Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-30


ate Of me, Miss Supervisor"
Wayland took her hand "Pve
never seen such hands. They
are like steel and yet they are femi-
nine"
She drew her hands away. 'T'm
ashamed Of my hands-they are so big
and rough and dingy."
"They're brown, Of course, and cal.
loused-O llttle-but they are not big
and they are beautifully modelled. !"
lie looked at the girl of the forest
speculatiyely. II am wondering how
you would look IN conventional dress"
"Do you mean She hesltated.
"I'd look like a gawk in one of those
low necled outfits. I'd never dare
and those tight skirts would sure Grip
pie me-"
Oh no. they wouldn't. You'd have
20 modify your stride little, but
you'd negotiate 1t. You're equal to
anything"
@YOu're making fun of mep
"No, I'm not I'm in earnest You're
the kind Of American girl that can go
anywhere and do anything My sis
ters would mortgage their share OF
the golden streets for your aboundlng
health-nnd so would J."
"You are all right now" she smiled.
"You don't look or talk as you did"
TITS this sunlight" He lifted a
spread hand as If to clutch and hold
something II feel It soaking into me
like some magical oil. No more mop
ing and whining for me. I've proved
that hardship is good for me-"
Don't crow TIL you're out of the
woods It's long ride down the hill
and going down Is harder on the ten
derfoot than going up"
"Pm no longer q tenderfoot. All
need is another trip like this with you
and shall be master trailer"
All this was very sweet to her, and
though she knew. they should be going
she fingered. Childishly reckless OF the
sinking sun, she played with the wild
flowers at her side and listened TO his
voice in complete content He was
right The hour was too beautiful to
be shortened, although she saw no
reason why others equally delightful
might not come to them both. He was
more OF the lover than he had ever
been before, that she knew, and In the
light OF his eyes all that was not girl
ish and charming melted away. She
forgot her heavy shoes, her rough
hands and sun tanned face and listen
ed with wondering JOY and pride TO his
words, which were OF Aneness such
az she had never heard spOken-only
books contained such unusual and ex-
quislte phrases.
A cloud passing across tho sun flung
down shadow OF portentous chill and
darkness, She started to her feet with
startled recollection OF tho place and
the hour.
I'VE must be goiug-at oncep she
commanded
mot yet" he pleaded, TITS only a
cloud, The sun il coming out again.
l have perfect confidence in your wood
craft Why not spend another night
on the tralll II may be our last trip
together"
He tempted her strongly, so frank
aud boylsh and lovable were his gances
and his words But she was vaguely
afraid OF herself, aud though the long
ride AZ the moment seemed hard and
dull the thought OF her mother Whiting
decided her action.
mo, nor she responded firmly. eve
have wasted too much time already.
We must ride"
He looked up nt her with challenging
glance, suppose rcfuse-suppos |
decide TO stay hcref"
Upon her as he talked a sweet hes.
itation fell. dream which held more
or happiness than she had ever known.
"lt Is long, hard ride" she thought,
"and another night on the trail win
not matter" And so the moments
passed on velvet feet, and stll she lin.
gered reluctant 10 break the spell
suddenly into their ldylllc browse OF
content so sweet, so youthful ana 40
pure OF heart, broke tho sound OF a
horses hurrylng. clashlng steel shod
feet aud. looking up, Berrie saw
mounted man coming down the noun.
tain side with furious. reckless haste.
1T IA Clidr' she cried out Hes
on our truilr And into her face came |
look OF alarm. Her lips paled, her |
eyes wldened. Hes mad-hes dan. |
gerous! Leave him TO me," she added. |
There was something so sinister IN |
the riders disregard OF stone aud tree
aud pace, something no menaclng I'm
the forward thrust OF his body, that
berrio was able TO dfvine his wrath
ana was smltten into irrosolutIon, all |
her hardy, boylsh self reliance swal.
lowed up In the weakness OF the wom.
an. She forgot the pistol at her belt
aud awaited the assault with rigid
pose.
As Belden neaned them Norross also
perceived that the riders face wns dts
torted With passion aud that his glaucr
was not directed upon Berrle. but upon
himself, and he bmccd himself Tor the
attack