Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-22

| 'SuNJ EOuS Will
She was. near now--she could se
CourtEey's face, waxen white but fear
less MIS- dark eyes turned back towart
Courtrey loved strength and cour
age and all things wild and fierce Sh,
could see Bolts staring eyebails, hi
npen np NOUN, % gasping and piteous. on
then she rose In her stirrups and free
straight at the broad bay temple shin,
ing and black with sweat
The great gallant Ironwood went
down in huge arc--frst his beautiful
head, then the sinking arch of his neck
then. the shoulders that had worked sc
wondrously. He rolled on his back like
a hoop, his iron-shod hoofs spinning for
one spectacular moment in the air. Then
he lay at sudden ease, his still flutter.
ing nose pointing directly back the way
he had ccme
with the first catching stumble of the
true fore-feet. the man on hts back had
shot out OF the saddle and far ahead. He
landed twenty feet. away and equarely
on his head and shoulders. Like Bolt,
Courtreys BODY turned a complete SOM
ersault-and lay still. at sudden peace.
Tharon Last and FL Rey went on like
an arrow--they could net stop.
When at last she did draw the great
king down she was far and away from
the spot She turned her head, painting
and dizzy. and looked back. She
could see the prone red heap that was
Bolt little way beyond that other.
For a long time she sat on FL Rey's
| heaving back and stared unseeingly at
the green earth where the short grasses
quiyered in the little wind.
her lips, but. her eyes blazed with the
| fire that had characterized them from
birth, the fiekering, unfathomable
flame that came and went.
| Then, presently new lines came In
her young face. unstable lines that
| quivered and worked, and all the good
green earth danced grotesquelv before
her vision, for a wall Of tears shut out
the world.
- She laid her head down on E1
Rey's cloudy nane--and wept.
It was early dawn at Lasts Holding.
The sun was not yet up behind the east
percd in the dawn-wind. the spring be-
meath the milk-house talked and mur.
INJURED. Out in the big corrals the cat
tie were beginning to stir and bawl.
| In the kitchen old Anita and young
| men.
Deep in that dim south room where
the pale Virgin kept watch and ward,
Kenset of the foothills slept in healing
peace.
And at the step of the western door,
Billy stood by Golden--Golden the
beautiful, who ranked next to El Rey
himself-and his face was lifted to
Tharon,, who dropped against the Intel
with her forehead on her arm.
The boy held her hand clasped In
both of his own, and there was yearn-
ing tenderness in his soft voice when
he spoke, a pride and Joy ineffable that
glowed above the pain that was never
TO leave him.
"It amt that love you less, Tharon
dear" he said gently, that I must 60.
Not that. little girl. I'll love you till l
die--that ] know in dead certainty But
! can't stay here-not where I'll have
70 see you givin' all your sweet self to
another man. A good man. too, Tharon
Il think there Amt a better one in tn
and-but--well--T can't--that's ali. I
can't thank you for all you've done for
me sence you was a little mite of a girl
bit. but he controlled it. nor for tn Joy
you've given meth rides together
an. tn jokes an playin'--"
He paused moment. unhappiiy, and
heavily against the old adobe wall.
Nor for Golden here" went on the
rider, well be pals as long as we both
iiyeEnor hvs;.. ferIfer-" he stopped again.
n,;,,ust hesitated. locked yearningly at the
and went on to the finish.
Nor fer that ono kiss, Tharon-it's
my one treasure for life so help me,
God-that you give me that night An
over all I want to, thank you fer--fer-
O. God--fer you done that trick for me 1!
tn one stain on your dear hands--fer
me-the only one. fer Fate killed Court
Y rey, not you His neck was clean broke
memory viii keep me alive, will save
tn, beauty of tn stars at night fer me,
VIII make IN rest worth livin'
That enc kiss"
He stopped again and stood for long
time looking at her as II he would fx
forever In his memory the beauty Of
her, the fire, the spirit, the elusive quail
ity that was Tharor Last herself.
Then he sighed and smiled and gently
shook the hand he held.
dear" he said softly.
For answer the mistress Of Lasts once
again reached out her arms and drew
his head to her heart--once more
pressed her lips upon his own.
"oh, Billy" she said with a sound
Of tears In her voice, "Kenset's tn one
man-that's true, an I'm helpless before
tn fact-but there'll never be another
sSs sSs,o trkS your 4. place in my ,s
In tn, Big Shadow In just tn Same
way. Billy--to hold my hand as we
come home to Lasts with that same
sweet, honsst friendship that don't
i've lost my iife-frisnd".en my hearts
sore-scre with pain !"
The rider lifted his face and II was
glorified in tho first rays OF the sun
that was rising over the eastern noun
tains. His gayly studded belt and rid
ing cuffs. his spurs and tho vanity Of
silver on his wide hat caught the glow
and sparkled brightly Joy became para
nS Don't S'', YOU S fret, Tharon." h. said,
still in that soft voice. Tn always at
your shoulder In sp.rit--in body, too. II |
you ever want me or need me. So
long"