The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-06-16
Continued from page 6

Continued from page
The girl extended her hand toward
her brother and laid 1t on his, where 1t
rested upon his thigh as he rode, look.
Ing up at him with half frightened,
half longing eyes.
"Oh, Barney" she cried, you are
such dear never to have laughed at
my silly dreams! I'm sure l should 20
quite mad did l not have you in whom
to conflde, but lately I have hesitated
to speak Of 1t even to you-he has been
coming so often!
Every night since we first hunted
In the vicinity Of the hills have walk
ed hand in hand with him beneath q
great equatorial moon beside q rest
less sea, and more clearly than ever in
the past have l seen his form and fea-
lures.
HE Is very handsome. Barney, and
very tall and strong and clean limbed.
I wish that 1 might meet such q man
in real life I know It Is a ridiculous
thing to say, but can never love any
Of the pusillanimous weaklings who
are forever falling in love with me-
not after having walked hand in hand
with such as he and read the love In
his clear eyes.
And yet, Barney, I am afraid Of
him. Is it not oddY'
At this juncture they were Joined by
other members Of the party. so that
no further reference to the subject was
made by either.
AT the Claytons' they found that an
addition had been made to the number
of guests by the unheralded advent Of
two khaki clad young men, one Of
whom rose and came forward to meet
the returning hunters while they were
vet hundred yards away.
He was tall. athletic appearing
man. As Victoria Custer recognized
his features she did not know whether
to be pleased or angry. Here was the
one man she had ever met who came
nearest to the realization Of her dream
man, and this one of all the others had
never spoken word of love to her.
His companion, who had now risen
from the cool shade of the low veran-
da, was also coming forward. but more
slowly, the set Of his shoulders and the
swing of his stride betOkening his mil
itary vocation.
"Mr. Curtiss.' exclaimed Victoria
and looking past him. "And Lieuten-
ant ButzOw! Where in the world did
you come frOm?"
'"The world left u.s." replied the off,
Ger, smiling. 'and we have followed
her to the wilds Of equatorial Africa"
I'VE found Nebraska very tame
place after you and Barney left" ex-
planned Mr.. Curtiss, land when l dis
covered that ButzOw would accom-
pany me we lost no time in following
you, and here we are throwing our
selves upon the mercy and hospitality
Of Lady Greystoke."
II have been trying to convince
them" said that lady. who had now
Joined the party at the foot Of the
veranda steps, ''that the obligation Is
all upon our side. 1t taxes our inge-
nuity and the generosity of our friends
to keep the house even half full Of
congenial companions"
1t was not until after dinner that
night that Mr.. William Curtiss had an
opportunity to draw Miss Victoria
Custer away from the others upon
some more or less hazy pretext that
he might explain for her ears alone
just why he had suddenly found Bea-
6ice, Neb., such desolate place
and had realized that n was impera-
tive to the salvation Of his life and
happiness that he travel halfway round
the world in search Of a certaiu slen-
der bit Of femininity.
This usually self possessed young
man stammered and hesitated like a
bashful sch0olboy speaking his Friday
afternoon piece. but finally he man.
aged to expel from his system more or
less coherently the fact that he was
very much In love with Victoria Gus
ter and that he should never again eat
or sleep until she had premised to be
his wife.
There was strong appeal TO the girl
In the masterful thing the man had
done in searching her out in the wilds
Of Africa to tell her Of his love. for 1t
seemed that he and Butzow had forced
their way with but handful OF car
Hers through very savage section Of
the jungle because It was the shortest
route from the coast to the Greystoke
ranch.
Then there wss that about him
which appealed to the same attribute
Of her nature to which the young giant
Of her dreams appealed-a primitive
strength and masterfulness that left
her both frightened and happily help
les In the presence OF both these
strong loves, for the love Of her dream
man was to Victoria Custer real and
living love.
Curtiss saw assent In the silence |
which followed his outbreak, and. TAX
NJ advantage Of this tacit encourage |
nept, hs ssissd her hands In his and |
1ssw hsr toward him.