Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-15
flushed With pleasure.


and maybe well start a iack.rabbit."
she said Then I'll show you some
uun'ns dogs. Won't we. Spot"
She sw'siled her quirt over the
pin,o'. ears. ne shook his head say
asely. ,efEsins 10 be triIled WITH and
her laughter ripped oul loguishlv
while her blHe-biacl; eyes snapped
with he fire of life AZ its best
Your spirits are better" Hardy
commented.
indeed they are with toss
of the head and another careless
laugh Its been relief, you know.
To realize that Sears has gone so far
VIC can't find him-and 10 know that
dad won't be pestered with him again
right oil.
Her tone was easy. the very choice
OF words showing how rapidly the
situation had dwindled in consequence
for her
Your father he's sure Sears has
gone. them
y
know and sol no trace. He couldn't
have been badly hurt, but he knows
that kiheka won't be fooled with"
She swung her qurt and the pinto
loped faster. lIardy's big bay bound
in2 along by its side like protector
Lets foree IT," She cried. AN
adventurous sparkle in her eyes
Lets forget that there's serious
thought in the world this afternoon
And just from the fulness Of her
spirits she laughed again. a sound rs
mellow and as golden AS the January
sunlight which warned him.
The Sky was virgin and soft and
the brown hills with their occasional
patches of oaks to which clusters of
russell leaves still chung. had been
! washed Immaculate by the rain until
they stood on sharp ana strong
against he horizon.
OF to The right a carpet OF vivid
green spread out across the floor of
Il flat bottom below them where wheat
would rod in another season; for up
the little valley a violet haze nestled
against the shoulder OF fla-topped
hill aud no breath stirred the smoke
whieE rose from toy ranch house
over beyond the green.
Hardy drank deeply Of the mild
winter air and held his eyes on the
profile beside him
She tilted her head and laughed
and hummed little snalches o, song,
while the color flooded and ebbed ran
,alizincly under her fine skin. Her
eyes danced behind their sweeping
lashes and the quirl hand continually
swung the braided leather
II was impossible for her TO keep
quiet to still the springs Of buoyant
Ice which were 50 close 10 the surface
She must move and change and be
glad that day
When she looked at him her elances
were mere flashes, with ihosA subtle
halfli2hts in her eyes drawing him
on coaXine. Turing, leading him into
The agc.o!d way followed by maid and
man. and Hardy thrilled at them,
though he knew thar which prompted
was the innate coquetry in her
She was not the girl he had known
before
II was a shock 10 remember the
dark brown young woman who had
been vindictive. stern almost az a
man. And memory of that morning
when she had been like a little child.
fearful driven TO talk. tears close to
her lids. was absurd at this moment
For today she was a hoyden, bub-
bling vitality, careless, Irresponsible
And for the first time had come be
tween them that clear note OF The per
sona Emotion had full play and
she Haunted her wealth of charms be
fore the eyes that followed them so
eagerly, watching desire flare in his
glanccs. seeing delight and approval
set his lips smiling.
The way she sat on her horse! They
were as flexible unit, as one. yet
devoid of stiffness. The main enved
her and studied her pose that he
might ride with better grace. that his
appearance might be more favorable,
Al, there 1t was. Consciously he
plotted to make suporiicialities more
attractive the first step. the primal
pressure which leads to unbaancine.
On and on they rode, following the
winding track that sought levels
through the postoak park. Words
did not pass between them often:
Just looks for the most part and looks
which were eloquent.
Once al a climax of a series of in
terchaneed challenging chances, the
grl licked al Hardy with her quirt
and when he leaned to match at the
lash she was gone
One up the road. low over her ponys
neck, dogs beside her, looking over
her shoulder laughing, daring him
Lady Caprice And he hung in his
spurs, urging The big horse after her.
his heart high But she pulled NJ.
Kings X" she cried Let's
behave. because don't want to tire
out the horses. We may get a good
chase, aad like 10 follow the dogs as
much as | can
Without warning they emerged
from the oak onto the prairie.