The Press., 1918-11-21

for over a year?" Alice asked. growing faint at the thought and then wishing she hadn't said what she had.
 'There wouldn't be any object, would there?" asked Burton. quite calmly. "You can keep in touch with us by let ters.''
 "Yes, indeed" commented Alice. She tried to keep Burton from leaving early that evening. She wanted him to say something that he did not. It was au- tumn-the crisp, Indian summer days had come and were almost gone, and yet he had not brought up the ques, tiOn that had become habftual at the turn of the season.
 There were two weeks more before the wedding and before Alice's depar- ture. The trunks were almost packed and Alice had made arrangements in half-hearted way to put some few personal possessions in storage. Ev- eryone was saying to everyone else that Alice was lucky to be able to start out at last, and Alice tried very hard to keep beaming smile on her face when she went out or when neighbOr> called to congratulate her. She felt that at all hazards she must be true to the tradition of the COrdOVaS. She their hlOOd. Still her eyes filled with t,.;lrS when she looked at the travelling bags. and on the eve of her departure she threw herself on her bed and gave way to the tears that had been gath Pring. Possessed. once more. of q measure of Self-cOntrOl. she telrphOned to Alexander Burton, asked him to meet her in certain woodland path where the autumn leaves were still gold and red and, donning thick veil to hide her tear-stained eyes. hurried out to meet him.
 She sat herself down on a fallen log and drew him to her side before she explained.
 "Pm not going" she said. ~ wanted you to he the first one tO know it. l cant go; shall be mlsrrahi". Per hnps I am not COrdOva, after all. And It has been my lifelong drran-" Her eyes filled again with tears she swnYed toward RUrt0n'S shoulder and then, as he drew her dejectpd face to of tears. He tried to raise her face but Alice thereupOn chung to him and kissed his cheek quite as if this were not the first time in all her life that she had permitted any tendrrer show of emotion than a prolonged hand shake.
 "And the neighbors"-at last she managed to say between s0bS. "the neighhnrs will say am not a COrd0vH. and really 1t isn't that at all; it's just because" and then she hid her face again and refused further explanation.
 Gradually it became apparent to Alexander Burton. though perhaps he had guessed it several days before. that Alice had really decided that she loved him enough to stay home for him.
 "And we'll marry and settle down and plant perennials," Alice said. And we'll just tell people that l loved you so much l gave up being a nOmad- that I decided to he a Burton instead of a C0rdOva."
 "Why do that?" calmly queried Bur ton. who had saved surprise till the last. "I've made all arrangements to start out next week with you. We can begin with the Argentine and then go where we choose. have sold my busi- ness to really very good advantage and it's all settled"
 Alice's eyes were beaming with such joy as they had never shown before.
 hBut you aren't a COrdova," she gasped.
 'NO, but I've been studying the rec ords of the BurtOns," laughed Alex ander, "and I've discovered that they have done just as much nomading as the COrdOvas."