San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-26
CHAPTER XIV.
On the Rim Of Mesa Grande.

vi biC Ihiiu VI Nutso vi Hiuo'
Val Harmon rode the rangeland
constantly. Born to the open and the
saddle as she was, she seemed filled
with a keener restlessness than usual,
a more poignant drawing to the sweep
ing levels.
For John lannon's blood was stir
ring i'll her and she had found her
star. She had raised her innocent
eyes to it in the peculiar idolatry of
that strange staunch blood-and for
ever after she would know no other
light. Horse-friend-lo Han
non would be true to them as simply
as water to its level. So she rode
among the meSas and dreamed her
dreams, and always she listened for
riders coming from the illimitable DIS
tances, searched the south for him.
And who shall say but that Velan-
trie, fighting his inner battle far
away, drawn desperately by the triple
lure of beauty, purity and honest love,
felt the longing of her heart, the call
of those warm brown eyes? At any
rate he came again, on a windy gold
Ell day, and met the girl by the Ante
lope-and they had scarce need of
speech.
They rode together with eager out
stretched hands and eyes that searched
each others faces with a grave, fierce
hunger.
"Valw said velantrie, softly. for
the first time using her first name,
even in his thoughts. Val did not
answer. though her every nerve re-
sponded to the word. 1t seemed that
for once in her life she could not
speak, that there was a fog of joy
within her throat.
She held hard to his hand and
looked at him-just as her father
looked at Belle. 1t was a pity that
Belle Harmon could never see that
look on her husbands face. We
lantrie was more blessed.
Ride with me-" said Val, present
ly. Il want TO show you my coun-
try-some of our springs-and Mesa
Grande.'
And Velantrie, the strong, the man
who mastered his own desires. turned
with her, weak as water in this one
girls hands, and rode with her open
ly across the plains.
. So they went by Whitewater. boil
ing above its silver sands. stopped to
drink and loiter by its sentinel trees,
then on again to the Mesa Grande.
This has always been q secret
place for me-" said Val, quietly. Il
have come here always. 1t is so old
and so still, so high in the sky. as if
it is just under the feet of God and
sometimes fancy | can hear the |
angels wings sweeping about the
cliffs"
They dismounted and leaving the
horses to stand in hip-drorpel rest,
walked here and there among the |
crumblns huts of lost, forgotten
people.
1t was md-aftcrnoon and the
drowsy heat was tempered by soft
wind from the south. Where the cen
trail hut stood large among its fellows
they stopped again and Val sat down,
her booted feet crossed under her.
and took off her hat. The hair was
sweated on her temples and the mans
eyes caressed each little pasted curl
His fingers twitched with the age-old
ache TO smooth them back, to touch
the fair forehead beneath.
He rolled cigaret instead and
leaned against the wall. /
This was the council house." said
Val. where the headmen gathered.
1t must have held a desperate coun-
Gil that far-off time when the enemy
was coming up the cliff-Td have
liked to see those grim dark faces
when they decided on the long leap
for all their race"
look at mine" said Velantric
with such sudden sharp bitterness
that the girl caught her breath, glanc-
ing up with startled eyes.
What do YOU mean?' she said.
Nelantrie, sometime of the Bor-
der" threw away the cigaret and sat
down opposite her.
"What / said. Look at my face,
Miss Harmon, and you will see the
same desperate decision-for myself.
Long ago l tried to make it--and for
the first time since ] can remember.
failed. In all the great crises of my
life l have been able to command N.Y.
self-until-lately. Always | have
prided myself on my inner strength.
Now | find / am not so strong as
had thought-that is, that l have not