The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-12
I LOVERS LEAP
BY Porter Emerson .@owuo *

EFF to herself that afternoon she had taken 4
novel and had wandered over the stony ground
with Its clumPs OF spruce and pnc its ragged
cdgcS and huge bouldcrs, the deep narrow ravine
OF Lovers Leap And there ullcd by the soft voices
oi the forest, she had lain upon thick carpet of
pine needles until the setting rested even upon
the bare hills
AT length however, ,he rose to her feet and picked
up the book at her side AS she did so there dropped
from between its leaves lctter-or rather part of
letter Tor the hrst pages missing. STOPPING she
picked it up from its rcstng-pl and was about to
replace between the pages of the book when her own
caught her eye
Unconseousy, and quite naturally, she glanced at the
words that preceded and followed
tho way in which Barbara Ladd has treated Bob
Remington, feel that have no great desire TO meet
her Women who will torture man for the pleasure of
watching him squirm and open his soul lust to sec what
lies therein child looks at the works of watch do
not appeal TO me But other matters will bring me- and
if will Inconvenience you put me next to some one
else at dinner will to the ordeal of sitting bv
her. But do not hold it forth as an induccmcnt
Sincerely yours,
"GoRDoN STEELE"
There was postscript but she did not read it. for
she had awakened suddenly to the fact that the letter
was intended for other eyes than hers; and bright
flush flashed quickly the delicate wlitcncss of her
check She replaced the letter between the leaves of the
book and with flashing eyes and urging heart turned
retracc her steps to the Lodge
She met Steele at dinner that night He bent his head
in conventional acknowledgment of their introduction
and seated himself beside her at the table And
throughout the meal. they chacd calmly facilely upon
trivales and commonplace, each yelling true feelings
each buryiDg under flood of conversational nothings
that about which each would have liked to speak
For he gazcd at the proudly poised head, with its
wealth of goldcnbrown hair, the dark honest eyes and
the sensitive mouth he somehow or other found it diff
Gcut to believe that which his cold judgment had told
nni was So AND IN ncT, the temptation TO tell him what
she knew and what she thought grcat-vcry great
At housc-party which includes married couple
and engaged couples, would that remaining
guests must pcrforcc, make up their minds to be much
in each others company But somehow other, Steele
found himself balcd in every attempt to bring about
tetc-a-tee with this girl who had become to him
,l,z,np For unde CAV rail-
lcry of her wit he continually caught glimpscs of
tender seriousness keen of fair play and quick
sympathy. He felt confoundcd, puzzled, by these i'll
consstcnoics between the woman he had made up his
mind to dislike and the woman he was finding
charming. -
Her ccvcrncss in keeping up friendly attitude
toward him i'll the presence of the others and yet cvad
ing situations in which they would be left alone to-
gcthcr aroused his admiration BY the end of the third
day Steele found himself thinking of very little else
except possible and impossible for her evident
antipathy toward him.
Then 10 his surprise, the following afternoon, when
their hostess suggested for them horseback to the
Fes she acqucsccd gracefully; and lie, too fell i'll at
once witt1he plan, assuring himself that here
excellent opportunity to study her. AS they cantered
down the woodland avenue, Steele rened in his huge
black and rode slightly in the The girl was
mounted on beautiful ccan-lnbed chestnut that with
arching neck danced dantiy down the drive. With
head held proudly apd checks flushed She sat erect upon
her mount her 1.-the body wayng with every movement
Of the animal beneath her.
AT last she rcincd the to walk and waited Tor
him to come TO her side AS lie drew his horse in beside
her she turned her flushed face to him.
"I have two things tell you" she ssid frankly even
buntly.