Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1921-05-20

| said she was going to retire. SO II
happened the next time-and again.
Now the cooler Anne grew toward
Philip the more desirable she became
to him, but try as he would he could
make no progress toward finding the
cause Of her new indifference. De
MED even the satisfaction Of bis in-
stinctive social qualities, Utard turned
more often to Susan Belden for com-
partnership and the oftener he did the
more persistently his thoughts were
occupied with Anne.
1t was a cold, sullen February Sum
day afternoon when 1t came to Philip
that he could stand this state Of af-
fairs no longer, and he set out for the
Tyson home, determined to corner
Anne and get the truth from her il
possible.
From her window Anne caught sight
Of Philip as he toiled up the hill
against the bitter north wind. In an
instant she was into her fur coat and
tam and running down the back stairs.
In the kitchen she successfully lodged
the vast bulk of Lucinda, who couldn't
see mo sense nohow" In going out on
such a day-and was on her way
down the back road, which led straight
out into the open country, at the mo-
ment when Philip rang the bell.
Lucinda, with a wave Of her pudgy
black hand, pointed out the direction
Of Anne's fight dlsclaiming with a
shake Of her woody head any respon-
sibility for "sech foolishness." There
was a grim, do-or-die look about Phil
ip as he snugged his coat collar about
his neck and set out In pursuit.
Anne looked back from the first rise
in the road and saw Philip striding
across the back yard. AS she recon-
nOitered again from the summit of the
second rise he was just topping the
first The wind whipped her short
walking skirt tight against her legs.
1t was hard going. 1t began to snow,
fine light flakes, forerunner Of a real
storm. But to Anne the pursuit had
become a symbol. She had not the
slightest thought Of turning back. If
Philip really wanted to see her-to be
with her-badly enough not to give up
in spite of anythlng-well, she would
test him to the utmost Of her strength.
And Philip-it seemed to him that
his very life depended on overtaking
that light figure flying before him into
the teeth of the storm, even as his
happiness must depend on what was
to transplre at the end Of the chase.
He was gaining fast. The snow
blinded Anne's eyes, and the bite Of
the wind sent tears courslng down
her cheeks; but still she managed,
to keep putting one foot
ahead of the other. He was almost
up to her. Her strength was gone.
But surely she could take one more
step. And then-she vanished from
the sight of the man behind her as
though the earth had swallowed her.
There was an excavatlon-some road
work going on and the light timber
barrier had been blown away by the
wind. Unhurt, but exhausted,
Anne lay where she fell. But a strong
arm lifted her and held her tight, and
Phil's voice said: II was prepared to
follow you to the ends Of the earth,
but not to the center of 1t. But
we're here. And before we get out
you've got to tell me why you have
frozen me; why you have avoided
me; why you ran away from me just
now"
Anne was too tired to lift her head
rom that broad shoulder. at was be-
cause" she said-"because I didn't
nave an absolute hump"
Phil let it go at that, then. But a
times since, over coffee or
rib, he has tried to find out what
The meant. But Anne only laughs.