The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-07-09

steeple met her eyes, silhouetted
against the sky, and she made for 1t,
/ She wanted to enter, but the silence
| of the interior repealed her, so she
seated herself on a stone nearby and
| let her mind wander.
How long Ella sat there Illuminating
! she did not know, but suddenly she
! came TO herself with start. A strange
feeling Of forebOding seemed to grip
her. She glanced at the sky and saw
| that the stars had withdrawn behind a
block spread. Only the half-moon
stared down coIdIy, its face pale be-
hind a shrOud of clouds.
1t was not cold, but Ella shivered
her neck. Far beneath her, in the
canyon that began few PAGES from
her feet, a wild wall rent the air, the
cry of some prOwling animal. Then
absolute stiffness prevailed. a weird
OminOus stiffness.
Ella became afraid, although what
there was to be afraid Of she could
not say. She wished her father was
there to put a protecting arm around
her, TO make her feel secure against
the unseen peril.
The solitude was terrible. and she
arose from the rock, intending to flee
to camp. But she seemed paralyzed.
1t was simply the grip Of the big out
doors night that had fastened on her,
but she felt an unfathOmabIe terror,
and she wanted TO scream.
If only her father were there-or
some one else to break the solitude.
Yes, If Walter CrestOn only would ap-
pear on the scene with one Of his ever
lasting proposals, she would welcome
him. Walter was a pretty good sort,
even If he did lack thOrOughnesS, and
probably she would marry him some
day. Anyhow, she needed some one
now. OF sudden she realized that
she needed man!
Down the mountain road she heard
a hummng sound. At first 1t in
creased her terror until she realized
ii was the motor of ali automobile.
Presently around a curve flashed
pair Of electric eyes, and up the road
rolled a Twentieth century chariot.
Ella forced her feet TO carry her into
the center Of the road, and there she
stood and held up trembling hand.
The car stopped, its lights resting On
her out of the machine clambered
four male figures.
"HeIlO-it's Ella" exclaimed the
foremost, and as he entered the light
she recognized Walter. Without pre-
liminary words she threw herself into
his arms.
Presently she withdrew from the
embrace and stammered an expIana-
ton.
II was just wishing you were here"
she said in concluding.
Good !" he CALCULATED. AT last you
feel the need Of man. There Is no
time like the present VIII you marry
meT
She hesitated. CHANGING aloft she
saw the pale moon looking down, not
quite so cOldly now. In the distance
high peaks doomed, not so fOrebOdingiy
now. The restless motor was keeping
the silence broken. Solitude was shat
tered by the four motorists. But still
there was that strange grip Of the out
doors. of wide distances, and in her
breast her heart was pounding, but not
now with fear.
YES" she whispered, whenever
you say"
VERY WE'LL" said Walter, lets
make it right now"
You foolish boy" she laughed.
Don't you know we need a minister
and a license-and I've always wanted
d church wedding"
That's easy" he returned. There's
a minister in my party, and I've
brought a license with me from the
East; and what's that ruined building
over there? 1t looks as if it might
have been a church once"
You win, Walter" she admitted.
IT'S a church all right. No one can
say you are not thorough now"