The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1907-09-28

ne was waiting patiently. The ex-
preston on his face was anxious,
rather than careless. His eyes were
fixed on the girl near him, as though
trying to read the thoughts that were
framing In her mind.
well. Alice. aren't you ever going
to tell me what you think Of lit Is 1t
good.-or bad: or. Is 1t both7 Sus-
pense ia wearing you know. and mans
patience limited ssga fl3. syt.I. r
The photo sets my thoughts to
wandering. Ned, but 1 will reward
your patience and suspense. That
picture is as near perfect As anything
Of Its nature have ever seen. 1t real
ly could not be more hfe-like, and be
lnanimate." lo 17 HHi
She spoke the words slowly and de-
liberately, as though thinking as she
went. The words were all he could
have expected, yet, something in their
tone suggested q vague feeling Of dis
appointment. There was In them, as
though Unconscious Of its presence.
. smothered note Of sadness, and 1t
was this that made the man ask
Does that quite cover it,"
mo. not quite, Ned. It II the pic
ture Of q real man, alive. fearless,
honorable. The jaw IL strong and
nrm; mouth, tender and human; the
nose has the clear-cut lines OF an
Apollo. and the eyes-they are beau
tiful. Their depths are deep. deep.
down. and their ring 10 true. The
high, broad forehead stands out bold
iy in its might Of fulness and intellect.
There is forcefullness. daring, and
withal, q CLEAN Of kindness about the
face. to which one would never appeal
in vain. II Is the face Of 4 man from
whom We should expect big things.
high ideals and q character above re-
proach. have been reading the face
n tho picture. Ned. and It ID all l
sAYs sid. L It snough?"
A glance at the mans face. looking
INTO hers. must have shown her that
{ was indeed enough. With her de-
scription of each feature. the express
sion on the face had frightened, and
when she finished, none could deny.
least Of all herself, that she had said
one word too much. 1t was the face
in the picture. with the additional
rolorfng and beauty Of life.
The words set his heart to pound
Ing. The warm blood mounted to his
brow. and the Joy Of living and breath
Ing brought radiant sparkle TO his
serious gray eyes. Yes. indeed. II
was tho face in the picture. bfaMl.
Alice Hamilton" he said piayf1lly.
Il would never have accused you Of
nattery. Is this your nrst otSense?
Tell me. Alice. do you really think
am the embodiment of what you read
In that face?" 3 q
The quiet seconds hurried onward
At last. raising her eyes. until they
looked straight into his, she said:
mo. Ned. I not only don't think you
are what that picture says you are,
but know you are not"
Perplexity and surprise shut out
every other emotion from his counte-
nance.
How can be 80 different from my
own likeness, Alice? Be serious. won't
your" 9iio1 aouaN ap NV
DO you want me to be honest.
Ned! am afraid II am 1t will hurt,
and you can't stand hurts very well.
Don't ask me to play the surgeon, un-
less you are prepared for the keen
edge of the knife" ..--4,.
y am afraid I shall have to ask you
to perform 1t just the same. What Ia
there about me that makes my photo
graph SO much counterfeit"
well, I will tell you. Ned. It il
another instance where all that gilt
tiers is not gold Instead of the
strength one expects to find. they md.
not weakness. but only a strength for
that which il wrong. A stubborn, obsti-
stinate resistance to any condition or
influence thst shows you gre wrong. l
have S6metimes wondered II there was
ever another. who could manipulate
his conscience SO skillfully as you do.
You can always reason yourself into
making It approve. when II you would
only stop. and listen. you could hear
the inner voice trying to reason you
into recognising the right from the
wrong. You admire lofty ideals. es.
pecially when personi6ed In men, but
tAbt 10 hoS tAS typc VI man YOU bcCA.
No, rather the reverse, and oh, 1t Is
80 easy for you to pat yourself on
the back and say. Well. anyone would
have done It. ! can't make conditions,
and after all. 1t is just as people look
at things You are giant in intel.
lect. You could think great things,
but you could not accomplish them.
Before YOUR thought grew cold Won
would decide 1t would entail too much
bother. You are kind enough, but
even that resolves itself into unkind-
ness. If anyone, appealed to your sym
pathies. womap especially, there is
nothing you would refrain from doing
for her. and there. again you would
lose sight Of that delicate dividing
line. between chivalry and honor. I
know you SO well. Ned. Forgive me