The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-01-03

II got to thinking Of the flight ot Il
great bird wheeling W higher and
higher on his powerful wings. SUD.
denly and to her CONSERVATION, she
felt her eyes flushing w with tears,
She tried to blink them away, but they
came too fast.
Presently he dropped short in his
wal~k--stOpped talking, with u gasp.
in the middle OF u sentence, an |
looked into her face. She couldn't $, e
him clearly, but she saw his hands
7 c!ench and heard him draw IA long
breath. Then he turned abruptly and
walked TO the window and for Il NOR.
tai. endless minute there was II silence.
Something happened during that
moment while he stood looking into
her tcnr-iluShcd cycs-somcthing mo.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS no previous
experience in her life had prepared hci
for. And 1t had happened to him, too,
His silhouette as he stood there with
his hands clenchcd. between her and
the window, showed her that.
What underluy her quiet was won,
wv NIib I'ul' anu Hl'I' u''IlN SUM- ~
sort of coSmlc contentmcnt-the acqui.
csccnce Of n swimmer In the still, ir,
rcslstible current of II mighty river.
1t was distinctly a relief To her when
her mother came In and, presently, POr-
tin. She introduced him to them, and
altogether. As II IL were n long way
or, she heard him retailing last nights
adventure and expressing his regret
that he hadn't taken her to his sister
to be dried out, before he sent her
home.
She was aware that Portia stole a
look ut her In a puzzled, penetrating
sort OF way every now and then. but
didn't concern herself as to the basis
of her curiosity. II wasn't until he
rose TO 90 that she aroused herself
and went with him into the hall,
There, after he'd got into his overcoat
aud hooked his stick over his arm, he
held out his hand to her In formal
leavc-taking. Only II didn't turn out
that way. For the effect Of that warm,
1.-THE grip flew It's flag In both their
faces.
You're such n wonder" he said.
She smiled. $50 are y.you." 1t was
in her life.
When she came back into the sit
ting-room, she found Portla inclined
to be severe. did you ask him to
come AGAIN." she wanted to know.
Rose smiled. II never thought of
It," she said.
perhaps it's just as we'll" said
Portia. did you have anything at
all to say to him before we came
home, or were you like that all the
while? How long ago did he Gomez
II don't know said Rose behind
n very real yawn. ~ was asleep on
the couch when he came In. That's
why ] was dressed like this" And
then she said she was hungry.
There wasn't, on the whole. a hap
pier person In the world at that mo-
ment.
But Rodney Aldrich, pounding along
ut five miles an hour, in "A direc'
lIbu itlt W 'Huit't, was uOt HdIpy'
Or, II he was, he didn't know II. He
couldn't yield instantly. and easily, 10
his intuitions, as Rose had done. lie
felt that he must thlnk-felt that he
had never stood In such need OF cool,
level consideration as nj this moment.
But the process was impossible.
Anyway, 1t was n remark Frederick
had made last night that gave him
something To hold on by. Marriage,
she had said, was an adventure Of
which no amount of cautious thought
taken In advance could modify the es.
sentlnl adventurOusncSs. There was
no doubt Ia his mind hat marriage
with that girl would be II more won
derful adventure than anyone had
ever had In the world.