The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-15

nef face buried itself on his breast.
AS he looked down at her thus folded,
the trouble, the sense Of vexing com
plexlty vanished, and the primitive de-
mand reasserted its sway. Presently
he released her, and drew her gently
to seat on the sprawlng oak roots.
wanted to find you, she said.
have so many, many things to say"
1t is all wonderfully strange and
new be said, cit is as though I
had, rubbed Aladdin S lamp, and sud
denly had my hearts desire"
HAh,' she breathed, "am I that7"
More than that, and yet once +
Jessica, Jessica. When I woke this
morning in the cabin down there, it
seemed to me for moment that only
last night was real. and all the past
an ugly dream. How could you have
loved me' And how could l have
thrown my pearl .away9"
'We are not to think of that" she
protested. "never, never any more'
You are right" he rejoined cheer
fully; "it is what is to come that
we must think OFF, He paused an in
slant, then he said:
''Last night, when you told me of
the white house in the aspens. 7 did
not tell you that ] had just come from
there-from Anistou."
She made an exclamation of wonder
Sitting with her hand in his, he told
of that nights experiences. the fear
that had held him as he gazed at her
portrait in the library. the secret of
the Korean desk that had solaced his
misery and sent him back to the father
he was not to see.
At mention of the will she threw
out her hand with a passionate ges-
ture. The money is not mine!' she
cried. cit is yours. He intended to
change it-he told me SO the day he
died, On, if you think l.
"No, no,' he said gently. "There
is no resentment, no false pride in my
love, Jessica. 1 am thinking of you
and of Aniston. You would have me
90 back, would you notS"
She looked up smiling and slowly
shook her head. You are blind
guesser," she said. "Don't you think
| know what is in your mind' Not
Aniston, Hugh. Sometime. but not now
NOT yet. 1t is nearer than thatl"
His eyes flowed into hers. "You
understand Yes, it is here. This is
where | must finish my fight first. Yes.
terday ! would have left Smoky Noun
tain for ever, because you were here.
Now
81 will help you," she said. Gan
the world besides counts nothing IL
only we are together, could live
in cabin here on the mountain al
grow old, and want nothing but that
and you'll She paused, with a happy
laugh, her eye turned away,
a log cabin, but home glor6ed by
her presencel In dozen words she
had sketched a sufficient Paradise. As
he did not answer, she faced him with
erimsoouing cheeks, then reading his
look she suddenly threw her arms about
his neck
''Hugh," she cried, eve bolong to
each other now. There is no one else
to consider, is theref I want to be
to you what / haven't been-to bear
things with you, and help youv
He kissed her eyes and hair. "You
have helped, you do help me, Jessica!''
he urged. ''But I am jealous for your
love. 1t must not be offended The
town of Smoky Mountain must not
sneer-and it would sneer uow"
Let it!'' she exclaimed resentfully.
'' As if would care'
- But | would care he said softly.
81 want to climb little higher first
She was silent moment, her fingers
twisting the fallen leaves. .'You don e
want them to know that l am your
wife2'
r.Not yet-tiIl I can see my way.''
She nodded and smiled and the cloud
lifted from her face. You must know
best, she said. ''This is what I shall
do, then. | shall leave the sanatorium
ing TO me, but the town of Smoky
Mountain is yours, and I must be a
part of it, too. / am going To the
Mountain Valley house. Mrs, Halloran
Will take care of me- She sprang
to her feet as she added: 81 shall 90
to see her about it now -
BE knew the dear desire her determi-
nation masked-to do her part in soft
ening prejudice. in clearing his way
and the thought of her great hearted
ness brought n mist to his eyes. He
rose and walked with her through the
brachen to the road. They came out
to the driveway Just below the trail
that led to the Knob The bank was
high, and leaping first. he held up his
arms to her and lifted her lightly down.
In the instant. as she lay in mis- arms,
be bent and kissed her on the lips.
Neither noted two figures walking to-
2ether that ut that moment rounded the
bend of the road a little way above.
Brent, the latter swinging light suit.
,ase, for he was on his way to the
station of the valley railroad. he had
.hoscn to walk that he might have a
onger chat with his friend Both men
,aw the kiss and iDstinctively drew
1ack. the lawyer with a sudden color
IN his face. the doctor with look of
blank astonishment.
The latter, in ono way, knew little
lbout the town. Beside Fielder and
Mrs, Halloran, whose surly husband he
rad once doctored when the towns
practitioner was away-therebv earning
Ter admiration and gratitude-there
we're few with whom he had more than
uodding acquaintance. He had liked |
David Stircs, and Jessica he genuinely
though he had thought her
1t times somewhat distant. He himself /
lad introduced Fielder to her. on one
# the latter's visits He had not OBJ |
erved that the young lawyers calls |
,ad grown more freduent nor guessed |
hat he had more than once loitered |
IN the mountain trails hoping to meet |
Ter.
The doctor noted now the telltalo !
lush on his companion 3 face.
eve have surprised a romance,' he |
said ms the two unconscious figures |
disappeared down tho curving stretch, |
Who is the mau2'
He is the one we have been talking !