Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-16
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
One day in early October young
Milt McBriar happened upon Dawn
and Juanita walking in the woods.
The gallant colors and the smoky
mists Of autumn wrapped the forests
and brooded in the sky. An elixir
went into the blood with each deep
drawn breath and set to stirring for
gotten or hitherto unawakened emo
tons. And in this heady atmosphere
of quickened pulses the McBriar boy
halted and gazed at the Havey girl.
Juanita saw Young Mills eyes fash
with an awakened spirit. She saw a
look in his face which she was woman
enough to interpret even before he
himself dreamed what its meaning
might be.
Dawn was standing with her head
up and her lids half closed looking
across the valley to the Indian sum-
mer haze that slept in smoky purple
on the ridges. She wore dress of
red calico, and she had thrust in her
belt q few crimson leaves from gum
tree and few yellow ones from pop
lar.
Juanita Holland did not marvel at
the fascinated, almost rapt look that
came into Young Mills eyes, and
Young Milt. too, as he stood there in
the autumn woods. was himself no
mean figure. His lean body was
quick Of movement and strong, and
his bronzed face wore the straight
looking eyes that carried an assurance
Of fearless honesty. He had been
away to Lexington to college and was
going back. The keen intelligence of
his face was marred by no note OF
meanness, and now, as he looked at
the girl Of the enemy. his shoulders
came unconsciously erect with some
thing Of the pride that shows in men
Of wild blood when they feel in their
veins the strain of the chieftains.
But Dawn, after her first blush,
dropped her lids a little and tilted her
chin, and without word snubbed him
with the air of Havey looking down
on McBriar.
Milt met that gaze with steady
one of his own and banteringly said:
Dawn. pears like ye mought a got
tangled up with rainbow"
Her voice was cool as she retorted:
IT reckon that's better than Citing
mixed up with some other things"
II was Jest a-thinkin'. es looked at
ye," went on the boy gravely. "thet
hits better then gittin' mixed up with
anything else."
Dawn turned away and went stalk
ing along the woodland path without a
backward glance, and Milt followed at
her heels, with Juanita, much amused,
bringing up the rear. The easterner
thought that these two young folks
made . splendid pair. specimens Of the
best Of the mountains. as yet unbroken
by heavy harness. Then. as the
younger girl passed under swinging
rope Of wild grapevine. STOPPING low.
q tendril caught in her hair.
without word Young Milt bent for
ward and was freeing 1t. tingling
through his pulses as his fingers
touched the heavy black mass. but as
soon as she was loose the girl sprang
away and wheeled. her eyes blazing.
How dast ye tech me?" she de-
manded, painting with wrath. "How
dast YET"
The boy laughed easily. IT dast do
ANYTHING wants. he told her.
For q moment they stood looking at
each other, then the girl dropped her
eyes. but the anger haa died oas CT
them, and Juanita saw that, despite
her condescending air, she was not
displeased.
Juanita, Of course. knew nothing OF
jobs suspicious that had led him into
the laurel, but even without that In
formation, when Young Milt met them
more often than could be attributed
to chance on their walks and fell into
the habit Of strolling back with them,
strong forebodinEs began to trouble
her.
And one morning these forebodings
were verified in crisis for, while the
youthful McBriar lounged neal. the
porch Of Juanita's cabin talking with
Dawn, another shadow fell across the
sunlight: the shadow Of Jeb McNash
He had come silently. and it was only
as Young Milt, whose back had been
turned, shifted his position, that the
two boys recognized each other.
Juanita saw the start with which
Jeb's figure stinened and grew taut
She saw his hands clench Themselves
and his face turn white as chalk; saw
his chest rise, and fall under heavy
breathing that. Kissed through clenched
teeth. and her own heart pounded with
Wild anxiety.
But Milt McBriar's face showed
nothing. His fathers masklike calm
ness Of feature had come down to him
. and - he read the meaning Of the
other boys attitude he merely nodded
and said casually: "Howdy. Jeb."
Jeb did not answer. He could moi
answer. He was training and punish
ing every fiber cruelty simply IN
standing where he was and keeping
his hands at his sides. For . time
he remained stir and white. breathing
spasmodically; then. without word
he turned and stalked away.
That moon . horseman brought
note across the ridge, and as Juanits
Holland read It she felt that all he'
dreams were crumbling the sou
Of them was paralyzed.
II was brief note. written IN
.orvhoo1 hand. and It ran: