The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-31


 a case of dare, but of want. Do you want?"
 She had arisen and was now sway ing as if in a dream. It flashed into her mind to wonder if it were hypno- tism.
 She wanted to glance about her at the familiar objects of the room in order to identify herself with reality, but she could not take her eyes from his. Nor did she speak.
 He had stepped beside her. His hand was on her arm, and she leaned toward him involuntarily.
 It was all part of the dream, and it was no longer hers to question any. thing. It was the great dare.
 He was right. She could dare what she wanted, and she did want. He was helping her into her jacket She was thrusting the hat pins through her hair.
 And even as she realized it, she found herself walking beside him through the opened door.
 The Flight of the Duchess and e@The Statue and the Bust darted through her mind. Then she renem- bered "Waring.''
 !" What's become of waring?' she muFmured. < Land travel or sea faring?' :. he murmured back.
 And to her this kindred sufficient note was a vindication of her mad ness.
 At the entrance of the building he raised his hand to call a taxi, but was stopped by her touch on his arm
 Where are we going?" she breathed- ITO the ferry. We've just time to catch that Sacramento train.'
 "But I can't go this way" she pro tested. "I-I haven't even a change of handke erchiefs.''
 He held up his hand again before replying.
 ssYou can shop in Sacramento. Wen get married there and catch the night overland north. I'll arrange every thing by telegraph from the train
 As the cab drew to the curb she looked quickly about her at the famfl- far street and . the familiar throng, then, with almost furry of alarm, into Glendon's face
 -I don't know thing about you" she said
 eve know everything about each other," was his answer.
 She felt the support and urge of his arms and lifted her foot to the step.
 The next moment the door had closed, he was beside her and the cab was heading down Market street.
 He passed his arm around her, drew her close and kissed her When next she glimpsed his face she was cer- tain that it was dyed with a faint blush.
 sHPve heard there was an art in kissing. 2 he stammereG. .I don't know anything about it myself. but I'll learn. You see, you're the first wo- man I ever kissed" :"
 CHAPTER x. rATHERE a jagged peak of rock | Af thrust above the vast vir- 1 gin forest reclined. man
 and woman. Beneath them, on the edge of the trees. were tethered two horses. Behind each saddle were a pair Of small saddle bags
 The trees were monotonously huge. ! Towering hundreds of feet into the air, they ran from eight to ten and twelve feet in diameter. Many were much larger.
 All morning they had toiled up the divide through this unbroken forest l and this peak of rock had been the first spot where they could get out of the forest in order to see the forest.
 Beneath them and away. far as 1 they could see, lay range upon range of haze empurpled mountains. There WAS no end to these ranges. They rose one behind another to the dim distant skyline, where they faded away with a vague promise of unend ing extension beyond.
 There were no cIearings in the for est North, south, east and west, un touched, unbroken, 1t covered the land with its mighty growth. l They lay, feasting their eyes on thu sight. her hand clasped in one of his for this was their honeymoon, ana these were the redweods of Mendo : cino.
 Across from Shasta they had come with horses and saddlebags, ant down through the wilds of the coas Fl cept to continue until some othe plan entered their heads.
 They were roughly dressed-sae Il travel stained khaki, he in oyerall and woollen shirt. The latter wa open at the sunburned neck, and il his hugeness he seemed fit dwelle among the forest giants, while fo her, as dweller with him, thers were no signs of aught else but hap piness.
 well, Big Man.. she said, proppin, herself up on an elbow to gaze at him cit is more wonderful than you prom ised And we are going through 1 together
 'sAnd there's lot of the rest of tn world we'll go through together, b answered, shifting his position so a to get her hand in both of his.
 "But not till we've finished witt I this,'' she urged "I seem never t grow tired of the big woods-and o you.''
 He slid efortlessIy into a sittin posture and gathered her into his arms
 "Oh, you 1over!'' she whispered |