The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-06-08

She got TO thinking of the flight of a
great bird wheeling up higher and
higher on his powerful wings. Sud-
denly and to her CONSERVATION, she
felt her eyes flushing up with tears.
She tried to blink them away, but they
came too fast.
Presently he dropped short in his
walk-stopped talking, with a gasp,
in the middle of a sentence, and
looked into her face. She couldn't see
him clearly, but she saw his hands
clench and heard him draw long
breath. Then he turned abruptly and
walked to the window and for a NOR
tai, endless minute there was a silence.
Something happened during that
moment while he stood looking into
her tear-flushed eyes-something mo-
mentouS-critical-w no previous
experience In her life had prepared her
for. And 1t had happened to him, too.
His silhouette as he stood there with
his hands clenched, between her and
the window, showed her that.
What underlay her quiet was won
der and fear, and more deeply still, a
sort of cosmic contentment-the acqui-
escence of a swimmer in the still, ir-
resistible current of mighty river.
1t was distinctly relief to her when
her mother came in and, presently, Por-
tia. She introduced him to them, and
then dropped out Of the conversation
altogether. AS If it were long way
off, she heard him retailing last nights
adventure and expressing his regret
that he hadn't taken her to his sister
to be dried out, before he sent her
home.
She was aware that Portia stole a
look at her in a puzzled, penetrating
sort of way every now and then, but
didn't concern herself as to the basis
of her curiosity. 1t wasn't until ne
rose to go that she aroused herself
and went with him into the hall.
There, after he'd got into his overcoat
and hooked his stick over his arm, he
held out his hand to her in formal
leave-taking. Only it didn't turn out
that way. For the effect Of that warm,
1.-THE grip flew it's flag in both their
faces.
you're such a wonder" he said.
She smiled. $50 are y-you." 1t was
the first time she had ever stammered
in her life.
When she came back into the sit
ting-room, she found Portia inclined
to be severe. did you ask him to
come again?" she wanted to know.
Rose smiled. II never thought of
it," she said.
perhaps it's just as WELL" said
Portia. "Did you have anything at
all to say to him before we came
home, or were you like that all the
while7 How long ago did he Gomez"
81 don't know" said Rose behind
a very real yawn. II was asleep on
the couch when he came In. That's
why 1 was dressed like this" And
then she said she was hungry.
There wasn't, on the whole, a hap
pier person In the world at that mo-
ment.
But Rodney Aldrich, pounding along
at five miles an hour, In direc-
ton left to chance, was not happy.
Or, If he was, he didn't know it. He
couldn't yield instantly, and easily, to
his intuitons, as Rose had done. He
felt that he must think-felt that he
had never stood In such need Of cool,
level consideration as at this moment.
But the process was impossible.
Anyway, 1t was a remark Frederick
had made last night that gave him
something to hold on by. Marriage,
she had said, was an adventure of
which no amount of cautious thought
taken in advance could modify the es-
sential adventurousness. There was
no doubt In his mind that marriage
with that girl would be a more won
derful adventure than anyone had
ever had In the world.