The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-01-23

hiolIitl - iHhlSliOScu, us lley say
in the society page she explained.
''ln other words. she doesn't wish 10
be bothered. SO | thought we would
ride today"
But there are only two horses"
said Dave.
"Well?" queried the girl, and there
was n note in her voice that sounded
strange TO him. There are only two
Of US"
But Mr.. Forsyth?'
"He is not here. He may not come.
Will you saddle the horses and let
us get away?"
Ii was evident to Dave that for some
reason Edith wished TO evade Forsyth
this afternoon. A lovers quarrel, no
doubt. That she had q preference for
him and was revealing IL 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 q real com
partnership. None OF the limitations
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 delicacy which her
~womanhoOd inspired, he came and
went with her as he might have lone
with a man chum Of his own age. And
when she preferred to ride without
Forsyth il did not occur to Eden that
she preferred to ride with him.
They were soon in the country, and
Edith, leading, swung from the road
TO a bride trail that followed the
winding OF the river. AS her graceful
figure drifted on ahead it seemed moro
than ever reminiscent Of Reenie
Hardy. What rides they had had on
those foothill trails! What dlppingr
into the great canyons! What adven
lures into the spruce forests! Anu
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 a dozen times, but he an.
swered absent-mindedly. At length
she leaped from her horse and seated
herself. facing the river, on a fallen
log. Without looking back she IL
Dictated with her hand the space be
side her, and Dave followed and So
down.
"You aren't talking today" she sain.
you don't quite do yourself justice.
What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing !" he answered, with d
laugh, pulling himself together. This
September weather always gets me.
/ guess ! have a streak Of Indian; II
comes OF being brought up on the
ranges. And in September, after the
first frosts have touched the foliage"
He paused, as though II was not nee
essary 10 say more.
"Yes, / know" she said quietly.
Then. with a queer little note Of con
fidence, Don't apologize for it, Dave"
"A%pologizey and his form straight
ened. Certainly not. One
doesn't apologize for nature. does he?
But ii m 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
ever the rumble Of buffalo over the
hills Add he knew he smiled because
he had so completely misled her.
1t was dusk when they started
homeward. al
Forsyth was waiting for her. Dave
scented stormy weather and excused
himself early.
What does this mean?" demanded
Forsyth angrily as soon MS Dave had
gone. do you think i will take Sec
ond place to that-that cOal heaver7"
"That is not to his discredit," she
said.
straight from the cOrrals into good
society,"" Forsyth sneered.
Then she made no pretense of com
posture. IF you have nothing more to
urge against Mr.. Eden perhaps you
will CO."
Forsyth took his hat. At the door
he paused and turned. but she was al.
ready ~ostensibly interested in q maya.
zine. He went out into the night.
The week was a busy one with Dave
and he had no opportunity to visit the
Duncans. Friday Edith called him on
the telephone. She asked an incense
Qucntial question about something
which had appeared In the paper, and
from that the talk drifted on until II
turned or the point Of their expedition
of the previous Sunday. Dave never
could account quite clearly how 1t hap.
pened. but when he hung up the re
ceiver he knew he had asked her II
ride with him again on Sunday. and
she had accepted. He had ridden with
her before, OF course. but he had never
asked her before. He felt that a subtle
change had come over their relation
ship.
Tho VA,ou ~ a mold with q |