Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-04-23
III. THE THREAT OF THE WILD

| more OF Le0nora
But now the way OF the dream witt
her was something new; perhaps In
that II was more In true sense dream
less an involuntary essay In telaesthe'
STA. For all that. It had its element OF
clairvoyance, as the outcome was t.
prove.
What instinct had foreshadowed In
the dream proved true. The scene
was In theater Of the hills, set high
upon wooded mountain flank, over
looking deep wide valley. the soft
green velvet of whose forest carpetlne
was threaded by slender silver streams
and dotted with little shining lakes.
Sunlight, flashing level across the
eastern ridges, struck squarely bun
galow set In the clearing, rambling
structure that Rugged the earth, the
primitive crudity of its undressed logs
belied by every refinement civilization
could contribute.
On the veranda, near the steps, Lee
onOra stood waiting, looking back in
to the living room.
The girl was brilliant with beauty
new In Prlscilla's knowledge Of her.
every shade of care and discomfort
disestablished from her countenance,
its clear pallor enriched by new
found glow of well-being. In her eyes
peace had taken up its abode.
Dressed in brief skirt of tan
twilllng and blouse of white silk sim
ply fashioned, with high-laced boots
sturdy enough for woods walking, hat
less, her hair dressed low upon her
neck, she held herself with conf
dence unrelated to her One-time ar
rogance. OF that truculent swagger
which had been so becoming In the
Street of Strange Faces today no trace
survived. Here was woman so ut
terly regenerate that the history of
her beginnings seemed completely
abolished and annulled and as If it
had never been.
So much. In those few days, love
had done for Leonora
The clear radiance of her eyes was
clouded only when, restless with wait
ing, she turned for moment to look
out over the valley that swept below,
abrlm with fluid blue shadow. in all
its far sweep never one hint Of another
human habitation.
Then her face sobered for an in
slant, she had almost look OF
fear.
1t was swiftly dissipated by a sound
of footsteps. Mario came out of the
bungalow.
Clothed far more formally than she,
in costume better suited to city
streets, he carried small, locked at
tache case, chamois gloves, hat. Evil
IDENTIFY Leonora was not to go with
him.
Silently they embraced. -.
Piloted by a Japanese boy in a
white jacket, the motor car rolled out
Of the garage and to one side Of the
veranda, where 1t stopped. The Jap
anese jumped down and, leaving the
door open. effaced himself. Mario and
Leonora, he with an arm round her
waist moved across the lawn to the
car, into which he tossed his attache
case, lingering for last caress.
She chung to him as If she could
never bring herself to let him go.
Touched, responsive. he made but the
gentlest efforts to disengage. At
length, however, he had to remind
her:
Dear, If I am to catch my train at
Kingston, / must CO."
She trembled little, held him
closer for an instant, then quickly re-
leased him and stood aside, averting
her eyes.
"It's so hard" size said with a qniv-
erlng mouth. "How do ] know I'll
ever get you back?"
''But it's only for the day. I'll be
home before dinner time"
al know, but
He consulted his watch. There's
later train we can catch If you VIII
hurry and change"
"No!" She lifted her eyes with
forced smile of adorable bravado. u
won't be silly! It's only because it's
the first time I've got to learn
to do without you for while now and
then. / might as well begin now-l
must, l will" She stamped foot to
assert her determination, and laughed
a little rueful laugh. "Now go-kiss
me once, just once more-and go|
They kissed
you're sure. Leonora"
She swallowed a sob and nodded
bravely: "Sure!"
you're not afraid"
"What Of? There's nothing but
these woods, and I'm only scared Of
them--a little-because | never saw
like them before in all my
life. I'll get over that-Pve got to
get over lot of foolishness--just give
me time Now won't have you
miss that train! :"
She ran down TO the road to watch
the car till turning took 1t out of
sight.
She stood listening till the hum Of
Its motor was blotted out by the abld-
ing stiffness.
She did not understand. Such
silence frightened her. 1t surged In