The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1920-12-23

sfnGlis and sounds Lut Ae ieN ahat
they were leaving an imprint ca the
very fiber of his soul. He knew one
thing. He knew he could never for.
get this first Introduction to the noun
tain night. The whole scene moved
him in strange, deep ways in which
he had never been stirred before; it
left him exultant and, in deep wells Of
his nature far below the usual cur
rents of excitement, q little excited
too.
Then both of them were startled
out Of their reflections by the clear,
unmistakable sound of footsteps on
the ridge. Both Of them turned, and
Lennox laughed softly in the dark
ness. my daughter" he said. 81
knew she wouldn't be afraid to come"
Dan could see only Snowbird's out
line at first just her shadow against
the moonlit hillside. His glasses were
none too good at long range And
possibly, when she came within range,
the first thing that he noticed about
her was her stride. The girls he
knew didn't walk in quite that free,
strong way. She took almost a man.
size step; and yet it was curious that
she did not seem ungraceful. Dan had
distinct impression that she was
floating down to him on the moonlight.
She seemed to come with such unut-
terable smoOthneSs. And then he
heard her call lightly through the
darkness.
The sound gave him a distinct sense
M c1Vr icn I0 1nr 3raS&
ISOLATED voice like this with noun
tain girl: he had supposed that there
would be 60 many harshening fnf1u-
ences in this wild place. Yet the tone
was as clear and full as a trained
singers. It was not high voice and
yet 1t seemed simply brimming, as
cup brims with wine, with the rap.
ture of life. 1t was a self-conf1dent
voice too, wholly unaffected and sim
cere. and wholly without embarrass.
ment
Then she came close, and Dan saw
the moonlight on her face. And so 1t
came about, whether IN dreams or
wakefulness. he could see nothing else
for many hours to come.
The girl who stood in the moonlight
had health. She was simply vibrant
with health. It brought light 20 her
eyes, and color to her cheeks, an6
life and simmer to her mOoniit hair.
It brought curves to her body, and
strength and firnn"ss to her limbs
and the grace of a deer to her clr-
rage. Whether she had regular fea-
lures or not Dan would have been I'M
able to state. He didn't even notice.
They weren't important when health
was present. Yet there was nothing
Of the coarse or bold or voluptuOus
about her. She was Just a slender
girl, perhaps twenty years OF age, and
weighing even less than the figure oc-
casionally to be read in the health
magazines for girls Of her height. And
she was fresh and cool beyond all
words to tell.
And Dan had no decisions about
her attitude toward him. For long
instant she turned her keen. young
eyes to his white, thin face; and at
once it became abun0ant!y evident
that beyond few girlish speculations
she felt no interest In him After a
single moment of rather strained, po-
enough to satisfy her idea Of the con.
ventions-she began a thrilling girl.
hood tale to her father. Ard she was
still telling it when they reHclsed the |
house.
Dan held a chair for her in fronk Of |
the fireplace, and she took it with en-
tire naturalness. He was careful to |
put it where the freight was at its |
height. He wanted to see ita effect OF |
the flushed cheeks, the soft dark hair. |
And then, standing in the shadows, he |
simply watched her. With the eye of |
an artist he delighted In her gestures.
her ripping enthusiasm, her utter n
girlishne!s that all Of tisnS
had not years enou ;h to kill
Bill stood watching her, his hands
deep in his pockets, evidently a com
panion of the best. Her father gazed
at her with amused. tolerance. And
Dan-he didn't know in just what way
he did look at her. A nd he didn't Rave
time to decide. In less than fifteen
and wholly without warning,
she sprang up frOl her chair and
started toward the door.
GOOD LordG" Dan breathed. MI
you make such sudden motions as that
I'll have heart failure. Where art
you going now?"
Back to my watch" she answered
her tone wholly lacking the personal
note which men have learned to ex-
oect in the voices of women. And an
instant later the three of them saw
her retreating shadow as she vanished
among the pines.
Dan had to be helped to bed. The
Ong ride had been too hard On his
shattered lungs; and nerves and body
an insrant after the door
vas closed behind the departing girl
He laughed weakly and begged their
,ardOn; and the two men were really
za.... tai |