American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-08-31
eleventh EPISODE
Lovers Leap.
H BoRDERLAND.

Ever since earliest dawn the train
had been alternately climbing with
s%tertorous respiration the Strengthened
passes and sweeping down in wild,
free flight through the widening val
leys 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-
BILE for long to distract Patria's atten-
ton from that endless panorama of
grim, stark hills, painted desert and
boundless plains.
And in Patria's eyes, while she
watched, a gladness shone deep and
tender; and ever and again her young
bosom would lift and fall with a gem
tie sigh Of happiness.
For this, to her, was homecoming;
she was returning, after a long So
jourp~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, high-spirited cheering
greeted her; the horsemen and women
yelled piercingly, and tossed aloft thelI
hats; and 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 Channingl"
The girl identified him after a mo
ment of perple- lily, during which hel
memory harked back to days a decade
ago. Her characteristic little frown OF
thought was dispelled by a smile ant
a laugh Of joyful recognition.
''Rodman Pillsbury ~ she exclaimed
and gave him both her hands.
He took them awkwardly, shaking
still bewildered head.
81 don't know you at all, Pat" d
said. 81 was waiting for a little gil
"a freckled, long-legged tomboy wh
could beat me riding and shooting an
most every way. And here your
a woman grown Lord! no.
antioue Won make me feelV
"You needn't" she told him gayl.
you've grown up every whit as muc
as but no more, not the least ol
When 1 went East you were as sturd
and husky as a stringbean and no
you're as slim and lissome as a waite
melon! Heavens! don't accuse me
having changed! But forgl'
Swiftly she made Pillsbury know
to her chaperon and Captain Parr.
Il want you to be great friends 81
said with just a hint of embarrassing
as these last clasped hands. "Rodm'
was the first sweetheart l ever ha
Don-and Donald" she added char
ingly to Pillsbury, sis my last; we a
engaged"
To her immense relief there was
trace of hostility in the greeting viii
Rodman accorded her betrothed.
Mr.. Pillsbury had grown up in me
than physique in the course of
years. The ability to mask his fe
ings with impenetrable dissimulati
was only one Of the accomplishing
which he had acquired, and which
ted him so admirably to command
Nc the friendship and respect Of
small army of employees who lool
up to him as the local representa-
Of the Claiming interests-as, in she
what Rodman Pillsbury really W
Patria's viceroy, ruling dominions
land and men-broader, if less Pc
lous, than many a European princiI
ity.
That exhilaratiOn which had b
mounting in Patria ever since
awakening that morning grew s
more intense as her motorcar sw,
away from the station and ovel
winding highroad. Now she was Il