Judsonia weekly advance., 1919-12-11

acted otherwise would nave seemed
ungrateful to Mr.. Duncan. And pres
emily the drives began to have
strange attraction of themselves.
When they drove in the two-seated
buggy on Sunday afternoons the party
usually comprised Mrs. Duncan and
Duncan was interested in certain Sun
day-afternoon meetings. 1t was Mrs.
Duncan's custom to sit in the rear seat
for it's better riding qualities, and 1t
had a knack of falling about that
Edith would ride in the front seat
with the driver. She caused Forsyth
to ride with her mother, ostensibly as
a courtesy which, it may be conjec-
tured, was not fully appreciated AT
first he accepted it with the good ma
ture of one who feels his position Sc
cure, but gradually that good nature
gave way to certain testiness of
spirit which he could not entirely con-
ceal.
The crisis was precipitated one fine
Sunday in September, in the first year
Of Dawes newspaper experience. Dave
called early and found Edith in rid
ing habit.
Mother is fndisposed, as they say
in the society page" she explained.
"In other words, she doesn't wish to
be bothered. So l thought we would
ride today"
"But there are only two horses"
said Dave.
"Well?' queried the girl, and there
was note in her voice that sounded
strange to him. There are only two
of u.s.
But Mr.. Forsyth"
"He is not here. He may not come.
Will you saddle the horses and let
us get away?"
1t was evident to Dave that for some
reason Edith wished to evade Forsyth
this afternoon. A lovers quarrel, no
doubt. That she had preference for
him and was revealing it with the
utmost franknesS never occurred to
his sturdy, honest mind. One of the
delights of his companionship with
Edith had been that it was a real COM
PtRiiiOho'ip. 4NOiC VI lllC
occasioned by any sex consciousness
had narrowed the sphere of the frank
friendship he felt for her. She was
to him almost as another man. yet
In no sense masculine. Save for a
certain tender deicacy which her
wCmanhood inspired, he came and
went with her as he might have done
with man chum of his own age. And
when she preferred to ride without
Forsyth it did not occur to Elden that
she preferred to ride with him.
They were soon in the country, and
Edith. leading. swung from the road
to bride trail that followed the
winding of the river. AS her graceful
figure drifted on ahead 1t seemed more
than ever reminiscent of Reenie
Hardy. What rides they had had on
those foothill trails! What clippings
into the great canyons! What adyen-
lures into the spruce forests! And
how long ago it all seemed! This girl,
riding ahead, suggestive in every curve
and pose of Reenie Hardy. His
eyes were burning with loneliness.
He knew he was dull that day, and
Edith was particularly charming and
vivacious. She coaxed him into con-
versation dozen times, but he an
swered absent-mindedly. At length
she leaped from her horse and seated
herself, facing the river, on fallen
log. Without looking back she In
Dictated with her hand the space be-
side her, and Dave followed and sat
down.
"You don't quite do yourself justice.
What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothingw he answered. with a
laugh, pulling himself together "This
September weather always gets me.
/ guess / have streak of Indian; 1t
comes of being brought up on the
ranges. And in September, after the
first frosts have touched the foliage"
He paused, as though 1t was not nec-
essary to say more.
Eyes, l KNOW" she said quietly.
Then, with queer little note of con-
fidence, Don't apologize for it. Dave"
"Apologize" and his form straight
ened. Certainly not One
doesn't apologize for nature, does he?
But it comes back in Septem-
ber."
| He smiled, and she thought the sub
conscious in him was calling up the
smell of fire in dry grass. or perhaps
even the rumble Of buffalo over the
hills. And he knew he smiled because
he had so completely misled her.
j. 1t was dusk when they started
| homeward.
Forsyth was waiting for her. Dave
scented stormy weather and excused