Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1920-02-12
CHAPTER xi.-centlnued.

OF cyniclsm and mascullnity. Wa
really very womanly young woman
with Just the training and the insigh
Into life that would make her almos
Irresistible should she enter the mat
rlmoninl market. And Rcrt and DaV,
were already good friends; very goo,
friends indeed. NJ Irene suspccic,
from fragments Of conversation Whl.l
either OF them dropped from time {,
time. Although she never dnuhtet
the slnglcnrSs ~ Dawes devotion. III,
sometimes suspected that IN Bert Nor
rlson's presence he felt more franz
cumpdcship than In hers. And IL Wal
rrcpostcrous that hc should no, know
that Bert Nigh, be- won Tor the win
Ming. And meantime
Another winter wore away: another
spring came rushing from the noun,
tain passes; another summer WIS
npon them, and still Irene Hardy had
not surrendered. A thousand times
she told herself II was impossible. with
her mother 90 think of-and always
she ended In Indignation over her
treatment ~ Dave. II was outrageous
"a keep him waiting i. and some,
whore back Of her sclf,lndlgnatlon fiit.
ted the form--thc now seductive form
of Bert Morrison.
Irene Hardy chose 20 be frank with
herself over the situation. She. had
not doubted the sincerity Of her AZ
tachmcnt for Dave Eden; but. had
she experienced such "a doubt. the ca.
try OF Bert Morrison into the drama
would have forever removed Il. In
fairness she admitted that things
could not continue as they were. II she
continued TO tribe with Dave Eldoa--
Yes. tribe. She would be frank.
She would not spare herself. She had
been trIfIug with him. >. She would
lay her false pride aside. In the purity
Of her wumanhood. which lie could not
9 understand. she would Jlyest her
Sc. OF ail convention and tell him
frankly ihat-that-
She was not sure what she would
tell or how she would tell Il. She was
sure only that she would make him
know. AZ the very next opportunity.
II came on q fine summers evening
IN late July. while Dave and Irene
dr.!ied In his car over the rich ripen-
lnE prairics.
Everywhere were fields Of dark
green wheat. already beginning to
gl.mmer with the gold Of harvest; ev.
erywhere were herds Of sleek cattle
signing and blowing contentedly in
the cool evening air Away TO the west
lay the mountains. blue md soft as a
pillow OF velvet for the head OF the
dying day; overhead. inverted Islands
Of brass and copper floated lazily in
IN inverted sea OF azure and opal; up /
from the southwest came the breath +
of the far Pacific, mild and soft and .
gentle.
I'VE started at the wrong end in our
nation building" Dave was saying
1--WE started TO build cities. leaving
the country TO take care of itself. We .
are finding out how wrong We were.
Depend upon II, where there is n pros.
porous country the cities will take
care of themselves. We have been
putting the cart before the horse"
But Irene's eyes were on the sunset;
on the slowly fading colors OF the
overhead. Something of
that color played across her fine face,
softcning. drawing rs II
seemed, the very soul TO checks and
lips and eyes. Dave paused in his
speech to regard her, and her beauty
rushed upon him. engulfed him, over
whelmed him in such poignancy OF
tenderness tina. II seemed for, mo-
nent all his resolves must be swept
iway and he must storm the citadel
hat would not surrender to siege.
Duly action could hold him resolute;
ne pressed down the accelerator until
he steel lungs of his motor were
thinking power to their utmost capac-
ty and the car roared furiously down
he stretches of the country road.
1t was dusk when he had burnt out
lis violence, and, chastened and
;pent, he turned the machine to hum
)ack gently to the forgotten city.
rene, by some fine teiepathy, had fol-
owed vaguely the course of his emo
ions; had followed them in delicious
excitement and fear and hope. She
'ensed in some subtle feminine way
he impulse that had sent him roaring
hto the distances; she watched his
powerful hand on the wheel; his clear,
steady eye; the minute accuracy with
which he controlled his flying motor
md she prayed-and did not know
What or why she prayed. But color
lot all of the dying sunlight lit her
heck as she guessed-she feared
he hoped-that she had prayed that
lie might forget his fine resolves
hat his heart might at last outrule
lis head.
In the deepening darkness her fin
.ers found his arm. The motion of the [
ar masked the violence of her trem- {
ling, but for time the pounding of
er heart would not allow her speech.
"Dave," she said, at length, II want
0 tell Won that think yoyl---fhaf Wa 1