The Arvada enterprise., 1917-09-27
eleventh EPISODE
Lovers Leap.
IHE aoRpERLANp.


had been alternately climbing with
stertorous respiration the Strengthened
passes and sweeping down in Wild
free flight through the widening val.
leys Of 4 great and spacious land Of
haggard beauty.
And since her eyes had first opened
to this new day 1t had not been posi-
BILE for long to distract Patria's atten-
ton from that endless panorama of
grim, stark hills, painted desert and
boundless plaina.
And In Patria's eyes, while she
watched. 4 gladness shone deep and
tender; and ever and again her young
bosom would lift and fall with a gen.
tie nigh Of happiness.
For this, to her. was homecoming {:
she was returning. after a long so
journ In q strange far country, to the
land which held nrst place In her
heart.
Toward mid-afternoon the train
pausel at little station.
life. In addition to the customary
groups Of Idle Aexicans and half
breeds. squaws with crude pottery to
sell to the avid tourist, ant assorted
lOafers, q company Of hard-ridlnE cow
people had gathered. and a couple Of
rough-c0ated m0t0rcars stood walt
ing.
Az Patria. with her little train Of
servants and companions. descended
to the platform. hiGh-spirited cheering
greeted her; the hOrsemen and women
yelled pierclngly. and tossed aloft their
hats: and from one OF the motorcars
Q man whose heaviness Of stature a.
sorted oddly with his alertness Of Ges-
ture strobe forward sOmbrerO In hand,
then paused. stared and said In .
voice Of wonder:
"Patria Channlng!"
The girl Identified him after a mo-
ment Of perplexity. during which her
memory harked hack to days q decade
ago. Her Characteristic little frown Of
thought was dIspelled by q smile and
laugh Of Joyful recognition.
"Rodman Pillsbury!" she exclaimed
and gave him both her hands.
He took them awkwardly. shaking .
still bewildered head.
II dont' know you at all. Pat" he
said. II was waiting for q little girl
"A freckled. lonx-legged tomboy who
could beat me riding and shooting and
most every why. And here you're
Q woman grown Lord! how
antique you make me feel!"
"You needn't" she told him Gayly.
you've grown up every whit as much
NJ but no more. not the least bit.
When went East you were ms sturdy
and husky a. . stringbean and now
you're as slim and lisxome an water.
melon! Heavens! don't accuse me Of
having changed! But forgive
Swiftly she made Pillsbury known
to her chaperon and Captain Parr.
Il want you to he great friends" she
said with just hint Of embarrassment
a. these Inst clnspcd hands. "Itotimnn
WAS the nrst sweetheart I ever had.
Don-and Donald" she added charm.
ingiy to Pillsbury. els my last: We are
cnEuged."
To her Immense relief there was no
trace Of hostility In the greeting which
Il0dman accorded her betrOthcd.
Mr.. Pillsbury had grown up In more
than physique In the course Of ten
years. The ability to mask his feel
ings with lmpeuetrablc discrimination
wus only one Of the accomplishments
which he had acquired. and which Mt.
ted him % admirably to command at
once the Friendship and respect Of the
small army Of employees who looked
up to him ~ the local representative
Of the Charming intefcsts-as. In short
what Rolmau Pillsbury really was
Patrin's vlceroy. ruling deminions Of
land mud men-broader. n less popu'
lous, than many q European principal
ity.
That exhilnrution which had beer
mounting In Patria ever since hei
awakening that morning grew still
more intense ~ hef motorcar swung
away from the station and over Z
Whaling highruad. Now abe was thor