The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-01-08


As fowling piece Graded IN his lett
lEs4 "Shall we sit here a moment ana
|AIs # over?" he suggested listlessly
IN blue gaze swept him. His vague
Ie WAS indifferently bland.
"a leare determined not to shoot
n as well stert for Osprey
ge,S she suggested. "Otherwise
IN reason is there for our being here
ether, Mr. SiwardT"
Awaiting his comment, perhaps ex-
ding a counter proposition, she lean
against the tree beside which he
Cd. and after awhile, as his absent
nded preoccupation continued:
no Won think the leaves are dry
hugh to sit Onf'
He slipped off his shooting coat and
hced 1t at the base Of the tree. She
ted herself, and. as he continued to
main standing. she stripped on her
Ooting gloves and glanced up at him
huiringly. We'll, Mr.. Siward, | am
|Ierally at your feet"
which redresses the balance a lit
/" he said, finding place near her.
He sat there, chin propped on his
liked fingers, elbows on knees ana.
ough there was always the hint OF a
80 IN hts pleasant eyes, always the
sdef,nable charm of breeding in voice
N attitude. something now was lack
"a And after a moment she con-
lIrded that 1t was his attention. Ger
|Ainly his wits were woolgathering
gain His eyes, edged with the shad-
- OF a smile, saw Ear beyond her, far
eyond the sunlit shadows where they
d.
In his preoccupation she had found
E|lm negatively attractive. She glanced
a him now from time to time, her
sVes returning always to the beauty or
subdued light where all about. them
Aalver stemmed birches clustered ike
him shining pillars crowned with their
autumn canopy Of crumpled gold.
"Enchantmentv she said under her
breath. surely an enchanted sleeper
lies here somewhere.
Il you" he observed, 'unawakened.
"Asleep? II" She looked around at
MIN. "You are the dreamer here. Your
ives are full of dreaming even now
What is your desire|
He leaned on one arm, watching ner'
She had dropped her ungloved hand,
searching among the newly fallen gold
III the birch leaves drifted into heaps
HOn the third finger jewel gllttereu
He saw II. conscious of its meaning
hut his eyes followed the hand idly
|heaping UP autumn gold-a white slim
hand, smoothly fascinating. Then the
little restless hand swept near to MS
almost touching 1t, and then lnstlnc'
lively he took it in his own curiously
lifting it little to consider It's nearer
loneliness. Perhaps it was the unex
pectedness of it, perhaps It was sheei
amazement, that left her hand lying
idly relaxed like a white petaled dos
som In his.
After a little while the consciousness
of the contact disconnected her. Sht
withdrew her fingers, with an lnvol
untary shiver. .
us there no chance for me. MISS
Landis?"
The very revulsion of self possession
returning chilled her; then anger came
quick and hot: then pride. She denD
Grated, choosing her words cooiiI
enough. what chance do you mean
Mr.. Siward?"
"A fighting chance. Can you give
to me?"
"a fighting chance? For whatT
very low, very dangerous.
"For you"
Then In spite of her her senses be
came unsteady. A sudden ringing con
fusion seemed to deafen her, through
which his voice. a. IL very far away
sounded again:
Men who are worth a fightini
chance ask for It sometimes, but tax
It always. take It."
Her pallor faded under the FOOD O
bright color. The blue Of her eye
darkened ominously to velvet.
"Mr. Siward," she said very ois
tinctly and slowly, 81 am not-evcn-
sorry-for you"
"Then my chance is desperate In
deed" he retorted coOlly.
"Chancel Do you imagine he
anger choked her.
"Are you not little hard" he said
paling under his tan. II suppose wo
men dismissed men more gently-eveI
such a man as | am"
For a full minute she strove to com
prehend.
"Such man as you" she repeated
vaguely. "You mean A crimson wave
dyed her skin TO the temples. and sh'
leaned toward him In horror stricken
contrition. II didn't mean that, Mr.
slward! IL never thought Of that
II had no weight. 1t was not In m!
thoughts. Qeant only that you ha'
assumed what is unwarranted-tha
you - your question Inundated me
knowing that am engaged-knowini
me so llttle-so'-
ayes. | knew everything. Ask your
self why risk everything to say this t
you? There can he only one answer. "
Then, aver a long silence, Have