The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-24
The Euenir,g Story
A Summer Rose.
(By Geraldine Summer. }

when the express pulled In at Rick
ards Junction. They always plunged
a little and a word-from him would
quiet them.
So it happened he did not see Rose
Ashley until she came close to him.
"Clif, I'm so glad to be back" She
threw one arm around his neck and
kissed him impulsively. Did I SUR
prise your"
clifford's eyes twinkled with hu-
NOR. He looked past her to the ex-
press agent and the ticket seller.
They were both too busy to notice her
arrival.
II didn't know it was you that was
coming" he returned.
You're not very cordial" She
held her long silk cloak about. her,
waiting to be helped up into the SUR
rey, but Clifford was soothing the un-
easy bays and did not leave them un-
til the train had gone. He swung up
beside her, his mouth shut a bit firm
er than usual.
IT asked your mother not to tell
you I was coming" she said present
ly, as they left the village and long
bridge behind. Ahead lay the ascend
ing road up into the very heart OF the
hill country. She loved these great
shadowy foothills. In the late Octo-
ber air they seemed robed in royal
purple. She lifted her face and
breathed in the wonderful fragrance
of the pines.
It was just three months since her
visit up at the ranch. She had come
from q little college town in Ohio. one
of a crowd of college girls. It had
been . splendid summer lark to them,
the month in the cattle country. And
she had f1irted with Clifford Harkness
joyously. audaciously. They had rid
den together over trails he had known
since boyhood. He had taught her
secrets handed down from the In
dams. Somehow she had grown to
think of this tall, tanned youngster
differently from other men. There
was something about him that ap-
pealed to the imagination. she told
the other girls. He was splendidly
pagan in his love Of the wilds and the
great silences. in his friendship with
animals and knowledge Of the forces
of nature.
Yet when they had been riding far,
| storm. seeking shelter in a deserted
cabin, when he had suddenly blurted
out his love. she had laughed at him.
You are splendid as a summer
sweetheart, Chff: but 1 hardly think
care to marry your
why not?"
IT might grow tired Of all this. ard
it's your hfe.''
IF you loved me you wouldn't r.re
Of 1t. You wouldn't care what place
tn0y put US on C1OQ 8 1OOLSIOOl SO lOnK
as we were together"
She had shaken her head like q wilful
child.
you're awfully dear. Cliff, but you
wouldn't be enough to hold me here
contented. I'm sorry"
Then why did you let me kiss you?
don't know how it Is down where you
| come from, but here our girls don't
let man kiss them like that unless
they mean business and will marry
them"
The crudeness of it hurt her. He had
no fineness at all. she told the other
girls. ruefuIly. He was just q big boy
barbarian. and she was not at all to
blame. Besides, what he said was un-
true. She had seen him kiss another
girl almost the first day of arrival:
| girl who rode up to the ranch on horse
! back, her face tanned with wind and
sun, eyes blue as the Nevada skies and
her name. they told Rose. was Nevada
Murray. She was q rangers daughter,
and sometimes helped her father.
| Clifford had been standing beside her
! pony talking to her. and he reached up
to help her dismount. but, she had
made her pony move back from him,
and had laughed. And Clifford, his
hand on the bride, had held her down
| % him. and kissed her cheek.
| He had passed Rose by without a
second glance. and she had made up
her mind then to make him thoroughly
| aware Of her existence.
I But three months back east had
| taught her many things. She missed
| the great freedom and spacious
grandeur Of the country around the
ranch. She missed Clifford Other
men seemed trivial beside his frank.
quiet nature. She told herself she
had been cruel to him. and she would
atone, ah, but she would. and gladly.
She would give up everything at horce
and live with him out at the ranch.
Her brothers and married sister
had shrugged shoulders and smiled
at her sudden decision. but she was
her own mistress, and they let her go
back to her purple hills and tall
Iranchman.
..Clifford." she said softly, after a
long silence which he did not seem
disposed to break, I'm not going
back
clifford watched the tips OF the
bays ears thoughtfully.
You said last summer that there
wasn't enough here to make you con-
ttent.''
II know. but I was wrong. rye
missed It all 30, and-you."
| She waited. but he was silent
$50 you see I've come back, and
want to stay. Cliff"
well, It puts me in q mighty queer
/ position" said Cliff stolidly. .T think
/ mother should have told you Any
way, / win, because know you don't