Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-09


able literary material. do you know what you
remind Off"
The tapping hat held on by a head-string, cow
boy fashion, slipped to her shoulders when she
shook her head
ut is of something that you have probably never
heard ola figure in one of the Sirius bronzes
lessly, with a smile to match
"A collection of Greek antiquities; the best ex-
amp1es of their metal work that have come down
When he had thanked her he ventured to
introduce himself and not hattered when his
name evoked no fash of recognition in the gray
eyes Clearly, this sweet young savage did not
Hugo Vandenberg,'" she echoed That is
what Pete would call a highfautin name. You
don't look it the least little bit"
The open-eyed lapse into personalities took him
aback, but before he could reply she was smiling
up at him ingenuously.
II guess I didn't mean just that, either" she
amended quickly. But it sounds more like made
name: like a you'd expect to find in the story
Pao% Her Lost Lover BY hugo ''"oSn0s's you
He plunged deep into the smiling eyes at that but
there was no hint OF guile IN them and he took
comfort in the thought that it was no more than
random shot.
you haven't told me your name yet" he said
going from defense to attack.
Haven't 1? They call me the little I'M at the
RANCH but l suppose I'll have to give you my-my
store name. How would Madge do?-Madge Bus
hong"
At this he was sure she was laughing at him, but
as before the guieless eyes disarmed suspicion.
81 don't like it.. he said, retaliatng for her frank
ness; 1T doesn't fit you | shall translate it into
French and call you Marguerite If I come to the
ranch will you teach me how to break cayuses and
TO rope down and cut out'"
Maybe But you can't come, you see"
"Why can't II"
"Because"-she was poised on the foot-log, ready
for flight instantaneous because it's on the other
side of the creek, and you can't cross alone"
She was gone at the word, across and a-horse and
away; and Vandenberg had only the memory of
l-sT,rr frl fprh ar 1ao- -tor ff1y
He figured it all out to his satisfaction that
evening sitting out the sunset hour the porch of
the hotel and smoking his after-supper cigar in
Elective deliberation.
AS to the better acquaintance, that was a mere
matter of detail; and he went about the prelim
naries the next morning, making guarded inquiries
of the hotel clerk There were several ranches near
name would be "Pete" With Pete for a starting
point, Vandenberg felt his way cautiously into tho
particulars. The ranch in question the "X-bar-
X" and its menage consisted of old Eliphalet Win
tiers, its owner; his wife, and small family of cow
punchers.
Vandenberg marvelled that there was no mention
of the young woman, but much too wary to be-
tray the source of his curiosity Could the inn
stables furnish forth horse gentle enough for
sick to ride? And was the trail to the X-bar-
x practicable for a rider with a complicated case
With affirmative assurances both heads Van
denberg set out on his voyage of discovery. An
hours ambing along the mountain boundary of the
Park brought him to the door of the isolated ranch
house; and it the grizzled Eliphalet himself
who bade him dismount ito rest his face and hands,,
and who fetched him the drink of water which
his excuse for the call Also the young
there and since she promptly took up the thread Of
acquaintance at its day-before dropping, his well
assured
Though he taxed his ingenuity in setting traps to
draw her out the young woman herself would give
was heartily at with her encompassments
that Nandenberg could 60 back securely to his first
mpression-the daughter of the wilderness" inn
preston. But at other times she led him into the
doubt, c
ing his first visit to the art of the Louvre,
she hung upon his words with lips parted and the
gray eyes alight giving him such thrilling glimpse
OF unsupported intensenesses in her that he went
near TO forgetting what he wa stalking about.
/ nat was on one OF their gaH0ps in the Park, and
before the midsummer madness had demanded to be
reckoned with. For after the reckoning there were
no more thrills OF wonderment; there only the
conviction that life without some daily communion
with this sweethearted girl would be scarcely worth
living
put in a miserable fortnight. When a man has
passed unscathed beyond his third decade he may
love with all the might of maturity, but he no
longer be the fatuous lover of the early twenties.
reckless of consequences and the willing thral1 of
desire.
Vandenberg of inbred stock, and one of his
smatngs Of the kind u that ask for miracle Of
blending to make some sort of living compound
out OF two persons hopelessly dissimilar in their
upbrlng1ng. Try as he would. he could not help
foreseeing the probable consequences of transplant
ing this wild flower of the solitudes from the
tam ranch to his own particular social garden in
Boston. He had other try it, and always
with failure to mark the grave of the buried ideal.
In most cases the wild flower had developed into
a most unbeautifu hybrid unoved of all; in few
it had dropped and wthered and died
1t was little curious that in all his boxing of
the conventional compass he thought much of the
consequences and little or nothing of any uncer-
tanty of winning her. There is love so besotted
as that of maturity; and the possibility of her refus
ing him never suggested itself. But of this, of
other things, he presently to learn more.
1t was after he had given up all hope of making
literary copy" of her that the incident occurred
been wrecked beyond ali salvage The incident
turned upon curious happening in Lame Horse
Canon. As it CHANGED the in the higher
gulches melted late that year, and afternoon.
when Vandenberg reached the ranch at the portal
gorge, the bed of the canon torrent was as dry as
arroyo
Madge met him at the corral bars as had come to
be her custom, and after the greetings pointed to
the dry stream-bed
IF you want drink to-day, you'll have to climb
IL - she sad and than Ii I'D tl,o