The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-01-30
Illustrations BY
IRWIN MYERS

mother is 1~ndlSpOSed. as they say
in the society page" she explained.
in other words. she doesn't wish to
be bothered. So | thought we would
ride today"
But there are only two horses"
said Dave.
"Weii?" queried the girl, and there
was a note In her voice that sounded
strange to him. There ar. only two
of us"
But Mr.. Forsyth"
"He is not here. He may not come.
VIII you saddle the horses and let
us get away"
II was evident to Dave that for some
reason Edith wished to evade Forsyth
this afternoon. A lovers u arrel, no
doubt. That she had a preference for
him and was revealing it with the
utmost ~frankneSs never occurred to
his sturdy. honest mind. One of the
delights Of his c~ompanionship with
Edith had beer tina, IL was u real com
~panionship. None Of the limitations
occasioned by any sex consciousness
had narrowed the sphere Of the frank
friendship he felt for her. She was
10 him almost as another man. yet
in no sense masculine. Save for a
certain tender delicacy which her
wonanhOOd inspired. he came and
went with her as he might have done
with a man chum of his own age. And
when she preferred to ride without
Forsyth it 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 Il bride trail that followed the
winding OF The river. AS her graceful
figure drifted on ahead it 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-
verSati6n a dozen times, but he an
swered Extraordinarily. At length
she ieaped from her horse and seated
herself. facing the river. on q. fallen
log. Without looking back she in
dictated with her hand the space be-
side her. and Dave followed and sat
down.
You aren't talking today" she said.
don't quite do yourself justice.
What's wrOng?"
"Oh. nothing!" he answe ed. with q
laugh. pulling himself together. This
September weather always gets me.
| guess ! have a streak OF Indian; 1t
comes Of being brought up on the
ranges. And In September. after the
first frOsts have touched the foliage"
lie paused. as though 1t was not nee.
essary to say more.
"Yes. I know" she said quietly.
Then. with u queer little note Of con.
fidence. "lhpn't apologize for it, Fave"
"Apoiogize?" and his form straight
ened. Certainly not. One
doesn't apologize for nature. does hei
:. Blu 1t comes back In Septem.
ber."
He smiled. and she thought the sub
conscious In him WIS calling up the
smell of fire In dry grass. or perhaps
even The rumble Of buffalo Over the
hills. And he knew he smiled because
he had so completely misled her.
]. It was dusk when they started
honeward.
Forsyth was waiting for her. Dave
scented stormy weather and excused
himself early.
what does this mean?" demanded
Forsyth angrily as soon as Dave had
gone. do you think | will take sec.
ond place to that-that coal heaver3'
THAT is not to his discredit," she
said.
straight from the corrals into good
society" Forsyth sneered.
Then she made no pretense Of com.
posture. IF you have nothing more to
urge against Mr.. Eden perhaps you
will CO."
Forsyth tool his hat. At the door
he paused and turned. hut she was al.
ready Ostensibly interested in a maya.
zine. He vent out into the night.
The week was a busy one with Dave
n he had no opportunity to visit the
Duncans. Friday Edith called him on
the telephone. She asked an incOnsel
quential question about something
which had appeared in the paper. and
from that the talk drifted on until II
turned on the point Of their expedition
Of the previous Sunday. Dave never
could ccou quite clearly how II hap
pened. hut when he hung up the re-
ceiver he knew he had asked her to
ride with him again on Sunday. and
she bad accepted. He had ridden with
TIER before. Of course, but he had never
asked her before. He felt that q subtle
change had come over their relation
..Ae.~ &W3