The Washington herald., 1921-04-10


and looked at the man across . little
stream. and he splashd through Il. eager
as a boy, 70 catch her hands and ali but
pull her down TO his shoulder.
Lord he said between his teeth,
there isn't another girl like you this
side of heavenr-
She laughed. q ringing peal
Nor there, either" she said. for tn
preacher that used TO come In 70 Bsker'A
Corners said they didn't euss in heaven
So they rode and talked again and
forgot the world and all that was there
in, and Sydney was late at Red Mountain
house and the man at the camp who
said his name was David Hilmer, lay on
his blankets far into the night staring
sIeepIessIy at the stars between the nr
tips and beat his brain and his heart for
a solution.
% God! Godr he gritted with his
face against his arm why didn't md
her sooner? whyf why?-
Twice in the weeks that followed he
rode down to Red Mountain house and
snatched a keen hour among the idle
Ioungers. the riders. the Indians there
It was like nothing he had ever expe-
rienced: and he lived the days as they
came. in q certain intoxication Of ting
ling Joy. He watched Sydney among her
people and saw that her rule was one OF
loving tyranny-knew himself for will
ing subject too.
And the girl. wise with her hfelcag
IdIe of men, knew that for Eer the sun.
moon and stars shone in his speaking
face that the winds of heaven blew on
her heart with the touch of his hand
One other there was who sensed these
things and was secretly troubled-John
Mcknight, thinking of his friend. the
k~NA
tongue. thinking that free rein is some
times dulling to speed.
Let 'em alone an mebby they'll run
theirselves out" he told himself.
But he was wrong. II was the real
thing that blossomed in the two young
hearts there in the sounding wilderness
of the pine clad slopes that turned the
worid to paradise.
David" said Sydney straightly. sit
ting high on the rim of the world where
the pine shadows trembled. while the
man lay stretched beside her. watching
her face and the little curls that blew
about her cheeks. David. how long you
goin' to camp on Little Fork
sudden paleness spread across his
features and he looked away across the
gulf of blue hszed space
God knows he said 4 should be
gone by now"
Why
Because 1 should-but Tn not!-
An why not!" she probed simply.
You know why" he flung out passion
ateIy. Because cannot leave" And
he rolled over on his face, caught her
hand and pressed il beneath his lips
against the rocks
There was tragedy in the action. the
tensity of anguish. and with the basic
daring of her nature the girl leaned over
and put arm about his neck
Then don't" she said. there's room AZ
Red Mountain house fer me an mine
always"
Lord he said thicllly. little true
heart you don't know what you're say
ing!"
For a long moment he lay still. with
out a breath in his lungs, hghting some
inward battle. Then he sat up. smiled
and sighed. and. drawing her into his
embrace, kissed her upon the lips, softly,
reverently.
Il want you to know. Sydney he
aid gently. that whatever may come in
the future-I want you to know that
love you-love you with every beat OF
my heart. every ounce of my strength
and goodness and honor there is in me-
o, Sydney dear. 1 love you!"
An l love you,- she answered simply.
"Td-Td do anything on earth fer you IL
seems-folIow you barefoot across tn
world. put my hand in tn FIRE. stick Q
knife in my heart, il il had to be-
There was an odd note OF ssvagery in
her voice and she was staring away down
the green slope with tragic woman-eyes
that probed the future.
After that there was always in their
meetings q sense of sadness, of mystery
Sydney, q Westerner born, whose pre-
cepts were ingrsined from birth. did not
ask him for explanation OF those strange
words of his concerning that uncertain
future. What he chose to tell her he
would tell her, and she must be content
But many a time they two stood on some
sunny slope, beneath some drowsy- pine.
and the man held her in the bend Of his
arm. kissed her lips looked long and
deeply into her true eyes, kissed her
again. and sighed
Glory and fear rode together down the
bitter-sweet days and they took them -
they came
And then once again Buck Seline came
by Red Mountain house. He was always
on some mysterious errand, always COM
ing and going in silence as to his oestt-
nation. his purpose. He sat with Sydney
in the summer dark on the porch Ano
talked idly of the happenings Of the
country.
DO you know anything about them
cattle that Dick Bistree stole from In
Harkways?' she asked interestetlS.
'Somethin'," he said briefly
"what!"
Sent him in to Weaver Jail four days
age"
"Good!" she said.
The man smiled his little cool smile.
Some savage, amt your he vanhsa
to know. You like e see q man shu1
up in jail?"