Gunnison news-champion., 1916-01-14
caApTEa y
Gass - kA


for the sabtss changes wroaehf IN a
man ana woman. Those srscas
mind and manner vaich had once los
fae mans BEGAN 10 and expres.,of
Physically. has voice sacame sos, a.
msilo~ hss hands became fun Of a.
paasis, his body grew less aud ,.s
clumsy. more aad faore isoplne m.
piult speech. the irrtabslsty In ara
ment. the stupid pauses the pa NJ
study of cunning phrssss. the susr
cion and retioence that fgurativeiy o
crust the hearts Of shy and iaasly mo
these vanished under her warm n car.
less glances.
II the crust Of ba-barism is thu
that OF civilization Is thin enough. A.
Warrington went forward Elsa ssoupr q
aud gradually Wens back. not far \
far ennugh to cause her TO throw tov a
ths D. ~ of reserve TO cease TO g.a-f
her impulses against the invasion b.
iHterest and fascination She faced a.
truth sduarely The man fascfaai
hsr He was like a portrsif with 90
lowing eyes. She spoke familiarly ..
her affairs talWays onittIns Arthur
she TALKED of her travels. OF the a.
nous people she mad met OF the Won
aerfW pagearts she mad Witnessed. =
Vas not her fault that wi.h the o.
oepti9n OF Martha ~ho didn't oouff
thev tive SeTe thc 8gly easssnaera
Ihis conaitipa of afaHs gas aifeei
cbargeaDie 10 fate. and nefore the
boat reached Rangoon. Elisa was qsits
willing to let tate shift and SCI the
scenes how IT would
The phase that escaped her entirely
was this. that had he Rot progressed
she would have retained boz old poise.
the old pOise Of which she was never
again to BE mistress. Il 10 the old
tale-sympathy to lift up another frst
steps down. And never haA her sym
psthy gone out % quickly TO any nor
tai Elsa had . horror Of honeliness
and this man seemed to BE the living
presentment Of the word what strug
Gles, and how simply ~ pscounted
them! What things he he'd sssn. what
adventures had befallen hin, what ro-
nance and mystery, She wondered
II there he'd been q woman N his life
end II she had been the cause of his
downfall. Every day Of the past ten
years lay open for her TO admiss or
condemn, but beyond these ten years
there vas . Chinese wall. over which
che might not look. Only once had she
provoked the silent negative NOD Of
bis head. He was strong. Not the
smallest corner of the veil was she
permitted to turn aside. She walked
hither and thither along the scarps and
bastions of the barrier, but never
found the breach
will you come and dine with me to-
night?" she asked, as they left the
boat
No, Miss Innocence"
That's silly. There isn't a soul
know here"
But" gravely he replied. there
ere many here who know me-"
Which infers that my invitation is
unwise?"
Absolutely unwise. Frankly, I
ought not to be seen with you"
why? Unless, indeed, you have
not told me the truth. Where's the
HARM"
For myself, none. On the boat it
did not matter SO much II was situ-
alton which neither Of us could foresee
nor prevent. ! have told you that
people here look askance at me BE-
cause they know nothing about me,
save that came from the States. And
they are wise. ! should be a cad u I
accepted your invitation to dinner"
Then ! Am not to see you again?"
The smile would have lured him
across three continents. Tomorrow I
promise to call and have tea with YOU.
much against my better judgment"
''Oh, IL you Aont want to come :"
Don't want to GOMEZ"
Something in his eyes caused Elsa
to speak hurriedly. Good by until TO-
morrow"
She gave him her hand for a mo
ment, stepped into the carriage. which
already held Martha and the luggage.
and then drove off to the Strand hotel
hand. A fine. warm rain was falling.
but he was not conscious of il II
seemed incredible that time should
produce such a change within the
space of seventy hours, a little more.
little less. As she turned and waved
a friendly hand he knew that the DESC
lation which had been his for ten vaats
was nothing as compared to that " bich
now fen upon his heart. She was as
unattainable as the north star. and
nothing. time nor Circumstance. c1uId
bridge that incalculable distance. His
heart hurt him. He must see her M
more after the morrow. Enchantrent
and happiness we're two words mich
fate had ruthlessly scratched from his
book of days.
Mr.. Hooghly had already Started of
toward the town, the kit bag and the
yalise slung across his shoulders The
parrot cage bobbing at his side He
knew where to go an obscure l~s.-s-.