The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-07-03
CHAPTER K.
II

A careful analysis of Shirlev's feel
ings toward Bryce Cardigan immedi-
ately following the incident in Pen
ningtOns woods, had showed her that
under more prOpitiOuS circumstances
she might have fallen in love with that
tempestuOus young man in sheer rec
Ognition of the many lOvable and man.
~ qualities she Lad discerneO in him.
As an offset TO the credit side of
Bryce's account with her, however,
there appeared certain debts in the
consideration of NF,.ch Shirley always
lost her temper anC was Immediately
quite certain she Syathed the unfOr-
tunate man.
He had been an honored and (fOr
aught Shirley knew to the contrary
welcome guest in the Pennington home
one night, and the following day had
assaulted his host, committed great
bodily injuries upon the latter's en-
ployees for little or no reason save the
satisfaction of an abominable temper,
made threats of further violence, de-
clared his unfaltering enmity to her
nearest and bestowed relative. and in
the next breath had had the insOlence
to pirate Of his respect and admiration
for her.
However, all of these grave crimes
and misdemeanors were really insig-
nificant compared with his browning
offense. What had Infatuated Shirley
was the fact that she had been at some
pains 10 inform Bryce Cardigan that
she loathed him-whereat he had
looked her over coOlly. grinned little,
and declined TO believe her! Then.
seemingly as If fate had decreed that
her futility should be impressed upon
her still further, Bryce Cardigan had
been .graS.ed an opportunity to save,
in a strix,ngiy calm, heroic and pain
full manner, hep and her uncle from
certain apd horrible death. thus plac-
ing upoa Shirley an obligation that
was as Irritating TO acknowledge as 1t
was .futiIs TO attempt to reciprocate.
That LAS where the shoe pinched.
Before ytat day was over she had
been forced to do one of two things
acknowledge IN no uncertain terms her
Indebtedness to him, or remain silent
and to b. Sonvicted Of having been, in
plain language, a rOtter. So she had
telephoned him and purposely left
ajar' the door to their former friendly
relations.
AfOnstrous! He had seen the open
door and deliberately slammed 1t in
her face Luckily for them both she
had heard. all unsupported by him as
he slowly hung the receiver on the
hook, the soliloquy wherein he gave
her pointed hint of the distress with
which he abdlcated-which knowledge
was all that deferred her from despis-
ing him with the fervor Of a woman
scorned.
The fascination which a lighted
candle holds for a moth is too well
known to require further elucidation
here. In yielding one day. to a desire
to visit the Valley of the Giants, Shir-
ley told herself that she was going
there to gather wild blackberries. She
had been thinking Of a certain black
berry pie, which thought naturally In
duced reflection on Bryce Cardigan
and reminded Shirley of her first visit
to the Giants under the escort of boy
In knickerb0ckers.
Her meeting with MORA McTavish
that day, and the subsequent friend
ship formed with the wOods-boss'
daughter, renewed all her apprehen-
slons. On the assumption that Shir-
ley and Bryce were practically
strangers to each other Gan assump-
ton which Shirley. for obvious rea-
sons, did not attempt to dissipate)
Moira did not hesitate to mention
Bryce very frequently. To her he was
the one human being in the world
utterly worth while, and 1t is nat
ural for women to discuss, fire.
Quently and at great length. the
subject nearest their hearts. Moira
described Bryce In minute detail and
related to her eager auditor little I'M
conscious daily acts of kindness.
thoughtfulness or humor performed by
Bryce-his devotion to his father, his
fdeaIlstic attitude toward the Cardi-
gan employees. his ability. his indus
try. Ard presently, little by little,
Shirley's resentment against him
faded, and in her heart was born a
great wistfulness bred of the hope thai
some day she would meet Bryce Cardi.
gan on the street and that he would
pause. lift his hat. smile at her his
compelling smile and forthwith pro
coed to bully her into being friendly
and forgiving- her into adj
hitting her change of heart and glory
ing In II.
To this remarkable state of mind
had Shirley Sumner attained at the
time John Cardigan. leading his last
little trump in a vain hope that Il
would enable him to take the odd trich
IN the huge game he had played fol
nifty years, decided to sen his Valley
OF the Giants.
shirley. as explained In aAprecedine
claptcr. had been present he might
49, Cardigan. desperate and brought
at last, had telephoned PennIng
he latter's home. accepting Pen
ia last offer for the Valley OF
rs The cruel triumph In the
Us handsome face as he curly
rebuHed old Cardigan had been too al
parent for the girl to mistake; sh,