The Washington herald., 1921-04-03

-
bling thread Of purest gold. OF unutterabie
happiness, Full well did Princiep' know
what had befallen him, and he shook and
trenbIed in his high heeled boots.
What had he. .Princiep' Allorez. rsncher
in the desert country. in kind with this won
derful creature from SO far east as Cincin-
natl. Ohio? These rides now-some day
they must cease and be but memories-and
P1nciep' Foaned. The girl turned wonder
ing eyes upon him. but he hastened to srsiie-
The world. Ma'amselle," he said "is n
not sweetf JUS to be alive! 1t is 90 sreat
privilege
They were resting by q water hole far on
the greasewood plain. and Lflith sat swung
sidewise in her saddle, smiling dresmiiy.
She had fallen into horsemanship with the
natural ability and aptitude that marks the
young eagle launching into space
The keen air was sweet to her lungs. the
desert had miraculously lost its appalling
loneliness.
Verify these few weeks in this new land
had shown her much.
Yes" she said. gravely. "it is a won.
drous world. And somehow you seem to see
its beauties with a keener eye than any one
I ever knew. What are you. Mr.. Allorez-
Spanish? French7"
Both" answered Princiep,' my father
was half Spanish with an English mother.
Ny dear mother was a French Creole from
New Orleans"
And as he spoke his eloquent eyes pro-
claimed that he had inherited the best OF all
Of those strains. their tenderness. their kind
illness, their keenness, as the girl had said.
The long days passed The week went
by and Princiep' was in despair that he
must go back 10 the distant ranch for a
time, but he left The Swallow with such
eloquent prayers that she ride each day
until his return that Lilith consented.
So she rode alone and was happier than
she had been for many a dreary moon. Old
fears and haunting troubles whose presence
was advertised in her face began to retire
to the background.
Perhaps" she said TO herself one day
with none save The Swallow TO hear. per
haps this is sanctuary. who knows? II Is
far cry and covered my trail, as Prin-
ciep' would say"
Already she had begun TO think OF the
youth by that charming first name. And
Princiep'-Ah. Princiep' was the best Of
lovers!
-Four days after his departure a rider
came in from the Hermosa Rancho. a dusty
cowboy, picturesque in leather chaps, and
brought a package for Miss Hope. OF Gin
cinnad, o."
1t was a mysterious package. wrapped and
tied with cunning art, and it contained
things she had never heard of-dried strips
OF something that looked like dead shrub
roots and which were labeled "jerky-to
be eaten, Ms'smselle, as one nibbles crack
ers, when one rides far" and a tiny jar Of
the purest honey in the world, and some
strange, clear candy. made by FL Sehora
Felicita," while in a wee box there was a
small bouquet OF slightly faded posies, the
pungently sweet cream-olive bells Of the
yucca plant
Though Princiep's living presence was
absent his thought was not, and for some
unknown reason Miss Hope. OF Cincinnati
O., laid her brown head down on her arm
and wept.
Strange acceptance Of a quaint and prett,
gift.
But she bathed her eyes and sent back By
the cowboy q little conventional note-whicf
Princiep' promptly bestowed in the bre2s
pocket Of his white silk shirt and carriec
about with him.
Also Miss Hope carried the jerky ant
"nibbled" it when she rode. 1t was salt!
and had a most delicious flavor which grew
upon the palate strangely. She husbands
the little hoard.
The Swallow was perfection, as the land
lord had said, and the girl reveled in he
temporary possession as one satisfies his sou
on Iong-desired sweets. The past began t
seem very far away and she set herself q
the serious business Of repairing the daInsg
done her lungs by a year-gone illness. Ais
she fell to wishing for Princiepis return
she, who had sealed the book of romano,
never to be opened!
And when he did return, eager and I'm
maculate, riding in on FL Toro. he sense
the light that grew in her deep blue eye
and his heart stood still with rapture.
So began the rides at dawn and dusk one
more, and the air and the freedom fror
convention-which longobeyed canons sh
had broken like cobwebs in the spell OF thi
new country-began TO tell on her. He
checks, pale as ashes when she sat tina
first night Con the hotel porch. took on