Mexico Missouri message., 1907-04-25
CHAPTER XVII Continued.

trail. her head down again. 30 that he
was free to pass. But instead OF pass
ing, she became aware that he had
dlsmounted.
When she looked up. he was busily
engaged in adjusting something about
his saddle, with an expression of deep
est concern in his blue eyes. His hat
was on the ground and his yellow
hair glistened where the band had
pressed It about his head.
ITS that latigo strap" he remarked,
in a tone OF some annoyance. I've
had to INK II every FIVE miles since
left Kanab!" Then looking up at her
with a friendly smile: Dandy most
stepped on you, reckon.
The amaZement OF II was that, after
her first furry at the sound OF his
voice and his half.seen movements up
the trail. II should now seem all 30
commonplace.
"oh. no. l was we'll out OF his way"
She started again to cross the trail,
stepping quickly, with her eyes down,
but again his voice came, less DELHI
crate this time. and with words in
something less than Ineligible Sc
quence.
Excuse me, Miss-but-now how
many miles to--whats the name OF
the nearest settlement suppose you
live hereabouts?"
What did you say?"
Il say is there any place where l
could get to stop day or so in ANA
lon?"
"Oh-I didn't understands think
so; at least. my father sometimes
but there's Elder Wardle, he often
takes in travellers"
You say your father"
Not always--I don't know, I'm
sure" she looked doubtful.
"oh, all right! I'll ask him,-if
you'll show me his place"
IT'S the flrst place on the left after
you leave the canyon--with the big
peach orchard-I'm not going home
just yet"
He strcked the muZzle of the horse.
"Oh, I'm in no hurry, I'm just look
ing over the country q little. Your
fathers name is"
ASK for Elder Razor one OF his
wives will say II they can keep you
over night"
She caught something new in his
glance. and felt the blood in her face
II must go now-you can find your
way-I must 60"
We'll, II you must go,"--he picked
up his hat,-"but I'll see you again.
Youth be coming home this evening,
reckon"
s,rpha arst borsa an tha left - ai,a
answered, and Btepped once more
across the trail and into the edge Of
the pines
When she knew he must be gone,
she came out again TO her nook be-
side the stream where. a moment be-
fore. her dream had filed her But
now. though nothing had happened
beyond the riding by of n strange
youth, the dream no longer sufficed.
In plr1e of the moonllt balcony was
the figure OF this young stranger
swaying with his horse down between
the followed shoulders of the Pine
mountains and refining up suddenly to
sweep his broad hat low in front OF
her She was surprised by the clearness
with which she could recall the de-
tails OF his appearance,-a boyish-look.
ing fellow. with wide-open blue eyes
and n sunbrowned face under his vel
low hair, the smallest OF moustaches.
and a smile OF such winning good
humor that Il had seemed to force her
own lips apart in answer.
The picture of him stayed in her
mind, the sturdy young figure.-rather
49,. h..k "a
of movement.-and the engaging nat
uralness OF his manner. But after all
nothing had happened save the pass
ing Of a stranger. and she must go
alone back to her dream. Yet now the
dream might change; n strange youth
might come riding out Of the east, sit
ting a sorrel horse with a star and q
white hind ankle, long rangy neck
and strong quarters; and he-the
youth--would wear a broad. gray
hat, with a band Of silver filigree. a
scarlet kerchiet ut his throat. scarlet
sash at his wslst, and yellow dogskin
Chaps"
still, she thought, he could hardly
have a place In the dream. The real
youth OF the dream had been of an
unearthly beauty. with q rose-leaf com
plexion and lustrous curls massed
above brow Of marble. The stranger
had not been OF an unearthly beauty
To be sure, he was very good to look
at. with his wide-open blue eyes and
his yellow hair. and ne had appeared
uncommonly fresh and clean about
the mouth when be smiled at her
But she could not picture him slghing
the right words OF love under a bal
cony Ia the moonlight He had looked
10 be too intensely business-llke.