
closest and most anxious attention Mrs
Grayson had walked on a little and was
talking TO her husband but she glanced
back and saw what she had expected.
She and her husband turned presently in
their walk and she said. looking signifi-
cantly at Harley and Miss Morgan:
It is a great pleasure 10 sylvia to
be with your party again.
There wdS such a curious infection to
her voice that the candidate exclaimed.
Why. what do you mean. Anna?" and
she merely replied. oh. nothing" which
meant everything. The candidate, un-
derstanding. looked more attentiveIy, and
his eyes contracted a little, as If he were
not wholly pleased at what he saw.
It's a free world, he said. ''but I am
glad that King Plummer will be with
US again in a few days.
But his wife able TO see further than
he, merely looked thoughtful and did not
reply.
Harley's solitary talk with Miss Morgan
was brief; 1t could not be anything else
under the circumstances; Hobart. with
all sail set. bore down upon them
Come. Come, HarleyT' he cried. with
the perfect frsnkness that usually dis
tnguished him, we don't permit any
selfish monopolists here. We are all cast
away on desert island. so to speak. and
there are lot Of US men and only two
women. one OF whom is mortgaged,r
Then re was welcoming Miss Morgan
in flOrid style; and there, too. was the
ancient beau. Tremaine. displaying all
his little arts Of elegance and despisfng
Hobart's obvious methods; and BlaisdeU.
and all the others, forming q court about
her. and giving her an attention which
could not fail TO please her. and bring
a deeper red to her cheeks and brighter
flash to her eyes. Il seemed TO Mrs.
Grayson. looking on, that the girl had
been hungry fnr sonlnfhtne rrhich -ho