Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-06-04
CHAPTER vlI,-contInued.

81 did not care to lead a useless
life," he said Il wanted to do some
thing-to have some part In the
worlds work. The law seemed to be
respectable profession and felt that
maybe ! could do some good In poll.
tics. I don't think the men OF my
class take as much interest in politics
as they should. And then. I'd like to
make my own living"
81 have to make mine." said Maria
Greene.
But you never thought OF teach
ing. or nursing, or-well-painting or
music. or that sort of thing. did your
NO" she replied: did you?"
Vernon laughed at an absurdity that
needed no answering comment. and
then he FASTENED on:
"Of course. you know I think It fine
that you should have done as you
have. You must have met with dis.
couragements."
She laughed. and Vernon did not
note the bitterness there was con
cealed in the laugh: to him It seemed
intended TO express only that polite
depreciation demanded in the treat.
HtHt Vi u ptEsondl sltudtlou.
Il can sympathize with you there" !"
said Vernon. though Miss Greene had
not admitted the need OF sympathy.
Perhaps II was Vernon's own need OF
sympathy. or his feeling OF the need
OF II. that made him confess that his
own family and friends had never sym
pathized with him. especially with
what he called his work in politics: he
felt. at any rate. that he had struck
the right note at last. and he went on
to assure her how unusual II was to
meet a woman who understood public
questions as well as she understood
them. And II may have been his curl.
osity that led him to inquire:
How did your people feel about
your taking up the law?"
Miss Greene said that she did not
know how her people felt. and Vernon
again had that bafiled sense of her
evading him.
i've felt pretty much alone in my
work." he said. THE women l know
won't talk with me about IT.: they
won't even read the newspapers. And
I've tried SO hard to interest them
in it,"
Vernon sighed. and he waited for
Miss Greene TO sigh with him. He did
not look at her. but he could feel her
presence there close beside him. Her
gloved hands lay quietly in her lap:
she was gazing out over the prairies.
The light winds were family stirring
her hair. and the beauty of 1t. its
warm red tones brought out by the
furnishing sun. suddenly overwhelmed
him. He stirred and his breath came
hard.
DO you know" he said. in a new
confidence. that this has been n great
day for me? To meet you. and to
know you as | think l do know you
now, This morning. when I was
speaking. felt that with you to help
me, | could do great things"
Miss Greene drew In her lips. as II
to compress their fullness; she moved
away on the seat. and raised her hand
uneasily and thrust 1t under her veil to
put back tress of hair that had
strayed from its fastening. Vernon
saw the flush of her white cheeks
come and 20. Her eyebrows were
drawn together wistfully. and in her
blue eyes, that looked far away
through the meshes of her dotted veil,
there was little cloud of trouble. She
caught her lip delicately between the
edges of her teeth. Vernon leaned
slightly forward as II he would peer
into her face. For him the day had
grown suddenly hot, the spring had de.
veloped on the instant the oppressive
heat of summer. He felt its fire: he
could see its intensity vibrating In the
air all about him. and he had a sense
as Of all the summers voices droning
in unison. The reins dropped from his
iistless fingers: the horse moped along
as 1t pleased.
Il have always felt 1t. vaguely" Ver.
non went on. his voice Cropping to a