The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-05-17

And I wouldn't insult your intel. |
ligence by saying you are the only
woman that have ever made love to.
making love to q woman and loving
one. have Just found that out for the
FIRST time. I marvel at the past. and
I am ashamed of 1t, but l thank God
that I have been saved for this op-
portunity. ! want to win you. and !
am going to do II. too. In many
things / don't match up with the peo-
pie with whom you train. was born
out here, and I've made myself. There
are things that have happened in the
making that am not especially proud
Of. and am not at all satisfied with
the results. especially since have
met you. The better I know you the
less pleased I am with Jim Arm
strong. but there are possibilities In
me, I rather believe, and with you for
inspiration, God!"-the man flung out
his hand with a fine gesture OF de-
termination. They say that the east
and west don't naturally mingle. but
It's a lie: you and can beat the
world"
The woman thrilled to his gallant
wooing. Any woman would have done
SO; some Of them would have lost
their heads, but Enid Maitland was
an exceedingly cool young person. for
she was not quite swept on her feet.
and did not quite lose her balance.
Il like to hear you say things like
that" she answered. Nobody quite
like you has ever made love to me,
and certainly not In your way. and
that's the reason I have given you a
half way promise to think about It.
was sorry that you could not be
with US on this adventure, but now
am rather glad, especially II the even
temper Of my way Is to be interrupted
by anything like the outburst OF few
minutes since"
II am glad, too" admitted the man
For declare I couldn't help II. II I
have to be with you either you have
| got to be mine or else you would have
to decide that It could never be, and
then I'd 60 OF and fight II out"
Leave me to myself" said the girl
earnestly for little while: It's hes;
so; would not take the finest. noblest
man on earth
And am not that"
Unless loved him. There is some
thing very attractive about your per.
sonality: don't know in my heart
whether It 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. Il am going
back. I'll walt 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
different kind of man he would have
kissed II; as 1t was he took II In his
own hand and almost crushed II with
fierce grip.
Well shake on that. little GIRL" he
said. and then without a 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 a 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
therefore was not definitive or con-
elusive. n 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 a. he rode down the
trail alone.
much greater than hers. She was BY
no means the nrst woman be had
kissed-remember. suspicious reader.
that he was not from Philadelphia
hers were not the nrst 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
age: but surely fate had something
better in store for such superb wom-
an. A girl Of such attachments and
such infinite possibilities. she must
mate higher than with the average
man. Perhaps there was q subcon-
sciousness of this In her mind a. she
silently waited to be overtaken BY the
rest Of the party.
There were curious glances and
strange speculations In that little
company ~ they saw her sitting her
horse alone. A few moments before
James Armstrong had passed them q
. gallop. he had waved his hand O.
he dashed By and had smilsd ct them,
hops giving him . certain assurance.
although his confidence was scarcely
warranted By the fActs.
HIS demeanor Wa not in conscience
with Enid's somewhat grsve aaA spoe