Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-05-14
THEIR BELIEF
BY JACK WALTON.


"~e-~
The man coming suddenly around an
edge of cliff saw the girl and hesitat-
ed. He recognized her as one Of the
guests of the Lakeside hotel. She had
been seated at a table in the dining
room when he arrived the night be-
fore. Someone mumbled an introduce
ton in passing; he had been unable to
catch the girls name, but he remem'
bered the unusual blue of her eyes.
CHANGING up now from her book, she
settled his indecision with an impulsive
welcoming smile, then as though an
aoyed by her own graciousness, she
bent again over the book. Also fol-
lowing some impulse, Richard Graves
spoke:
''YOu have chosen delightful spot
for your reading" he said, 80 sequest-
cred that thought myself alone on the
beach. The view from here is beau
tiful."
"Yes," the girl said, again for a mo-
ment her Transforming smile appeared.
my home" the man began. 'is over
there in the city, T. But she put
'orth protesting hand. LET US waive
personal history" said the girl, "what
does It all matter? We come from
some place, we go on presently, some
where. This hour alone is ours. It's
q glorious day-the lake is blue, the
sun shines-it Is good to be alive"
The man smiled back into the pi-
quaint, glowing face. It was q lovely
face, he thought, as full Of changing
surprises as the girls own pretty
moods. Reaching out he touched the
book with tentative finger.
"What do you read?"
She frowned. Nonsense" she an.
swered CURLY.
"And IDEALS" added the man, Eve
all have our ideals. They should be
carefully formed early in life for our
future plan Of companionship."
The girl leaned forward eagerly.
"Just what I have always thought.
Now, in my own case" She paused
abruptly, flush suffused her face.
my subject carries me away" she ex-r
cused herself to Graves.
"The subject interests me-" he re-
piled. 'your views so coincide with
mine. Please 60 on. In your cwn
casef'
"The man intend one day to mar
ry,' she said, answers in every way my
ideal, both as to physical appearance,
and mental endowment. Robert is
talp'-the broad-shouldered man who
was not tall, nodded "and he is pa
tient under all my perversities. 1t has
taken some time to arrive thoughtfully
ut my decision that our marriage will
be wise and enduring relationship.
Imagine!" the blue eyes danced,
meeting Robert and loving him at first
sight 7"
Graves s1. led absently. "The WON.
an who has for some time been my close
friend and conffdant," he said, "is stop
ping at the hotel with her mother. She
Is my ideal Of all those qualities neces-
sary for q mans true helpmate. What
could learn Of Elizabeth in first
meeting"
The girl opened her book. sand
thereafter" she read mockingly, moth.
ing in the world mattered to these two,
save each other"
Across the waters of the lake came
a low trilling call, the man arose slow
ly. Its Elizabeth" he said, "she has
the boat out and wants me to join her.
That's our signal"
The girl glanced at her wrist watch.
"Five O'clock" she exclaimed, "and I
promised to meet Robert at four"
Comfortably she settled back in the
nook. 'Too late now" she said.
Graves fingered, as the trill still ran
down the lake. Il may not have anoth-
er chance to talk to you like this"
His tone was regretful.
Fainter and far away sounded the
call. With a sigh he sank back into
his corner on the sands. Later, when
he passed the table where the girl sat
in the hotel dining room, their eyes met
with sense of pleasant understanding.
At Richard Graves side was the
woman Of his ideal. The girl studied
this woman Of noble qualities with a
certain wistfulness; she was tall, her
eyes and hair were black. The girl
was very small, now, beneath the shad-
ed light, her hair cleaned almost
golden.
When Graves came back to speak to
her, she turned coldly from him, and !
his attitude, unlike that of the chosen
Robert, proved him to be far from pa
tent with perverseness."
That night when all were sleeping in
their quiet rooms, winding like SER
pent up the flimsy walls Of the hotel,
stole tongue of flame, which burst |
ablaze at last.
The girl Weakening in her high room.
moved through the chok-
Ing smoke to the one narrow window,
only to find it hopeless means Of exit.
Desperately she caught her kimona
about her shoulders and moved again
TO the window, then the door burst
open. In the glazing light she saw for
q moment the stranger Of the beach.
Years ago it seemed since their profit
ess talk of love and marriage. Swift
" from her terrified senses fell all
fear.
HE" was here, "he," the one who
would save her life, or give his own in
saving and the mans eyes looked back
% hers, shining with joy.
81 love you," he gasped." I was afraid