Evening journal., 1907-04-22

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The country road was strange to both
OF them. They were almost strange to
each other, their acquaintance being
week old. the result Of boarding in the
aame farmhouse.
That looks like a nice wood 10 stroll
through" He pointed to the thick
grove OF hickorles and gum trees, their
leaves tinted by the first frost. 1--WE
will set over that stlle."
"Will we?" There was amusement
in her voice and an intense enjoyment
Of living In her expression. She
breathed the mountain air, tho vivid
autumn colorlng reflected In the glow OF
her face. "The dominant idea Of ones
impression Of you is that you seem to
know what you want TO do and take
the shortest line TO IT, Your manners
do fairly well for westerner, but our
southern men would have said, Miss
Ledleigh would you like to stroll
through the grover"
He flushed slightly and knocked a
stone from tho path with n dogwood
( stick he had cut at the foot OF tho hill.
Il told you don't know how 70 talk
to women or how TO be nice OF
courteous. haven't q bit OF polish"
ruefully. "but you shouldn't expect
much OF a man who has spent most OF
his time on a ranch. have been east
only three months. 1 warned you at
first"
She looked at the six feet of Pascu-
Unity speculatlvely.
Don't apologize, for heavens sake
she said quickly I'm this day and
generation it's refreshing to meet
man who knows his mind. am going
70 enjoy this grove just as much as
you are. The fact that l didn't have
to think It up Is the incest part about
It."
'T've been planning details for my
self and others ever since Joined the
crowd Of breadwinners. I've had to
plan. scheme and dovetail until 1t
makes me tired TO have a waiter hand
me a bill OF fare and ask me what I'll
have. could enjoy anything that
was set before me Unexpectedly. 1
wouldn't even balk at chop suey,"
with a little laugh that had the first
touch Of bitterness he had noticed In
her
He helped her over the stlle in the
manner OF n big man who knows little
Of women and who reverences them to
the extent Of being afraid of offending
them by too great familiarity. She
knew in her heart that she could have
climbed the stile more easily by her.
self than with the uncertain aid he
gave her hut her mind grasped the
cause OF his uncertainty, and his clean
wholesomeness was as pleasant as the
breeze from the mountain.
The yellow leaves from the hickory
trees rustled beneath their feet as the!
went into the woods. They dragged
their feet elumsily. furrowing thu
' leaves into heaps.
"Beats town all hollow, doesn't itT
He stopped to thrust a bunch Of Grim
son berries in the band of her white
felt hat "How long have you been III
Office as the government clerk put,
itT"
ages, centuries, world without end
TO put 1t in numbers. seven years
I'm afraid I'll not be able to keep my
position much longer" dolefully.
There was a CLEAN Of interest In his
eyes. whats the matterf" he asked
briefly.
II don't know exactly" with a pre-
tense Of Indifference. EITHER the mo
notony Of it will drive me crazy or th,
continual copy will get on my nerves
until I'll throw an ink bottle at tbs
chief some day and be discharged FOL
disorderly conduct"
2 He laughed at her petulance. 90
would never dream that you we're az
fiicted with nerves. You make a jokI
Of life and enjoy everything like al
overgrown child. You are the essenc'
. Of youthfulness, yet you must be thir
". aren't your He gave her a frank
" critical look.
! She selected a comfortable looking
) log and sat down on it in lazy nban
) don.
= 20 man, man, do they teach you on
in the wild and woolly west that 4
e ask womans age is an unpardonabl
sinT
: He was filling her lap with masse
Of purple flowers that grew waist dee
around them.
"No, the west is not artificial Ma
ture Is the teacher. We learn to ad
mlre, but perhaps express even our ad
miratlon clumsIly"
Her eyes spnrkled with appreciation
''That was a well turned compliment
Z I'm convinced that you are a diamond
e in the rough. II you were not golnl
away tomorrow, l might polish you u
b considerably"
I'm sure you could do a great dea
in that line" He sat down beside he
and took a cigar from his pocket. "Yol
have already done a great deal. Hon
estly. you've done more for me than
thought could be done. You've mad
e me feel a touch Of boyishness. wa
. recovering from an attack Of feve
when l came here. had lost my gril
Of things. School might keep or b
{ hanged. II was all the same to me-"
Il understand I've had the feelinl
J often. You had reached a point whel
I your query was What's the user ant
your answer was Nothing matters
you've hit IL exactly-bullseyew II
. pulled his cigar and thought how we
she harmonized with the scene-the re
j, Of the gum trees, the carpet Of yelloV
! hickory leaves, the purple and whit
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