The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-01-14

tain night. The wAole scene moved
him In strange, deep ways In which
he had never been stirred before; II
left him exultant and. In deep wells OF
his nature far below the usual cur
rents Of excitement. a little excited
too, G
Then both Of them were startled
out Of their reflections by the clear,
unmIstakable sound of footsteps on
the ridge. Both Of them turned. ana |
Iennox laughed softly In the dark
ness my daughter" he said. 4
knew she wouldn't be afraid TO come
Dan could see only Snowbird's out
line ut first. just her shadow against.
the moonlit hillside. His glasses Sere
none too good at long range. And
possibly, when she came within range,
the first thing that he noticed about
her was her stride. The girls ne
knew didn't walk in quite that free,
strong way. She took almost man.
size step; and yet II was curious that
| she did not seem ungraceful. Dan had
distinct impression that she was
floating down to him on the moonlight.
she seemed TO come with such unut-
terahle smoOthness. And then ne
heard her call lightly through the
darkness. r.
| The sound gave him a distinct sense
of surprise. Some way, he hadn't as
ISOLATED a voice like this with noun
tain girl ! he had supposed that there
would be so many harshening infiu-
ences In this Wild place. Yet the tone
was as clear and full as a trained
singers. 1t wassnot a high voice; and
4 vet II seemed simply brimming, as q
cup bruins with wine. with the rap
ture of life. IT was a self-confident
voice too, wholly unaffected and SIN
cera. and wholly without embarrass-
ment.
i Then she came close, and Dan saw
the moonlight on her face. And so 1t
came about, wi ether In dreams OF
!. wakefulness. he could see nothing else
for many hours 20 come.
The girl who stood In the moonlight
= had health She was simply vibrant
with health. II brought a light to her
ewes. and a color TO her cheeks, and
life and Skinner to her moonlit hair
II brought curves to her body, and
. strength and tirmness to her limbs
and the grace of deer to her car
riace. Whether size had regular fea
lures or not Dan would have been un
able TO state. He didn't even notice
: They weren't important when health
was present. Yet there was nothint
Of the coarse or bold or voluptuon'
, about her. She was just slende'
Girl. nc :haps twenty years Of age, ant
Weighing even less than the figure oc
5 casIonaIly to be read in the healtl
, magazines for girls of her height. Ant
y she YVES fresh and cool beyond al
words to tell.
And Dan had no decisions abou
her attitude toward him. For a Ion
| instant she turned her keen. youn
| ewes to his white. thin face; and
| once II became abundantly eviden
| that beyond few girlish speculation
| she felt no interest In him. After
i single moment of rather strained, pc
| lite conversation with Dan-jus
] enough TO satisfy her Idea of the cor
ventions-she began thrilling CIR
hood tale to her father And she wa
4 still telling 1t when they reached tn
Il house. f
u Dan held chair for her In front
4 the fireplace. and she took II with er
"A tire naturalness. he was careful
Il put II where the freight was at Il
II height. He wanted to see its effect 0
N the flushed cheeks, the soft dark hal
vi And theR standing In the shadows. !
N simply watched her. With the eye
VI an artist he delighted in her gesture
= her ripping enthusiasm. her utter
i repressible girllshness that all of tin
i had not years enough to Kill.
4 Bill stood watching her, his han'
| deep in his pockets. evidently a cor
| panlon of the best. Her father gaz'
| at her with amused tolerance. Al
| Dan--he didn't know in just what WI
| he did look at her. And he didn't ha'
l time 10 decide. In less than fifte'
minutes, and wholly without warnin
she sprang up from her chair al
started toward the door.
Good Lord" Dan breathed.
Wy you make such sudden motions as tn
49,, TIL have heart faiSre, Where a
:. you going nowy IS
- Back 10 my watch" she answere
q her tone wholly lacking the person
~ ~ note which men have learned to
nc pect In the voices of women. And
~ instant later the three 1T them n
pc her retreating shadow as she vanish
w. among the pines. So ~.
a Dan had 70 be helped to bed. 7
long ride had been too hard on
a. shattered lungs: and nerves and DO
]. collapsed an instant after the dc
!. was closed behind the departing q
"a He laughed weakly and begged IN
pardon; and the two men were rea
49, very gentle. They told him 1t "
their own fault for permitting him
-. overios Lennex himself blew out
'oe - 49,. 49, s.<,ld hodrnnTu