The Washington herald., 1906-12-30


unless she were removed for a time To
quieter scenes and a less arduous life
they would leave lasting effects. More
over, the campaign was about 20 enter
upon a phase in which women would
prove buTdensome, hence she and Sylvia
were going to Salt Lake City for a stay
of two weeks, and then they would rejOin
the party at some point in the North
west
II was with no counterfeit grief that
they heard this news. The ladies had add
ed brightness and variety to a most toll
some campaign, and their daily travel
would seem very black indeed without
them. Even Churchill was loud in mis- re-
grets. because Churchill had some Of the
instincts Of a gentleman. and he never
failed in what was due to Mrs. Grayson
and Sylvia. But he could not keep from
making one nasty little stab at Harley.
Harley" he said. do you know that
they are going to have very stalwart
escort to Salt Lake,"
Il do not" replied Harley in some
surprise. Il think they are quite able
TO take care Of themselves"
Perhaps they are, but King Plum
.ner Is going with them, nevertheless. At
Ills age Il is we'll for man 10 keep
watch over young girl whom he expects
to marry, or some husky youth may
carry her on
Harley was surprised at the strength Of
his desire to strike Churchill in the face,
and he was also surprised at the fact that
ne resisted it. He accounted for il by his
theory that Churchill could not help be
ms mean at times. and, therefore. was
not wholly responsible. So he contented
himself with saying:
Churchill, you are a fool now and
then. but you never know it.
Then he walked carelessly away before
Churchill had made uD his mind whether
10 get angry or 10 return a sarcastic re-
ply Churchill liked to use sarcasm, as
1t made him feel superior
But Harley was much disturbed by
CnuTchllis statement. Sylvia was going
away. and her stay OF TWO weeks might
lengthen into months OF become perma-
nent And Mr.. Plummer was going with
her. Hariey's own absence would put
him at a great disadvantage. and for a
moment he suspected that this stop at
salt Lake City was an artfuI movement
on the part OF the King" but reflection
made him acquit Mr.. Plummer, first, be
cause the King was too honest 10 do
such thing, and. second, because he was
uot subtle enough 10 think Of it,
DO 10 face this Unforeseen development.
boy from the hotel handed him a note.
Harleys heart jumped when he saw that
1t was in the handwriting OF Sylvia Nor
gan, and it fiuttered still further when she
asked to see him IN the hotel parlor for
a few minutes He was apprehensiVe.
too because If she had anything good 20
tell him she certainly would not send for
him.
Sylvia was sitting IN the parlor beside a
window that looked out upon vast range
/ Of snOw-covered mountains, rising like
/ the serrated teeth Of saw, and, al
though she heard his footsteps. she did
not turn her face until Harley stood be
side her Then she said. irrelevanty:
Isn't that a grand view"
You did not send for me 10 tell ne
I that" said Harley. with a certain pro
/ tecting tenderness in his tone, because
[ what he took 10 be the sadness in heI
/ face appealed to his manly qualities.
NO, I did not. I have been thinking
/ over what we said TO each other wher
/ we were coming back from Crows Wing
/ and ! have concluded that it was wrong
Why was il wrong? I love you, and
I I had the right to tell you so"
NO, YOU did not You would have had
/ were ] free, but I am promised 20 an
/ other I was wrong to let you speak;
/ was wrong TO listen TO you
/ I VIII not admit It," said Harley. dog
/ gedly. because Mr.. Plummer is going e
| give you up. He will see that he ough
not 10 hold you TO this promise"
/ She smiled sadly.
4 must be loyal TO him." she said
/ and before starting for Salt Lake City
/ I want 10 tell you that you must no
I again CunIE of This 9"
But I shall write TO you in Sal
/ Lake"
You must not write Of this II you do
I viii not open another one Of your let
/ ters."
4 promise not to write to you Of love
/ but l make no promise after that. Yol
are not going from salt Lake to Idaho
/ This is not an excuse 10 leave US 70
good?''
Her eyes wavered before his. It ma
be that she had intended TO abandon tn
campaign permanently. but, with nj
1 straight and masteTful glance demandinj
( an honest answer, she could not say H.
Yes. 1 Will come back" she said. an,
then, with a sudden burst Of feeling. "Oh
I like your group; I like all OF you. Thi
great journey has been something fres
and wonderful to me, and I do not wan
/ 10 leave it"
Il thought not" said Harley. with re
turning confidence, "and I am glad tina
you sent for me here. because il Ia
given me a chance to tell you that, Will
/ you mean TO keep your promise, I ais
/ mean TO keep mine. Mr.. Plummer wi
yet yield you up. You are mine, not his
you know you are,'
He bent suddenly and kissed her IlghtI
on the forehead. and every nerve in he
tingled at the first touch of the lips Of tn
man whom she loved. Yet with the sens
OF right. of loyalty to another. stron
within her. she was about to protest. bu
he vyas gone, and the first kiss still tingle,
on her forehead. She felt as IL he ha
put there an invisible seal. and that nov
in very truth she belonged TO him.
/. The two ladies under the escort of MI
Plummer left an hour later for Sal
Lake City. and everybody was at tn
station to see them go. Mrs. Grayso
was quiet as usual. and Sylvia was notice
ably subdued. a fact which most of ther
aSCribed TO the tragedy Of Flying Clou
and her coming absence Of two week
from a most interesting campaign.
You ought to cheer up. Miss Sylvia,
said Hobart because you are not hal
as unlucky as we are. You can spare u
much more easily than we can spar
you"
Il am really sorry that must CO." sh
said, sincerely.
But you win come back to u.s."
Il have promised to do So"
THAT is enough; we know that you wi
keep a promise Miss Sylvia
Sylvia at first would not look at Harley
His kiss still burned upon her brow, an
she yet felt that It was his seal, his claiI
upon her. And her conscience hurt he
for it, because there was king Plum
mer. strong, protecting, and Overf1Owin
with love for her and faith in her. Blu
as she was telling them all good-by, sh
was forced to say IL to Harley, too. I
! his turn. and when he took her hand h