El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-16
By
FRANCIS LYNDE

4Ou uUpeu IL was OHIy young WO
mans fad, which it probably is Gan
try cut in.
yves, I'm afraid that was just
what did hope, Dick But I couldn't
talk against # Confound it all. you
can't go about smashing ideals for the
people you love best!"
It was quite late when Gantry, plead
ing WEAKNESS on the score Of his hard
weeks work at the railroad meeting,
went to bed.
In the long talk with Gantry Blount
had learned many things about the po-
litical situation In his native state
things which were enlightening, If not
particularly encouraging.
Oddly enough, ne had not recognized
in Gantry a skillful special pleader for
the railroad interests; hence he was
preparing to go to the new field with
a rather strong prepossession in favor
Of the defendant corporation. Gantry
had intimated pretty broadly that there
was room for an assistant corporation
counsel for the railroad, with head
quarters in the capital OF his native
state. Blount saw at once that the re-
quirements would be political rather
than legal, and in his minds eye he
saw himself standing firmly as the de-
fender of legitimate business rights in
a region where popular prejudice was
capable Of rising to anarchistic heights
The picture rather pleased him. He
would not have been true descendant
Of the fighting Blounts OF Tennessee If
the prospect of a conflict had been
other than inspiring.
It was after the ashes had been
Knocked from the bedtime pipe that
Blount left his chair and the secluded
corner Of the veranda to go and wan
der among the parked automobiles on
the lawn.
Blount had just awakened a sleepy
chauffeur to ask him to uncover the
engine Of a new Italian car when a
stir at the veranda entrance told him
that at least a few of the dancing
guests were leaving early.
He drew back when the little group
on the veranda came down the steps,
preceded by club footman, who was
calling the number of the car. And it
was not until he was turning away
that he found himself face to face with
a very beautiful and very clear eyed
young woman who was buttoning an
automobile dust coat up under her chin.
'Patriciar' he burst out For PHYS
sake, you don't mean to tell me that
you have been here all the eveningT'
Her quiet smile gave the impression
not. quite Of frigidity perhaps. but Of
that quality of serene self possession
which strangers sometimes mistook for
GOODNESS.
why shouldn't 1 be here" she
asked "Didn't you know that the
Cranfords, the people who are enter
tanning, were old friends of ours?''
Blount shook his head. mo, didn't
know it, and because l didn't 1 have
lost an entire evening. 1t was cruel
Of you to deny me this last evening,
Patricia"
"'This last EVENING"" she echoed.
'Why 1astY"
Because 1 am leaving Boston and
New England Monday. 1t is the only
thing to do"
81 am sorry you are taking it this
way, Evan she deprecated in the sis
terly tone that always made him hot
" resentful cit nurts my sense of
Sometimes think you haven't any
sense of proportion. Patricia" he said
half morosely. IF you have am sure
1t is dreadfully distorted"
A white haired old gentleman in the
tonneau was calling impatiently to Pa
tricia to come and take her place so
that he might close the door.
at is you who have the distorted
perspective. Evan" she countered.
Where are you goingr'
81 am going west day after. tomor.
row."
How oddr' she said. 1--WE are go
ing west, too-papa and Though not
quite so soon as Monday"
you are?' he queried. where
abouts In the west%'
She did not tell him where. The
car motor was whirring, the chauf-
feur was swinging up to his seat be-
hind the pilot wheel. and the old gen.
tleman in the tonneau was growing
quite violently impatient
81 shan't say goodby," she said hasti-
". giving him her hand at parting,
nor shall / tell you where we are go
ing. Let 1t be auf wiedersehen-tin
we meet again"