The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-01-15

| declared, you could just see the lights
of Broadway and hear the clack-clack
Of the hansoms rolling by. Seems
strange to think of 1t out here" be
added half beneath his breath.
From where they were sitting they
could see the Texas plains rolling
away to the sky line. shadowy, immu-
table, full of the mystery Of the night.
| The wind blew past them sweet with
the breath of great spaces. The stars
shone very large and bright and clear.
Drusilla's lips parted.
mo, this isn't very much like IT."
she echoed.
Are you gladT' Keith challenged.
81 don't know-yet." she answered
slowly. ITS the first time I've e. er
been on the plain. In fact. It's the
first time that I've ever been away
from the metropolis for sumner re-
sorts full of city people don't count, do
theyT
They do notn' said Keith decidedly
For an instant their eyes met. and
| Drusilla was conscious OF the strength
Of a man who seemed as lmmutable as
the plains themselves. He was above
the average height. bronzed and deep
chested. and his gray eyes had the d.
/ rect, searching gaze Of those accus-
toned to looking at great distances. In
the days that followed 1t was Gordon
Keith who monopolized the greater
share OF her time and thoughts, and II
was with him she talked and tramped
| and rode Oh, those rides-with the
horses feet thudding under her, her
face glowing with the exhilaration and
her hair loosenng and streaming out
like bright pennant!
tits wonderful, isn't it?" she said
breathlessly, refining In, that she might
fasten her rebellious hairpins. Moth.
ing between you and the sky, or" with
a wave of the whip. nothing between
you and the edge OF the world"
Keith turned to her
"Then you are beginning to feel the
call Of it, he said quietly. las hoped
you would. And now can say what
I've been wanting to say ever since l
first met you: VIII you marry me. Dru
slIla?'
She shook her head
I'm sorry" she said softly, "oh, Sc
sorry! 1t would be venal to tell you
how much your friendship has meant
to me-you must have guessed that al.
ready But what you ask is impos.
sIble."
Then you do not--careT
"Carew Her voice wavered on the
word. "Ah, you don't know how near
I've come to loving you and how I've
fought 1t down, for | knew | couldn't
give up what's calling to me from the
city I've left-all the cotIllons and din
ners and teas OF the life love. And
| you once belonged to 1t too. You've
confessed as much. Why" she made
little beseechIng gesture. "why did
you ever give II upY'
Because | was sick Of being pup
pet In evening clothes, because I was
tired to death of the shams and the
tinsel and the falseness, and wanted
to get out where | could breathe deer
and look up to the stars and feel that
/ was a man. Drusilla"-
mo, no." she begged. Don't ask
me, for ! couldn't, l Couldn't"
In silence they rode toward the
shack. The long light of the sunset
glow was across the plains. Bright
clouds were piled In the west Against
the molten sky OF red and gold cow
boy rider loped in picturesque silhou-
cite.
ITS big and free and beautiful"
Drusilla murmured to herself, but it's
not for mev'
A week later she went east, and her
going left great gap In the lives OF
the three men at El Paso. Ned per
haps missed her least of all, for he was
to 80 home In November. Rogers open
Iy mourned her departure.
Don't seem natural" he complained
mot to hear her step about the house
or her songs In the evening"
But Keith. who felt her going most
kept silent, carrying with him a long
ing that would not be satisfied.
Drusilla had given her promise tC
write, yet she was slow In fulfilling II
Even Ned grumbled as day after day
went by and no word came from hei
save a telegram saying she had ar
rived safely and a few picture posta
cards covered with hasty scribblIng
Rogers made excuses for going to the
mail oftener than was really necessary
and his perslstency was at length re
warded, for one day he returned with
three letters In Drusilla's handwriting
His was full OF amusing Incidents
Ned's Of gossip and slsterly affection
but to Keith she wrote:
"You are right after all. / am smoth
cred with conventlonallty and weary
OF riding my prescribed length In tn,
park. It's all such social circus. And
II isn't the call OF the plains that's
drawing me- It's the call OF the heart
Do you hate the metropolis too muct
to come here to marry mel"
"Well," observed Rogers, standing
in the doorway few minutes latel
and watching Keith galloplng into th'
distance. For sheer hustllng tina
beats all I've ever seen. He sure de
serves to catch that train"