Middletown transcript., 1912-03-09
CHAPTER II.

The Game Played In the Usual Way
The road on which they advanced
into the mountains was well made
and well kept up. The canon through
the foothills was not very deep-for
Colorado-and the ascent was gentle.
Naturally It wound in every direction
following the devious course Of the
river, which 1t frequently crossed from
one side to ths other on rude log
bridges. A brisk galIop OF half a mile
or 30 en- a convenient stretch Of COM
paratiVely level gcing put the two in
the lead far ahead Of the numbering
wagon and out of sight OF those others
| CT tho party who had elected to go a
horseback. There was perhaps a tacit
agreement among the latter not to
break in upon this growing friendship,
or, more frankly, not to interfere in a
developing love affair.
The cancn bro2dened here and
there at long intervals and ranch
houses were found in every clearing,
but these were few and far between
and for the most part Armstrong and
Enid Maitland rode practically alone
save for the passage of an occasional
lumber wagon.
"You can't think" began the man,
as they drew rein after splendid
gallop and the somewhat tired horses
readily subsided into a walk, how
hate to go back and leave you"
"And you can't think how loath am
to have you return" the girl flashed
out at him with a sidelong glance from
her bright blue eyes and witching
smile from her scarlet lips.
ENID Maitland" said the man,
you know l just worship you. I'd
like to sweep you out of your saddle,
lift you to the bow of mine and ride
away with you. can't keep my hands
OF you, L"
Before she realized what he would
be about he swerVed his horse toward
her, his arm went around her sud-
denly. Taken completely of her guard
she could make no resistance, indeed
she scarcely knew what to expect un-
til he crushed her to him and kissed
her, almost roughly, full on the lips.
How dare yOu," cried the girl, her
face afame, freeing herself at last,
and swinging her own horse almost to-
the edge of the road which here ran
on an excavation some fifty feet above
the river.
How dare II" laughed the auda-
cious man, apparently no whit
abashed by her indignation. when 1
think Of my opportunity am amazed
& ct my my moderation" !"
Your opportunity; your moders.
tiOn?"
YES, when had you helpless
took but one kiss; l might have held
you longer and taken a hundred"
"And by what right did you take
that one?" haughtily demanded the
outraged young woman, looking at
him beneath level brows while the
color slowly receded from her face.
She had never been kissed by a man
other than a blood relation in her
life-remember, suspicious reader,
that she was from Philadelphia,-and
she resented this sudden and unau-
thorized caress with every atom and
instinct Of her still somewhat conven-
tional being.
But aren't you half way engaged to
me?" he pleaded in justification, see
ing the unwonted seriousness with
which she had received his impudent
advance. Didn't you agree to give
me a chance?"
81 did say that I liked you very
much" she admitted, mo man better,
and that thought that you might"
We'll, then" he began.
But she would not be interrupted.
II did not mean that you should en-.
Joy all the privileges Of a conquest be-
fore you had won me. 1 will thank
you not to do that again, sir
ut seems to have had a very diff
rerent effect upon you than it does
upon me-" replied the man coolly. Il
loved you before, but now, since l
have kissed you, worship you"
1T hasn't affected me that way" re-
torted the girl promptly, her face still
frowning and indignant. Not at all,
and"
Forgive me, Enid" pleaded the
other. Il just couldn't help it. You
were so beautiful had to. / took the
chance. You are not accustomed to
our ways"
'Ts this your habit in your love af-
fairs?" asked the girl swiftly and not
without a spice Of feminine malice.
81 never had any love AFFAIR be-
FORE" he replied with a ready mascu-
line mendacity, "at least none worth
mentioning. But you see this is the
west; we have gained what We have
by demanding every inch that nature
offers, and then claiming the all.
That's the way we play the game out
here and that's the way We win"
But have not yet learned to play
the game as you call it, by any such
rules" returned the young woman de-
terminedly, ''and 1t is not the way to
win me If am the stake"
What is the way?" asked the man
anxiously. SHOW me and I'll take it
no matter what its difficulty"
"Ah, for me to point out the. way
would be to play traitor to myself"
she answered, relenting and relaxing
a little before his devoted wooing.
you must find it without assistance.
I can only tell you one thing"
And what is that?"
'You do not advance toward the
goal by such actions as those Of
moment since"
Look here" said the other sudden
ly. Il am not ashamed of what did,
and I'm not going to pretend that I
am, either"
"You ought to be-" severely.
well, maybe so, but I'm not; I
couldn't help it any more than l could
help loving you the minute saw you.
Put yourself in my place."
Bat am not in your place, and
can't put myself there. 1 do not wish
to. II it be true, as you say, that you
have grown tO-care so much for me
and SO quickly"
IF 1t be true?" came the sharp in.
terruption as the man bent toward