The Adair County news., 1918-04-10


out at last. $50 it's Gordon, is it?
Are you quite sure this time? Not
likely to change your mind before
Thursday"
II suppose, to an outsider, I do seem
fickle," Miss O'Neill admitted smiling
ly, 'But Gordon and I both under
stand that"
"And Colby Macdonald-does he un-
derstand it tool?
ooh, yes" Her smile grew broader.
''He told me that he didn't think I
would quite suit him, after all. Not
enough experience for the place."
Diane flashed a suspicious look of
inquiry. "Of course that's nonsense.
What did he tell you?"
Something like that. He will marry
Mrs. Mallory, think, though he doesn't
know it yet"
"You mean she will get him on the
rebound" said Diane bluntly.
'That isn't nice way to put it. He
has always liked her very much. He
is fond of her for what she is. What
attracted him in me were the things
/ his imagination gave to me-"
"And Gordon likes you. I suppose,
for what you are?"
Sheba did not resent the little note
Of friendly sarcasm. II suppose he
has his fancies about me, too, but by
the time he finds out what I am he'll
have to put up with me-"
The arrival of Elliot interrupted con-
f1dences. He had come, he said, to re-
ceive congratulations.
"What in the world have you been
doing with your face?" demanded Di-
ane. AS an afterthought she added:
'Mr. Macdonald is all cut up too"
"We've been taking massage treat
ment." Gordon passed to subject of
more immediate interest. "Do I get
my congratulations, DIT"
She kissed him, too, for old sake's
sake. Il do believe you'll suit Sheba
better than Colby Macdonald would.
He's a great man and you are not. But
it isn't everybody that is fit to be the
wife Of a great man."
THAT'S a double, left-handed compli-
ment," laughed Gordon. "But you can't
say anything that will hurt my feelings
today, Di. Isn't that your baby / hear
crying? What heartless mother you
arew
Diane gave him the few minutes
alone with Sheba that his gay smile
had asked for. "Get out with you,"
she said, laughing. go to the top Of
the hill and look at the lovers moon
I've ordered there expressly for you
and while you are there forget that
there are going to be crying babies
and nursemaids with evenings out in
that golden future of yours"
"Come along, Sheba. Well start now
on the golden TRAIL" said Elliot.
She walked as if she loved it. Her
long, slender legs moved rhythmically
and her arms swung true as pendu-
lums.
The moon was all that Diane had
promised. Sheba drank it in happily.
81 believe I must be a pagan. 1 love
the sun and the moon and / know it's
all true about the little folk and the
pied piper and"
"If it's paganism to be in love with
the world, you are a thirty-third degree
pagan"
swell, and was there ever a more
beautiful night beforeT"
He thought not, but he had not the
words to tell her that for him its
beauty lay largely in her presence. Her
passionate love of things fine and
brave transformed the universe for
him. 1t was enough for him to be near
her, to hear the laughter bubbling in
her throat, to touch her crisp, blue
black hair as he adjusted the scarf
about her head.
"God made the night" he replied
$50 that's a Christian thought as well
as pagan one"
They were no exception to the rule
that lovers are egoists. The world fol-
them tonight divided itself into two
classes. One included Sheba O'Neill
and Gordon Elliot; the other took in
the uninteresting remnant of humanity
No matter how far afield their talk be.
: selves. They wanted to know all about
each other, to compare experiences
and points of view. But time fled toe
fast for words. They talked-as lovers
will to the end of tlme-in exclama
lions and the meeting of eyes and lit
tie endearmentS.
When Diana and Peter found them
on the hillside, Sheba protested, witt
her half-shy, half-audacious smile, thai
it could not be two hours since SHE
and Gordon had left the living room
,, Peter grinned. He remembered hill
top consecrated to his own courtshiI
of Diane
The only wedding present that Mac
donald sent Sheba was long envelop,
; with two documents attached by a clip
!. One was from the Kusiak Sun. 1t an
: nounced that the search party ha(
found the body of Northrup with tn,
rest Of the stolen gold beside him. TIL,
other was a copy Of legal document
Its effect was that the district attorne,
had dismissed all charges pendin.