Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-01-01

and her steady brown eyes, that he
found most attractive-most disquiet-
ingly attractive, indeed.
She laughed softly as she saw him
there.
"Deserter.s she taunted. you and
your pose of solitude are getting on
Mrs. Harvey's nerves. I a Q 1t.
Really, I'm beginning 10 believe you
conceited-"
Duncan drew up a chatr. Wont you
sit here for a minute and watch these
mountains with me~ said he. "rm-
Pm He paused.
You're whatT she prompted
Lonely he finished, with such evil
dent sincerity in his voice that the girl
felt a little pang of remorse.
81 presume you find Us stupid said
she, sitting down beside him. after
such a crowded life as yours has been
all this must be very tame"
"Tame?' he said, with sudden earn
estness. Tame? Oh, heavens, mol"
"You give us that impression any
way
do Ir' said he. He leaned forward
In his chair. do you know how l
feel here? Will you respect my secret
If l tell you?"
She nodded.
"Well then, like q fish out of water.
I'm afraid-honestly and actually
afraid. You see, all my life l have
travelled I've been into the out of the
way places of the earth I haven't had
time to cultivate any of the graces of
civilization All in all, Pm a barba-
rian, more or less.
ave looked forward 30 this-to this
coming here to Cousin Mary's and
meeting all these people of your world
more than l a tell you. But 1t has
taught me something about myself.
Much as l wish l fitted In this niche,
I'm impossible. AS q participator in
social functions in the accepted sense
of the term I'm hopeless"
The girl looked at him with a quiet
smile.
"IIl take back that remark about
your conceit and ask your forgiveness
for 1t, too" said she. "Oh, you boyl
You great, big hearted, simple boy.
You envy us in this silly. meaningless
life of ours-you who have been doing
something! 1 wish you might know
how l envy that life of yoursr"
do you mean that really?" he
cried.
at Is worth a thousand lives like
ours"
But l am isolated. 1 am alone. l
have cut myself off from all that 1
really want. 1 want to be like these
other men here. l want to talk to you
as they do-to be as unafraid of you
as they are"
"That? Oh, pooh!" she laughed.
TELL me, when you 60 into an IN
known country what do you do before
you try to travel it-take a guide, don't
your"
Eyes"
"Well, that's what you must do here.
Take a guide. Then I'll vibrant in a
week.in a day-you'n knowVhe ropes
from beginning to end"
"a guide" he repeated nl-Aly,
'Yes, that's 1t. I must take a guide tc
show me into civilization. My work
is done now. I want to live in my
W country; therefore I must have
that guide. I-I-there Is only one ]
want, and | want her for life,' he
stammered, but he looked at her with
10 uncertain light in his eyes. 81 an
presumptuous, l know. 1 am nothing
but a barbarian, as l told you, but per
haps with the guide 1t might be differ.
emit"
He turned suddenly and caught her
hand in his own. "Can l have that
guide?" he asked ~unsteadily.
The girl arose. Her face was scar
let, but her eyes were looking into his
"Your first lesson will be in bridge
he said. Come in and I'll teach
you"
But Duncan caught her in his arms
and held her fast.
Eyes, dear" she murmured. 81 loved
you from the very first, you were so
so unspoiled by what I'm going to
guide you into"