The Ordway new era., 1920-10-15


nodded to his wife us he stepped back
ton, my dear. l shall return in time
for dinner"
Mrs. Kirkland smiled at her guest
US the car glided away. 1.-The time of
specialist is little more his own than
that of an old-fashioned family doc
tor" she said. my husband is an
alienist." She turned to the house
maid. SIS Miss Ellen at homer"
"Yes, ma'am. She came back half
an hour ago"
"Tell cook MIR. Clinton is to dine with
u.s.
The little maid fitted up the lawn
and into the house. Mrs. Kirkland and
the guest sauntered after her. The
west fronting of the porch afforded an
across-town view of the snowy range,
now haloed with magnificent sunset.
The traveller paused In the porch, mid
way between the steps and the door.
"What a view!" he exclaimed.
"You enjoy it7" the lady was quick
to catch him up. 'Then, If may ask
you to excuse me for few moments.
1 shall leave you out here In the
porch"
He sprang to open the screen door
for her. But the moment she had gone
inside he went across to the porch wall
and stood gazing at the sunset. forget
full of all else than the gold and scar
let and red that streamed up through
the 1eecy clouds above the indigo
mountains and white peaks into the
azure sky.
Around the corner of the house
strOlled n tall. fair-haired girl, carry
Ing in one hand a novel and in the
other fan. The fiery splendor of the
sunset caught her gaze and held 1t
while she passed the corner and mount
ed the end steps of the porch.
AT first sight of the unconscious
traveller she Strengthened with an i'm
pulse of maidenly reserve. This was
Instantly succeeded by amazement as
her eyes rested on the mans strong
profile. She stopped, transfixed, gaz-
ing at the traveller as If dazed. She
had the look of one unable to believe
some great good fortune.
The traveller was so absorbed in his
enjoyment of the view that he failed
to heed the girls light tread on the
cement floor of the porch. She was
almost within arms length of him
when her joyful eagerness forced from
her half-parted lips breathless little
cry: "Will dear!'
The young man faced about with a
start, and stared ut the girl in blank
surprise. He saw beautiful, blushing
face, a pair of gray eyes aglow with
love, n shapely mouth curved in ten
der smile. AS his hand went automat-
ically to his cap she half raised her
arms as If she expected him 10 EN-
brace her.
"Dear VIII |" she repeated.
He hurriedly gave back step. q
1 beg your pardon. Clinton is my
name-Richard Clinton"
"O-a-ahi" she exclaimed, shrinking
back In turn, perplexed and alarmed
ut his strange behavior. "What-how-
the way you look at me! Can 1t be
possible that your loss of memory"
She clasped her hands to her bosom.
But 1t can't be! 1t can'tl You never
could forget me, never! Say it! Say
you haven't haven't forgotten me,
WillW
But I-don't understand. It's some
mistake. A case Of"
"It Is, of course 1t is !" she broke In.
"You admit 1t. Your poor dear head
was at first confused. But now-now
you remember mel"
81 am very sorry to dlsappoint you,"
he replied. "But cannot permit you
to deceive yourself. l do not remem-
ber you. l can only conjecture that
you may be Miss Kirkland"
"Then you do remember, you do"
she cried.
She had come close to him, her eyes
bright with hope. They were in Sc
cluded corner of the porch. There
We're no houses across the street and
no one was passing. She reached up
her hands and clasped them on his
shoulders while her eyes gazed up
into his, full of loving expectancy.
His face, already embarrassed,
flushed crimson. He drew her CULVER
ing hands down from his shoulders
with gentle force and stepped away.