The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-06-15

She got to thinking of the flight of
great bird wheeling up higher an,
higher on his powerful wings. Sud
denly and to her CONSERVATION, sh
felt her eyes flushing up with tears
She tried to blink them away, but the,
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 a long
breath. Then he turned abruptly and
walked to the window and for NOR.
tai, endless minute there was silence
Something happened during that
moment while he stood looking into
her tear-fushed eyes-sOmething mo-
-critical-which no previous
experience in her life had prepared her
for. And it 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,
sort Of cOSmic cOntentment-the acqui-
essence of a swimmer in the still, ir-
resistible current of a 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 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 he
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
Only 1t didn't turn out
hat way. For the effect Of that warm,
1.-THE grip flew its flag in both their
aces.
you're such a wonder" he said.
She smiled. $50 are y-you." 1t was
he first time she had ever stammered
n her life.
When she came back into the sit
ing-room, she found Portia inclined
o be severe. did you ask him to
ONE again?" she wanted to know.
Rose smiled. II never thought Of
t." she said.
Perhaps it's just as WE'LL" said
'ortia. "Did you have anything at
II to say to him before we came
ONE, or were you like that all the s
lille? How long ago did he come" {
II don't know" said Rose behind
very real yawn. II was asleep on
he couch when he came in. That's {
ny was dressed like this" And
len she said she was hungry. C
There wasn't, on the whole, hap
er person in the world at that mo-
ent. d
But Rodney Aldrich, pounding along h
five miles an hour, in a direc- o
On left to chance, was not happy. h
r, If he was, he didn't know it. He n
uldn't yield instantly, and easily, to
s intuitiOns, as Rose had done. He a
1t that he must think-felt that he W
ID never stood in such need of cool, So
vel consideration as at this moment. Dl
But the process was impossible. d.
Anyway, it was remark Frederick W
d made last night that gave him al
to hold on by. Marriage, M
e had said, was an adventure of w
itch no amount of cautious thought
Ken in advance could modify the es- co
ltial adventurousness. There was TO
doubt in his mind that marriage ca
tn that girl would be a more won as
-ful adventure than anyone had ro
n had in the world. ov