Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-09-26
ELEVENTH EPISODE
Lovers Leap.
TIE RoRpERLANp.

Ever since earliest dawn the train
had been alternately climbing with
stertorOus respiration the Strengthened
passes and sweeping down In wild.
free fight through the widening val
legs of a great and spacious land of
haggard beauty.
And since her eyes had first opened
TO this new day it had not been posi-
bic for long TO distract Patria's atten-
ton from that endless panorama of
grim, stark hills, painted desert and
bOundless plains.
And in Patra's eyes, while she
watched, a glaGness snone deep and
tender; and ever and again her young
bosom would lift and fall with gen
tie sigh Of happiness.
For this, TO her. was homecoming;
she was returning. after a long So
journ in a strange far country, TO the
land which held first place in her
heart.
Toward mid-afternoon the train
pausel at a little station.
Here there was uncommon hustle Of
life. In addition to the customary
groups of idle Mexicans and half
breeds, squaws with crude pottery to
sell to the avid tourist, and assorted
Ioafers. a company of hard-riding cow
people had gathered, and a couple Of
rOugh-coated motOrcars stood wait
ing.
As Patria, with her little train of
servants and companions, descended
TO the platform. hlgh-spirited cheering
greeted her; the horsemen and women
yelled piercingly, and tossed aloft their
hats; aud from one of the motorcars
a man whose heaviness Of stature as
sorted oddly with his alertness Of ges-
ture strobe forward sOmbrero in hand.
then paused. stared and said in a
voice Of wonder:
"Patria Channlng"
The girl identified him after a mo-
ment Of perplexity, during which her
memory harked back to days decade
ago. Her characteristic little frown of
thought was dlspelled by a smile and
a laugh of joyful recognition.
'Rodman Pillsbury !" she exclaimed
and gave him both her hands.
He took them awkwardly. shaking a
still bewildered head.
81 don't know you at all. Pat" he
said. II was waiting for a little girl
"a frecBied, long-legged tomboy who
could beat me riding and shooting and
most every way. And here you're
a woman grown Lord! how
antique you make me feel ~
"You needn't" she told him gayly.
you've grown up every whit as much
as but no more, not the least bit.
When l went East you were as sturdy
and husky as a stringbean and now
you're as sian and lSSome as water
melon! Heaversl don't accuse me of
having changed! But forgive
me
Swiftly she made Pillsbury known
to her chaperon and Captain Parr.
Il want you TO be great friends" she
said with just hint of embarrassment
rs these last clasped hands. "Rodman
was the first sweetheart l ever had,
Don--and Donald" she added charm
ilgly to Pillsbury. SIS my last; we are
engaged"
To her immense relief there was no
trace of hostility in the greeting which
ROdman accorded her betrothed.
Mr.. Pillsbury mad grown up in more
than physique in the course Of ten
years. The ability to mask his feel
fngs with impenetrable discrimination
was only one of the accomplishments
which he had acquired. and which fit
ted him 50 admirably 70 command at
once the friendship and respect of the
small army of employees who looked
up to him as the local representative
of the Claiming interests-as, in short
what Rodman PillSbury really was
Fatria's viceroy, ruling dominions OF
land and men-broader. If less popu
ious, than many European principals
it.
That exhilaration which had beer
mounting IL Patria ever since heI
awakening that morning grew still
more intense as her motorcar swung
away from the station and over &
2yiudlhg highroad. Now she was thor
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