Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-03


herself entirely separated from the
other members of tho parry-a eompii-
ment TO her proves which she greatly
priced. since women and beginners
were usually surrounded by precau-
tons and guards. through which IL was
difficult to get within firing distance Of
any sort Of game
as they we're riding homeward one
evening after HINT in the foothills
Barney noticed that his sister was nm
Usually quiet and apparently depressed
whats the matter. VicT' he asked.
Dead tired, en- r
The girl looked up with q bright
smile, which was Immediately follow
ed by an expression of puzzled bswil-
derment.
Barney" she said- after a moment
Of silence. there is something about
those hills back there that fills me
with the strangsst sensation OF terror
imaginable. Today / passed an out
cropping Of volcanic rock that gave
evidence Of q frightful CONFUSION Of
nature in some bygone age. At sight
of 1t I commenced to tremble from
head TO foot, cold perspiratton break
ing out all over me.
But that part is not SO strange
you know I have always been subject
10 these same silly attacks of unrea-
soning terror at sight of any evidence
Of the mighty forces that have wrought
changes in the earth's crust or of the
slightest tremor Of an earthquake
But today the feeling Of unutterable
personal loss which overwhelmed me
was almost unbearable. It was as
though one whom I loved above all
others bad been taken from me
And yet" she continued. through
all my inexplica bic sorrow there shone
a ray Of brilliant hope as remarkable
and unfathomable as the deeper and
depressing emotion which still stirred
me-"
For some time neither spoke, but
rode silently stirrup to stirrup as their
poni IS picked their ways through the
knee high grass. The girl was think
ing. trying 70 puzzle out an explana-
ton of the rather weird sensations
which had so recently claimed her.
Barney Custer was one of those
unusual and delightful people who do
not scof at whatever they cannot IN
derstand-the reason doubtless. that
his sister as well as others chose him
as the recipient of their condolences.
Not understanding her emotion. be had
nothing TO offer. and so remained ST.
lent.
He was. however. not a little puz-
zled, as he had always been. at each
new manifestation of Victorias I'M
canny reaction of every indication OF
the great upheaval which marked the
physical changes in the conformation
OF the earth's crust
He recalled former occasions upon
which his sister had conhded IN him
something of similar terrors.
Once in the Garden of the Gods and
again during a trip through the G4and
Canyon in Arizona, and very vivid in
deed was the recollection of Victoria's
nervous collapse following the reading
OF the press dispatches describing the
San Francisco earthquake. In all 9TH
er respects his sister was an exception
ally normal well balanced young
American woman-which fact doubt
less, rendered her one weakness the
more apparent
But Victoria Clusters terror OF earth
quakes was not her only popularity.
The other was her strange contempt
for the men who had sued for her
hand-and of these there had been
many. Her brother had thought sew
eral Of them the salt of the earth ana
Victoria herself had liked them too.
But as for loving them-perish the
thought!
Oddly enough, recollection OF this
other phase OF her character obtruded
itself upon Barney's memory as the
two rode on toward the Clayton bun
gaiow. and with il he recalled 8 Der
sistent dream which Victoria lad said
REQUIRED after each reminder OF a
great cervulston of natgre. at the
thought he broke tbs silence-
Has your-ahs--avatar made his
customary appearanceg' be asked.
smiling.
The girl extended her hand toward
her brother and laid It on his. whers &c
rested upen his thigh as he rode, look
ing up at him with half frightened,
half lsneiRg eyes.
oh, Barney" she cried, @you are
such dear never 20 have laughed ae
my silly dreansi I'm sure should go
quite mad did I NOT have you in whom
% confide. but lately | have hesitated