The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-01-24

toned to looking at great distances. In
the days that followed it was Gordon
Keith who monOpoliZed the greater
share of her time and thoughts, and it
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 aud
her hair loosening and streaming cut
like bright pennant!
Its wonderful, isn't it," she said
breathlessly, refining in, that she might
fasten her rebellious hairpins. "Noth-
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, "as hoped
you would. And now l can say what
I've been wanting to say ever since
first met you: Will you marry me, Dru-
silla!"
She shook her head.
I'm sorry" she said softly, "oh, SO
sorry! 1t would be venal to tell you
how much your friendship has Eieant
to me--you must have guessed that al
ready. But what you ask is impos-
sible.''
',rhen you do not-care?''
"Carev' Her voice wavered on the
word. "Ah, you don't know how. near
I've come to loving you and how I've
| fought it down, for l 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 it too. You've
confessed as much. Why,o she made
little beseeching gesture. why did
you ever give it up?'
Because l was sick of. being pup.
pet in evening clothes, because l was
tired to death of the shams and the
tinsel and the falseness, and l wanted
to get out where | could breathe deer
and look up to the stars and feel that
I was a man. Drusilla'-
mo, no." she begged. Don't ash
me, for couldn't, | couldn'tp'
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
ette.
Its big and free and beautiful
Drusilla murmured to herself. "but it.!
not for mer'
A week later she went east, and he
going left a great gap in the lives o
the three men at Ell Paso. Ned per
haps missed her least of all, for he wa
to go home in November. Rogers open
~ mourned her departure.
"Dont seem natural" he complained
mot to hear her step about the hous
or her songs in the evening"
! But Keith, who felt her going mos,
kept silent, carrying with him long
ing that would not be satisfied.
Drusilla had given her promise t
write yet she was slow in fulfilling II
Even Ned grumbled as day after da
went by and no word came from he
save a telegram saying she had al
rived safely and few picture posta
cards covered with hasty scribblinl
Rogers made excuses for going to th
mail oftener than was really necessary
and his persistency was at length r.
warded. for one day he returned wit
three letters in Drusilla's handwritin:
His was full of amusing incident!
Neds of gossip and sisterly affection
but to Keith she wrote:
you are right after ALL am smotl
cred with conventionality and wear
of riding my prescribed length in th
park It's all such a social circus. An
it isn't the call Of the plains that
drawing me. It's the call of the hear
Do you hate the metropolis too muc
to come here to marry mey
WELL" observed Rogers. standin
, in the doorway a few minutes latt
!. and watching Keith galloping into Il
. distance ''For sheer hustling th:
: beats all Eve ever seen. He sure d
, serves to catch that train"