Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1920-02-06
CHAPTER xl.-coutInuod.
b narpsr : Bro,hsTs

train Of thought In Ircne's mind. She
reh;lrsd that Bert. with all her slN'W
~ cynlclsm and mhsculinity, was
really u very womanly young woman
with lust the training and the Insight
into life that would make her almost
Irresistible should she enter the mnt-
rImOnial market. And Bert ana Dave
were nlrcndy good friends; very good
friends Indeed, as Irene suspected
from fragments OF conversation which
either of them dropped from time 10
time. Although she never doubte
the s~lngleness OF Dawes devotion. h
sometimes suspected thnt In Bert Nor
rison's presence he felt n more FRANK
~conrndeship thnn In hers. And II wns
prcposterous that he should not know
TINT Bert might be won for the win
Ming. And meantime .
Another winter wore away another
spring came rushing from the noun
tain passes; another summer was
upon them, and stiil Irene Hardy had
not surrendered. A thousand times
she told herself II WINS impossible, with
her mother 10 think of-nnd always
she ended In Indignation over her
treatment Of DIVE. II was outrageous
10 keep him waiting and some
whore bnck OF her self-lndIgnntion hit
ted the form-the now seductive form
of Bert Morrison.
Irene Hardy chose 10 be frank with
herself over the situation. She had
not doubted the sincerity Of her at
tnchment for Dave Eden but. had
she experienced such II doubt, the en-
try OF Bert Morrison into the drama
would have forever removed II. In
fairness she admitted that things
could not continue MS they were. II she
continued to trine with Dave Eden
Yes. trlile. She would be frank.
She would not spure herself. She had
been trinlng with him. . She would
lay her fnlse pride aside. In the purity
OF her w%OmnnhOOd, which he could not
misunderstood. she would dlvest her
self OF all convention and tell him
frankly thnt-thnt-
She was not sure what size would
tell or how she would tell Il. She was
sure only that she would make him
know. At the very next opportunity.
II nme on n fine summers evening
IN late July, while Dave and Irene
drlftcd In his eur over the rich rlpen-
Ing prnlrlcs.
Everywhere were fields OF dark
green wheat, already beginning to
gllmmcr with the gold Of hnrvest ev-
crywhcre were herds of sleek cattle
sighting aud blowing %contentedly In
the cool evening nlr. Awny to the west
lny the mountains, blue and soft as a
pillow of velvet for the bend Of the
dying day overhead. Inverted Islands
Of brass and copper flonted lnzlly In
an inverted sen Of azure and opal up
from the southwest came the breath
Of the far Pacific, mild and soft and
gentle.
"We started ut the wrong end In our
nation building" Dave was saying.
ave started TO build cities, leaving
the country to take care OF Itself. We
ARE finding out how wrong we were,
depend upon II, where there Is a pros
porous country the cities will take
rare OF themselves. We have been
putting the cart before the horse
but lrene's eyes were on the sunset
on the slowly finding colors Of the
cloudlnnds overhead, Something OF
thnt color played ncross her fine face.
mellowlng, s%oftcning, drawing MS II
seemed, the very soul to cheeks nnd
lips and eyes. Dave paused In his
speech Ia regard her. and her benuty
Iushed upon him, %engulfed him, over
whelmed him I'm such n %poignnncy OF
ment all his resolves must be swept
away and he must storm the cltadeI
that would not surrender 10 siege.
Only action could hold him resolute
he pressed down the nccelerntor unit
the steel lungs OF his motor wer,
drinking power to their utmost capac
ity and The car ronred %furlously dowr
the stretches OF the country road.
II was dusk when he had burnt on.
his violence, aud, chastened nnt
spent, tie turned the machine to hun
back gently to the forgotten city
Irene, by some fine lelepnthy, had fol
lowed vaguely the course OF his emo
lions had followed them IN dellclouI
excitement and fear aud hope. SIN
Henscd In some subtle feminine wa,
the impulse that had sent him r0arlnl
into the distances she watched MI
powerful hand ON the wheel his clear
steady eye the minute accuracy Will
which he controlled his flying motor
mud she prnyed-and did not know
what or why she prayed But a colo
MOI oil OF the dying sunlight III he