The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-11-26

shoulder. But Eden was himself
again. The curtains of his life, which
he had drawn apart for a moment. he
whipped together again rudely, almost
viciously, and covered his confusion by
plunging into q tale of how he had led
a breed suspected Of cattle-rustllng on
a little canter Of ten miles with rope
about his neck and the other end tied
to the saddle. HE ran WELL" said the
old man, chuckling still at the reminis-
cence. "And 1t was lucky he did. 1t
was a strong rope"
The morning after Dave had brought
in the borrowed saddle Irene appeared
in a sort OF bloomer suit. somewhat
wonderfully contrived from spare
skirt, and announced willingness to
risk life and limb on any horse that
Dave might select for that purpose. He
provided her with a dependable mount
and their first journey. taken somewhat
gingerly along the principal trail, was
accomplished without incident. 1t was
the forerunner Of many others. plung-
ing deeper and deeper into the fast
nesses Of the foothills and even into
the passes Of the very mountains them
selves. His patience was infinite and,
although there were no silk trappings
to his courtesy, 1t was very genuine
and manly Difference he paid her. She
was quite sure that he would at any
moment give his life. If needed. to de-
fend her frorn injury-end accept the
transaction as matter OF course. His
physical endurance was inexhaustible
and his knowledge OF prairie and foot
hill seemed TO her almost uncanny. He
read every sign OF footprint, leaf, wa
ter and sky with unfailing insight. He
had no knowledge of books. and she
had at first thought him ignorant. but
as the days went by she found In him
a mine of wisdom which shamed her,
ready-made education.
After such a ride they one day dis
mounted in a grassy opening among the
trees that bordered mountain canyon.
In a crevice they found a fiat stone that
gave comfortable seating and here
they rested while the horses browsed
their afternoon meal on the grass
above. Both were conscious of a grad
ually increasing tension in the at
For days the boy had been
moody. 1t was evident he was harbor-
ing something that was calling through
his nature for expression, and Irene
knew that this afternoon he would talk
of more than trees and rocks and foot
prints of the wild things OF the forest.
"Your father is getting along WELL"
he said, at length.
EYES," she answered. "He has had
good holiday. even with his broken
leg"
you will be goin' away before long,"
he continued.
EYES," she answered. and waited.
Things about here amt goin' to be
the same after you're gone" he went
on. He wore no coat, and the neck of
his shirt was open, for the day was
warm. Had he caught her sidelong
glances, even his slow, self-deprecating
mind must have read their admiration.
But he kept his eyes fixed on the green
water.
"You see," he said. before you came
1t was different. / didn't know what l
was missin, an SO IT didn't matter.
Not but what / was dog-sick of ii at
times, but still thought was Twin
thought this was life, and, Of course,
now know ii amt. At least, Ii won't
be after you're gone"
That's strange" she said, not In
direct answer to his remark, but as
soliloQuy on II as she turned it over In
her mind. This life, now, seems
empty to you. All my life seems
empty to me. This seems to me the
real life. out here In the foothills. with
the trees and the mountains, and-and
our horses. you know"
She might have ended the sentence
In a way that would have come much
closer to him, and been much truer,
but conventionality had been bred In
to her for generations and she did not
find 1t possible yet freely to speak the
truth.
Its such a wonderful life" she con-
tinued. Zone gets 80 strong and hap
py In It,"
you'd soon get sick Of It," he said.
I'VE don't see nothin'. We don't learn
nothin'. Reenie, I'm eighteen, an /
bet yoa could read an write better'n
me when you was six"
did you never 90 to SCHOOL," she
asked. In genuine surprise. She knew
his speech was unSrammatical. but
thought that due to careless trimming
rather than tone training ut all
msrs'l I g to schsolr he de-
nandsd. bitterly. There ain't . school
within forty miles. 0usss wouldn't
have went II couid," he added, as an
aftertheaght. Wishing to be quite hon.
ct In the matter. ~Sehsol didn't seem
= cut No Agure-sntii Jus lately"
-Dut you have learned-somer she
continued. n
sSens. when / waa q little kid my
father used 70 werk With me at times.
H lnnynnA NJ n r~ad r lfffln an