The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-05-28
TO desire.

Bnlv Fleetwood.
ligence, of wholesome desire and sane
curiosity-the intellectual restlessnesS
| the capacity for passion, the renais-
s.ncS Of the siunlaS inD0csnc3-had
| subsidized into the latssez ralre or duIl
quiescence.
Riding there, head bent, her pulses
timing the slow pacing of her horse,
she presently became aware, without
looking up, that Quarter was watching
her. She moved slightly in her saddle
to look at him and for an instant fan
cied that there was something furtive
in his eyes. Only for an instant, for
he quietly picked up the thread of con-
versation where she had dropped it,
saying that it had been raining for the
last ten minutes and that they might
as well turn their horses toward shell
ter.
Without reason, through and through
her shot a shiver of loneliness-utter
loneliness and isolation. Without rea-
son. because from him she expected
nothing, required nothing, except what
he offered-the emOtionless reticence
Of Indifference, the composure of per
feet formaiity. What dfd abe want,
then = companions? She had them.
Friends? She could scarcely escape
from them. Intimates? She had only
to choose one or a hundred attuned
responsive to her every mood, every
caprice. Lonely? With the men Of
New York crowding, shouIdering,
crushing their way to her feet? Lone
Iy? With the women of New York
struggling already for precedence In
her favor?-omen significant of the
DAYS to &C re. of those future years
diamond linked In one unbroken. tri-
umphant glitter.
"About that Amalgamated Electric |
company" she began without prelude
'Would you mind answering a ques !
ton or two. Howard?"
"You could not understand it." he !
said. unpleasantly disturbed by her |
abruptness.
GAS you please. 1t is quite true
can make nothing of what the newspa-
pers are saying about 1t, except that |
Mr. Plank seems to be doing number
Of things"
"Iniunctions and other matters" OBJ
served Quarter.
'Is anybody going to lose any money
In it?"
"Who, for example?"
"why-yoA for example" she said
laughing.
81 don't expect to-"
"Then It Is going to turn out all
right? And Mr.. Plank and Kemp Fer
rail- and the major and-the other peo-
pie interested are not going to be al
most ruined by the Intercounty peo-
ple?"
"Do you think a man like Plank is
likely TO be ruined. as you say, by
Amalgamated ElectricT'
mo. But Kemp and the major
81 think the major is out of danger,
replied Quarter, looking at her with
the new. suilen narrowing of his eyes.
az am glad OF that, Is Kemp-and
the others!
"FerraIl C0ulu Stdnu IL IL ho'oOi' -
wrong wat Othersy
"Why-the other owners and stock I
holders a.. I
"What others? Who do you meang
..Mr siward, for example" she SAID !
In nm even voice, leaning over to pat
her horses neck with her gloved hand
"Mr Slward must take the chances |
NO All take" observed Quarter {
"Rut Howard, 1t would really meah
min for him II matters went badly
lt?"
az am not familiar with the details
=, Mr. siward's investments"
"Nor am l." she said slowly.
she smoke about other things ne
.osnonded in his impassive manner.
she turned her horse ana /
onarr,er wheeled his, facing warn''
a.. rain slanting thickly from me
south -, os oil wat 7
-,th tho moisture. she noticed It, ana :
MI "nhidden arose the vision OF the gun )
-, ar shotover - Quarters soit !