Graham guardian., 1908-01-03
CHIFFON AND
EHOMESPUN
By FANNIE HEASLIP LEA


house and paused briefly at the steps,
buttoning her dogskln gloves. The
keen, bright cold of the November
morning brought the blood to her
cheeks and an awakening sparkle to
her cool gray eyes. She fastened the
gloves with a final tug and ran down
the path to where a man and two
horses stood, just beyond the gate.
He helped her mount with no word
beyond a brief Ready" and an ap-
proving smile, then swung himself into
the saddle and followed her over the
crest of the hill on which the red farm.
house stood.
you lead the way" he called after
her Il am a stranger in a strange
sand"
'"This way" said Janet. Il want you
TO see the view from Briersons hill.
It's about the best in this part of the
country, I think"
"Better than this?' asked the man
audaciously, his eyes on her clear cut
profile
"The background is better" said ia
net coolly.
The mountains rose blue and misty
in the distance as they rode on. Around
them the red Of the sumac blazed wild.
ly, and on the sloping sides of the
foothills through which they passed
great gashes in the red clay suggested,
strangely, open wounds.
'It's fine country" said Burke,
with conscious banality.
Janet flung him look that startled
him, it was so far outside her usual
cool self mastery.
'It's Gods country" she said ex,
ultantly "Oh, l could ride forever! Sec
the haze, like smoke, ON those noun
tains and the leaves afire Oh the hills.
There's rabbit. See him jump across
the road. And look-yonder's an aster
l thought its time was over. Isn't
that wind good on your face? Oh,
love it all, every bit of itr'
II see you do" said Burke slowly.
''Well, why shouldn't II" she de,
manded. Doesn't it make you feel
F4pa life? I've a different soul up
ksfer
81 see you have" said the man. "I'm
trying to fit that soul to the Janet /
know in town, the Janet who sat for
my Lady In Gray the Janet of trail.
inu phiffnnc and mini nnH ThSnn
matinees. Why, you've different look
in your eyes now. You're warmer, less
aloof, less certain of yourself. What
is it?"
Don't" said the girl, with a pro,
testing smile. 81 won't be dissected.
asked you down to spend Thanksgiv-
ing with me-not to cut up my soul
with your little hatchet"
"And l came to spend Thanksgiving
with you," retorted Burke, mot with q
strange woman who has your eyes and
your hair and your face-you that
know. How did you happen to leave
hereT" he asked, with the unembarrass.
ed frankness of intimacy. ~
'I don't know" said Janet doubtful
ly. at just happened. Aunt Jane'took
a fancy to me while l was off at col.
lege, and when l graduated she offered
to bring me out in town. Mother nev.
er objected to anything l wanted, and
well, l was daZzled with the idea of
town-society, dances, men. Any girl
would be, so went to Aunt Jane" she
l,,;, tI,A af a
story Of my life now, bar few de-
tails"
"Men? asked Burke.
"Look out for that bridge; It's bad
Yes-men," said Janet.
"Of whom l am one" he finished.
She nodded inscrutably.
"Well, l don't want to be one" he
protested, "unless you preface it with
the in italics"
Don't you?"
mo- he repeated firmly, 81 don't.
See here, Janet-how long have known
you?"
"a year and half" said the girl re.
fectively.
"And in the course of that time
have twice asked you to marry me,
haven't II"
81 seem to remember something Of
the sort" she answered, with a flicker
ing smile that somehow sheathed the
sneer.
Didn't you know when you asked
me here that I'd do it again? Didn't
you know that | couldn't see you in a
new phase and not lose my grip on my
self? All, Janet, you must have known,
and if you, knowing, let me come it
must have been because you meant to
say He broke off and struck saw
agely with his whip at the leaves above
his head.
Meant to say what" suggested the
girl whimsically-"thew word that would
hobble my life forever, that would mar.
row my horizon and weed out my eX-
lstence to one thought, one aim, one
end? Is that what meant to sayW
'If you like to put it so, that is It,"
said the man sullenly. "You know the
truth is''--
They rode in silence for little while.
Il could make you happy" said the
man at last.
"Could you, Alec? Pm not so sure OF
that" Janet pushed an escaping hair
pin back and after a moment faced
him proudly. 'I'm not playing fair
with you," she said. ~ did know you'd
ask me this again, and l made up my
mind Td"- A shabby buggy creaked
past them. In their absorption they
had ridden upon it without knowing
jhnet nodded q bright Good morn.
ingw to the country people within.
"Well," said Burke confidently wher
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