Evening journal., 1923-02-15

On the Rim Of Mesa Grande.

cHAPTER XIV.
on the Rim of Mesa Grande.
Val Harmon rode the rangeland
constantly. Born 10 the open and
the saddle as she was she seemed
filled with keener restlessness than
usual. a more poignant drawing 10
the sweeping levels.
For John lannon's blood was stir
ring In her and she had found her
star. She had raised her innocent
,eyes to II in the peculiar idolatry OF
--ha4 strange staunch blood-and for
ever after she would know no other
erfrht. Horse-friend - lover - Val
eHannon would be true TO them as
-sfnrply as water a its level. So she
rode among the messs and dreamed
her dreams and always she listened
FOR a rider coming from the illimit-
sable distances, searched the south
for him.
And who shall say but that We
lantrie. 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 golden day. and met the
gin by the Antelope-and they had
scarce need OF speech.
IA They rode together with eager
ontstretched hands and eyes that
searched each others faces with
grave. fierce hunger.
wall" 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. Il seemed that
for once IN her life she could not
speak, that there was fog OF JOY
within her throat
She held hard 10 his hand and
looked at him-iust as her father
booked at Belle. II was a pity that
Belle Harmon could never see that
look on her husbands face. Nelan-
trie was more blessed.
Ride with me-" said Val pres
entity Il want to show you my
country-some Of our springs-and
Mesa Grande."
And velantrie, the strong, the !
man who mastered bis own desires,
turned with her. weak as water In .
this one girls hands and rode with
her openly across the plains.
SO they went by Whitewater boil
ing above its lsilver sands. stopped
10 drink and loiter by its sentinel
trees. then on again TO tho Mesa
Grande.
srThis has always been g secret /
place for me-" said Val quietly. Il /
nave come here always. II Is 90 old .
and so still. so high On the sky az
II a is iust 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-droppcA rest
walked here and there among the
crumbHng 11uts OF a lost forgotten
people.
IT was lmid-afternoon and the
drowsy heat was temperede by soft
wind from the south. Where the
central hut stood large among its
fellows they stopped again and Val I
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 aSe-old ache to smooth
them hack, to touch the fair fore
head beneath.
He rolled a cigsret instead and
leaned against the wall.
This was the council-house." said !,
Val where the headnen gathered.
il must have held a desperate coun-
Gil that. far-off time when the enemy |
was coming up the cllff-Td have !
liked 10 see those grim dark faces /
when they decided on the long leap |
for all their race"
Look at mine," said Velantrie
with such sudden sharp bitterness
that the girl caught her breath
glancing up with startled eyes.
What do you meant ?" she said
Velantrie, sometime OF the Bor-
der" threw away the cigaret and
sat down opposite her