The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-07-15


paper, and Daniel sank into his chair
With his strong fingers he pinned tn,
note 10 the table. breathing rapid,
through dilated nostrils. Hunt, sittinJ
next 10 him, recalled afterward tha
IL was the only time In all the year.
he had known him that he had evel
seen the mans hand tremble.
Daniel looked up, stared blankly 8
moment at the two silently questioning
faces. His lip quivered slightly.
"Boys. I've received startling news
I've changed my mind about giving
everything away. III 60 ahead with
those houses. But I'll 60 little saner.
In little saner manner. you under
stand. And. boys. am going to do
that big thing"
! He sprang up.
Jonas! Call q good livery stable.
! want their best saddle horse at
twelve sharp. Craig. make an appoint
ment for tomorrow morning with
Stanley Graham. the architect. Phone
for the head barber downstairs, Jonas
Mention ten dollars to him"
Then, without any Of them know
ing what 1t was all about. the specu-
lator, the secretary, and the valet, had
their hands seized and wrung with q
vim that crushed their fingers.
Hunt, burning with curiosity, per
mitted his eye to rest mOmentartly
upon the opened note lying on the
fohla 10 could 10 L. "a
1t began without preface and was un-
signed. 1t consisted Of two questions,
written in flowing, girlish hand:
"Do you remember our last appoint
mentl viii you keep 1t todayT
AS the superbly 1.-THE. red-haired
young woman mounted with cool COM
posure on the sorrel horse, cantered
serenely past the Grant monument In
Lincoln park she glanced at her watch
and saw IT was one o'clock. A garden
er spading the soft ground beside the
bridle-path stopped his work, as well
anyone might, TO follow her with ad-
miring gaze. There was delicious
"earthy" smell Of spring In the air,
a vernal qulckening all about.
Presently-she had passed the end
OF the hillock just north Of the monu-
ment-she turned In her saddle, and
perceived far to the south a dark
shape growing rapidly larger. She Jerk
ed the reins precipitately, wheeled
about, started back in alarm. Her ad.
mirable tranquility had vanished.
Goose What did he mean? He was
q full hour early.
Escape was cut of. Quickly she
guided her horse into the concrete
arch monument-and waited. Her per-
turbation increased. Her gloved hand
toyed nervously with her riding crop.
Her heart pounded against her side.
She smoothed for the fifth time her
stylish riding-habit, adjusted for the
tenth time the pointed hat atop her
Titan hair.
What did he mean? He was an hour
early
Now she could hear the rhythmic
thud OF the hoof-beats. They we're
coming with break speed. Louder
and nearer. louder and nearer, louder
and nearer
A form shot past Her heart leapt
to her throat.
Then the SCuffle os a horse checked
In headlOng gallop, swiftly return
Ing sounds, and the archway was dark
ened by a broad-shOuldered athletic
man astride heaving, foam-fecked
steed.
His age sat lightly upon him. He
looked much younger than he was. He /
had swept off his hat, and his thick
black hair, matted damply against his
forehead, showed never a trace of
gray. He was distinguished rather
than good-looklng. and the skin Of his |
newly-and wholly-shaven face was
as fresh as clear. and as glowing as
her own.
- Stirring within the minds OF these
two, who had beyond question proved
their love for one another, who had
known sorrow and bitterness and de-
spair, who had travelled years to reach
this moment, treading long circle
to fuse II at last, were-who shall say
what thoughts and emotions7
But suppose ! tell you what the
gardener. spading the soft ground be-
side the bridle-path, overheardf
Well Kate. how are you?
You came a little early. Two was the
hour. you know. ~
Dan, ! like you ever so much
better without the beard. :"
(THE END.l