The Springfield herald., 1912-05-10

by anything like the outburpt OF few
minutes since"
II am glad, too" admitted the man.
"For declare couldn't help it. II
have to be with you either you have
got to be mine or else you would have
to decide that 1t could never be. and
then I'd 60 OF and night 1t out"
Leave me to myself" said tho girl
earnestly "for little while; its best
SO; I would not take the hnest. noblest
man on earth"
"And I am not that"
"Unless loved him. There IL some
thing very attractive about your per
sonality; don't know in my heart
whether 1t is that. or"
Good" said the man, as she hest
tated. That's enough" He gathered
up the reins and whirled his horse
suddenly in the road. II am going
back. I'll wait for your return to
Denver, and then-"
That's best" answered the girl.
She stretched out her hand to him,
leaning backward. II he had been q
different kind Of man he would have
Albo00 is oS IL was NO SoOk ~ III uiD
own hanu and almost crushed 1t with
a fierce grip.
We'll shake on that. little GIRL" he
said, and then without backward
glance he put spurs to his horse and
galloped furiously down the road.
No, she decided then and there. she
did not love him. not yet. Whether
she ever would she could not tell. And
yet she was half bound to him. The
recollection of his kiss was not al
together pleasant memory; he had
not done himself any good by that
bold assault upon her modesty, that
reckless attempt to rifle the treasure
of her lips. No man had ever really
touched her heart, although many had
engaged her interest. Her experience
elusive. II she had truly loved James
Armstrong. in spite Of all that she
might have said, she would have
thrilled to the remembrance OF that
wild caress. The chances. therefore,
were somewhat heavily against him
that morning as he rode down the
trail alone.
His experiences In love affairs were
much greater than hers. She was by
no means the first woman he had
kissed-rem member. suspicious reader.
that he was not from Philadelphia
hers were not the frst ears into
which he had poured passionate
protestations. He was neither bet
ter nor worse than most men. perhaps
he fairly enough represented the aver
Pnt hoH
better in store for such superb wom-
an. A girl OF such attainments and
such infinite possibilities. she must
mate higher than with the average
man. Perhaps there was a subcon-
sciousness of this in her mind as she
silently waited to be overtaken by the
rest of the party.
There were curious glances and
strange speculations in that little
company as they saw her sitting her
horse alone. A few moments before
James Armstrong had passed them at
a gallop, he had waved his hand az
he dashed by and had smiled at them.
hope giving him a certain assurance.
although his confidence was scarcely
warranted by the facts.
His demeanor was not in consonance
with Ends somewhat grave and some
what troubled present aspect. She
threw on her preoccupation instantly
and easily, however. and Joined read
lily enough in the merry conversation
of the way.
Mr. Robert Maitland, as Armstrong
has said, had known him from boy.
There were things in his career OF
which Maitland did not and could not
approve, but they were Of the past, he
reflected, and Armstrong was after
all pretty good sort. Mr.. Maitland's
standards were not at all those OF his
Philadelphia brother, but they were
very high. His experiences OF men
had been different; he thought that
Armstrong, having certainly by this
time reached years Of discretion. could
be safely entrusted with the precious
treasure of the young girl who had
been committed to his care. and for
whom his affection grew as his knowi-
edge of and acquaintanceship with her
increased.
AS for Mrs. Maitland and the two
girls and the youngster, they were
Armstrong; devoted friends. They
knew nOluluS ABOUT lib past, luQeeQ
there were things in 1t OF which Matt
land himself was ignorant, and which
had they been known to him might
have caused him to withhold even his |
tentative acquiescence In the possibili- |
ties.
Most of these things were known |
to old Kirkby, who with mastery
skill, amusing nonchalance and amaz-
ing profanity. albeit most Of 1t under
his breath lest he shock the ladies', |
fooled along the four nervous, excited
bronchos that drew the big supply
wagon. Kirkby was Maiuand's Oldest
and most valued friend. He had been
the latter's deputy sheriff, he had
been a cowboy and lumbermau, a
mighty hunter and a successful miner,
and now, although he had acquired a
competence, and had nice
little wife and pleasant home in the
mountain village at the entrance to
the canon. he drove stage for pleas
ure rather than for profit. He had
given over his daily twenty-five mile
jaunt from Morrison to TroutdaIe to
other hands for short space that he
might spend little time with his old
friend and the family who were all
%, hi