The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-02-01
CHAPTER Xll.-continued.

II 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 a
respectable profession and felt that
maybe l could do some good In poll
tics. l 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"
II 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 your"
Vernon laughed at an absurdity that
needed no answering comment, and
then he fastened on:
"Of course, you know think 1t 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.
ment of personal situation.
Il can sympathize with you there"
said Vernon, though Miss Greene had
not admitted the need of sympathy.
Perhaps 1t was Vernon's own need of
sympathy, or his feeling of the need
of 1t, 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 it was IN
meet a woman who understood public
questions as well as she understood
them. And it 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 baffled sense of her
evading him.
I've felt pretty much alone in nv
work. he said. THE women I know
won't talk with me about it: thew
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. He,
gloved hands lay quietly in her Ian.
sne was gazing out over the prairies
The light winds were family stirring
her hair, and the beauty of II ito
warm red tones brought out bv tn.
FURNISHING sun; suddenly overwhelmed
aim. He stirred and his breath cama
hard. ''o
DO you know" he said. In a now
confidence. that this has been a pre.t
day for me? To meet you. and ~
know you as think do know W.,
now! This morning, when wss
speaking, felt that with you to helm
me. could do great things"
Miss Greene drew in her Inns az !,
to compress their fullness; she movad
away on the seat, and raised her hand
uneasily and thrust 1t under her veil ~
put back a tress Of hair that bad
strayed from it's fastening varnon
saw the flush of her white cbaols
come and go. Her eyebrows were
drawn together wistfully and in har
blue eyes. that looked far avav
through the meshes of her dottad r",;
there was little cloud of trouble sha
caught her lip delicately between Tho
EDGES OF her teeth. Vernon leaned
slightly forward as II he would naor
INTO her face. For him the dav bod
grown suddenly hot, the spring had DO
veioped ON the instant the Oppressive
neat OF summer. He felt its fire. no
Souid see its intensity vibrating ~ ,he
ar all about him, and he had q sonae
IS OF all the summers voices dronine
IN unison. The reins dropped from his
nstiess fingers; the horse moned o,ons
as 1t pleased. "'ons
i have always felt it, vaguely v.r
OF Went on. his voice droppine 70