The Southern herald., 1920-01-16

lne Olu EduCuHEJ uOL Winhlu ullh any
harm, or you, neither. We was JUS
talkin' it over, an your father thinks
he's spry enough for the road again.
Amt ever goin' to be like it used to be
after he's gone, an you"
wen be sorry to CO." said the doc
tor. "That's what I've been saying all
day, and thinking, too. If misfortunes
can be lucky, ours was one Of that
kind. / don't know when I've enjoyed
q holiday SO much. What do you say,
girl?" he asked, as he rested an arm
on her round firm shoulder and looked
with fatherly fondness into the fine
brown Of her face.
"Pve never known anything like it,"
she answered. "Tt's wonderful. It's
life" Then with sudden little scream
she exclaimed: "Oh, daddy, why can't
you sell your practice and buy a
ranch? Wouldn't that be wonderful"
'Your mother might not see it that
way" he replied and her eyes fell.
Yes, that was the obstacle. She
would have to go back to the city and
talk by rule, and dress by rule, and
behave by rule, and be correct.
"It's been a good time" the doctor
continued, when they had commenced
supper, "but I've already overstayed
my holiday. I feel l can travel now,
and my leg will be pretty strong by
the time am back east. If Dave will
oblige us by going to town tomorrow
and bringing back some one who can
drive car, we will be able to start
the following morning. Twill just take
the car to town, and either sell 1t there
or ship It,"
The following morning found Dave
early on the trail, leading a saddled
horse by his side. The hours were
leaden for the girl all that day and,
looking into the future, she saw the
specter Of her life shadowed down the
years by an unutterable loneliness.
How could she ever drop 1t all-all
this wild freedom, this boundless
health, this great outdoors, this life,
llfe-how could she drop it all and go
back into the little circle where con-
ventlon fenced out the tiniest alien
streamlet, although the circle itself
might lie deep In mire? And how
would she give up this boy who had
grown SO imperceptlbly but so intl-
mately into the very soul Of her being
give him up with all his strength and
virllity and, yes, and coarseness, If you
will, but sincerity, toO-an essential
man, as God made HMM exchange
for a machine-made counterfeit with
the stamp Of Society," Deeply did she
ponder these questions, and as the day
wore on she found herself possessed
of a steadily growing determination
that she would not follow the beaten
trail, let the by-paths lead where they
might.
Darkness, save for q white moon,
had settled over the foothills when the
boy returned with another young man.
The stranger ate ravenous supper,
but was not too occupied to essay con-
versation with Irene. He chose to call
her cook.
"swell pancakes, cook" was his
opening remark. "Can you find an
other for yours truly|
She rehlled his plate without an
swer.
"Used to know a girl mighty like
you" he went on. "Waitress In the
Royal Edward. Gee! but she was
swell! A pippin! Glass? Say, she
had 'em all guessing. Had me guessing
myself for a while. But just for a
while" He voiced these remarks with
IN air Of intense self-apprOval more
offensive than the words.
Irene felt the color rise about her
neck and cheeks and run like an over
flowing stream into her ears and about
her hair. 1t was evident that, for q
second time, Dave had chosen to say
to strangers about her pres
ence at the ranch. Her father and Mr..
Elden were in Dawes room; Dave had
stopped eating, and she saw the veins
rising in his clenched fists. But the
was to her, and she would
accept it; she felt no need Of his pro-
lection.
"Fill your stomach" she said, pass
ing more pancakes: "your head is
hopeless"
He attempted q laugh, but the meal
was finished in silence. The stranger
lit cigarette and Irene went to the
door with Dave.
"Come for a walk" he whispered.
"Tho horses are tired, so let's walk.
Its our last chance"
She ran for her sweater and rejoined
him in a moment. They walked In
silence down a path through the fra
grant trees, but Dave turned from time
to time to catch q glimpse Of her face,
white and fine us ivory in the soft
light he had much to say, but he was
under the spell of her
beauty.
"You squelched him, all right" he
broke out, at length.
Just in time, too, / think" she re-
piled. II was watching your hands,"
He smiled quiet but very confident
smile. "Reenie," he said, "that fellow
makes me sick. All the way out he
talked ahnnt girls. He's q city CHI