New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-12-31

floating down to him on the moonlight,
She seemed 10 come with such unut-
ierable smoothness. And then he
heard her call lightly through the
darkness.
The sound gave him q distinct sense
of surprise. Some way. he hadn't as
sociated Il voice like this with n noun
tain girl he had supposed that there
would be- SO many harshening infiu-
ences In this wild place. Yet the tone
was as clear and full as a trained
singers. II WIS not n high voice; and
vet II seemed simply brimming, as a
cup brlms with wine, with the rap
ture of life. II was n self-confident
voice too. wholly unaffected and sin,
cere, and wholly without embarrass-
men
Then she came close. and Dan saw
the moonlight on her face. And so II
came about, whether in dreams or
wakefulness, he could see nothing else
for many hours 10 come.
The girl who stood In the moonlight
had health. She was simply vibrant
with health. 1t brought II Hight to her
eyes, and q color to her cheeks. and
life and simmer 10 her moonllt hair.
Ii brought curves to her body. and
strength and firmness to her limbs,
and the grace OF n deer to her car
rage. Whether she had regular fea-
lures or not Dan would have been I'M
able to state. lie didn't even notice,
They weren't important when health
was present. Yet there was nothing
of the coarse or bold or yOluptuOus
about her. She was just a slender
girl, perhaps twenty years Of age, and
weighing yen 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 delusions about
her attitude toward him. For a long
instant she turned her keen, young
eyes 10 his white, thin face; and at
once 1t became abundantly evident
that beyond n few girllsh speculations
she felt no interest IN him. After n
single moment Of rather strained, pO-
lite conversation with Dan-just
enough TO satisfy her idea of the con
ventions-she began IA thrilling girl
hood tale to her father. And she vas
still telling 1t when they reached the
house.
Dan held a chair for her In front of
the fireplace. and she took II with en-
tire n~aturalneSS. lie was careful 10
put ii where the freight was at its
height. He wanted to see It's effect on
the flushed cheeks, the soft dark hair.
And then, standing in the shadows. he
watched her. With the eye of
an artist he delighted In her gestures.
her ripping enthusiasm. her utter ir
rcpressible g%irlishness that all of time
had not years enough To kill.
Bill stood watching her, his hands
deep in his pockets, evidently a com
panion Of the best. Her father gazed
ut her with amused tolerance. And
Dan-he didn't know In just what way
he did look at her. And he didn't have
Illnt 10 uttlut. III less tnun fifteen
minutes, and wholly without warning.
she sprang up from her chair and
toward the door.
Good Lord" Dan breathed. "If
make such sudden motions as that
IN have heart failure. Where are
you going nowI'
Back to my watch" she answered,
Ter tone wholly lacking the personal
lote which men have learned to ex-
,ect In the voices OF women. And an
instant later the three of them saw
Ter retreating shadow as she vanished
Imong the pines. ,
Dan had to be helped to bed. The /
ong ride had been too hard or his :
lungs; and nerve and body /
ollapsed an instant after the door :
'as closed behind the departing girl. 8
le laughed weakly and begged their 4.
ardOn; and the two men were really
cry gentle. They told him 1t was
fault for permitting him to 4
verde. LennoX himself blew out the a
andle In the big, cold bedroom. a