The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1920-04-30
By
Robert &c. Stead
Author Of
Kitchener and
Other Poems"
Illustrations BY
IRWIN MYERS

ing habit.
Mother is tndisposed,' as they say |
in the society page" she explained. |
'In other words, she doesn't wish to
be bothered. So l thought we would
ride today"
"But there are only two horses"
said Dave.
"Well?" queried the girl. and there
was a note in her voice that sounded
strange to him. There are only two
of u.s."
But Mr.. Forsyth"
HE is not here. He may not come.
Will you saddle the horses and let
us get away?"
1t was evident to Dave that for some
reason Edith wished to evade Forsyth
this afternoon. A lovers quarrel, no
doubt. That she had preference for
him and was revealing 1t with the
utmost frankness never occurred to
his sturdy, honest mind. One of the
delights Of his companionship with
Edith had been that 1t was 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. vet
| in no sense masculine. Save for
| certain tender delicacy which her
womanhood inspired, he came and
| went with her as he might have done
| with man chum Of his own age. And
when she preferred to ride without
Forsyth 1t 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 1t seemed more
than ever reminiscent of Reenie
Hardy. What rides they had had on
those foothill trails! What clippings
into the great canyons! What adven-
lures into the spruce forests And
how long ago 1t 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 In.
dicated with her hand the space be-
side her, and Dave followed and sat
down.
"You aren't talking today" she said
"You don't quite do yourself justice
What's wrong"
"Oh, nothingw he answered, with 6
laugh, pulling himself together This
September weather always gets me
guess I have streak Of Indian; Il
comes Of being brought up on tn,
ranges. And in September, after thu
first frOsts have touched the foliage
He paused, as though it was not nee
essary to say more.
Eyes, know" she said quietly
Then. with a queer little note of con
) fidence, Don't apologize for it, Dave
"Apologize?" and his form straight
: ened. Certainly not. ON
But it comes back in Septem
ber."
He smiled, and she thought the sub
! conscious in him was calling up tn
smell of fire in dry grass, or perhap
even the rumble of buffalo over tn
I hills. And he knew he smiled becaus
!. he had so completely misled her.
3 | l,,c ,ha e.,
: homeward.
j Forsyth was waiting for her. Dav
}. scented stormy weather and excuse
himself early.
"What does this mean?' demande
Forsyth angrily as soon as Dave ha
gone. do you think will take Sc,
y ond place to that-that coal HEAVIER
"That is not to his discredit," sh
9 said.
"SStuight from the cOrrals into goo
3 society,"" Forsyth sneered.
Then she made no pretense of con
J. posture. IF you have nothing more I
: urge against Mr.. Eden perhaps 70
n will CO."
y Forsyth took his hat At the doc
he paused and turned. but she was a
ready ostensibly interested In a mag,
y zine. He went out into tle night
The week was busy one with Day
and he had no opportunity to visit IL
Duncans. Friday Edith called aim 9
y the telephone. She asked an moons
> Quential question about somethiI
~ which had appeared in the paper, ar
l. from that the talk drifted on until
turned on the point of their expedite
:. Of the previous Sunday. Dave new,
:, :. could account quite clearly how 1t Ia
~ pened, but when he hung up the r
:. ceiyer he knew he had asked her
!. ride with him again on Sunday. Al
- she had accepted. He had ridden wi
Is her before. Of course, but he had new
asked her before. He felt that subj
{. change had come over their relatio
A. ship.