Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-01-21
CHAPTER K.

A careful analysis Of Shirley's feel
ately following the incident In Pen
nington's woods, had showed her that
under more propitious circumstances
she might have fallen In love with that
tempestuous young man in sheer rec
ognition of the many lovable and man
ly qualities she had discerned In him.
AS an offset to the credit side of
Bryce's account with her, however,
there appeared certain debts in the
consideration of which Shirley always
lost her temper and was Immediately
quite certain she loathed the unfor-
tunate man.
He had been an honored and (for
aught Shirley knew to the contrary
welcome guest In the Pennington home
one night, and the following day had
assaulted his host, committed great
bodily injuries upon the latter's en-
ployees for little or no reason save the
satisfaction of an abominable temper,
made threats of further violence, de-
clared his unfaltering enmity to her
the next breath had had the insolence
to prate of his respect and admiration
for her
However, all of these grave crimes
and misdemeanors were really insig-
nificant compared with his browning
offense. What had Infatuated Shirley
was che fact that she had been at some
paJnc RI Inform, pruoa (,ordioon +,o+
she loathed him-whereat he had
looked her over coolly, grinned little,
and declined to believe herl Then.
seemingly as If fate had decreed that
her futility should be impressed upon
her still further, Bryce Cardigan had
been granted an opportunity to save,
in a strikingly calm, heroic and pain
full manner, her and her uncle from
certain and horrible death, thus pIac-
ing upon Shirley an obligation that
was as irritating to acknowledge as it
was futile to attempt to reciprocate.
That was where the shoe pinched.
Before that day was over she had
been forced to do one of two things
acknowledge in no uncertain terms her
u ulll, VI SllCul
and to be convicted of having been, in
plain language, rotter. So she had
telephoned him and purposely left |
ajar the door to their former friendly |
relations.
Monstrous! He had seen the open |
door and deliberately slammed it in |
her face. Luckily for them both she
nd oil fod Nv h
he slowly hung the receiver on the
hook, the soliloquy wherein he gave
her pointed hint of the distress with
which he abdicated-which knowledge
was all that deferred her from despis-
ing him with the fervor of a woman
scorned.
The fascination which a lighted
candle holds for moth is too well
known to require further calculation
here. In yielding one day to a desire
to visit the Valley of the Giants, Shir-
ey told herself that she was going
here to gather wild blackberries. She
lad been thinking of a certain black
berry pie. which thought naturally in
luced reflection on Bryce Cardigan
md reminded Shirley Of her first visit
o the Giants undsz she escort of a boy
u knickerbocke
Her meeting with Mora McTavish
hat day, and the subsequent friend
hip formed with the woods-boss'
laughter, renewed all her apprehen-
ions. On the assumption that Shir-
ey and Bryce were practically
trangers to each other Gan assump-
Ion which Shirley, for obvious rea-
ons, did not attempt to dissipate), |
loira did not hesitate to mention
ryce very frequently. To her he was
le one huaian being in the world !
tterly WORTH while, and it is nat !,
raj for women to discuss, fire. 4
ueDHg and at great length. the
inject nearest their hearts. Mora /
escribed Bryce in minute detail and
'lated to her eager auditor little I'M
dolly acts of kindness,
or humor performed by
ryce-hls devotion to his father, his
ealistic attitude toward the Cardi-
IN employees, his ability, his indus N
y. And presently, little by little,
1irley's resentment against him
ded, and in her heart was born a W
eat wistfulness bred Of the hope that II
me day she would meet Bryce Cardi- hi
N on the street and that he would Of
use, lift his hat, smile at her his hi
mpelling smile and forthwith pro- Il
ed to bully her into being friendly "
d forgiving-browbeat her into ad- b
tting her change of heart and glory m
3 in It. ca
To this remarkable state Of mind =
d Shirley Sumner attained Mt the
ne John Cardigan, leading MS last To-
tie trump In a vain hope that 1t ST
uld enable him to take the odd trick he
the huge game he had played for he
y years, decided to sell his Valley
the Giants. CO
shf-lcv - |