Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-01-12

But your people? oh, Dick, you
come of a proud family. / a tell.
You've become a ranger. You love
the adventure-the wild life. That
won't last. Perhaps you'll settle
down to ranching. 1 know you love
the West. But, Dick, there's your
family"
IF you want to know anything
about my family, I'll tell YOU inter
rupted Dick, with strong feeling. "Pve
no secrets about them or myself. My
future and happiness are Nell's to
make. No one else shall count with
me-"
"Then, Dick-you may have her.
God-bless-you-both."
Mrs. Belongs strained face under
went a swift and mobile relaxation,
and suddenly she vas weeping in
strangely mingled happiness and bit
terness.
"Why, mother 7" Gale could say no
more. He put his arm around her. In
another moment she had gained COM
mand over herself, and, kissing him,
h pushed him out of the door.
''There! Go tell her, Dick. . . .
And have some spunk about it"
Gale went thoughtfully back to his
room. Then remembering the hope
Mrs. Bedding had given him, Dick lost
his gravity In Il flash, and something
began to dance and ring within him.
He simply could not keep his steps
turned from the patio. Every path
led there. His blood was %throbbing,
his hopes mounting, his spirit soaring.
Snow for some spunk p he said, I'M
der his breath.
Plainly he meant his merry whistle
and his buoyant step to interrupt this
hrst dangerous stage of the siesta
which fine giyls always took during
the hot hours. But neither girl heard
him. Mercedes lay under the palo
verde. her beautiful head dark and
still upon a cushion. Nell was asleep
in the hammock. Her sweet, red lips,
with the soft, perfect curve, a at
ways fascinated Dick, and now drew
him irresistIbly. He had always been
consumed with a desire to kiss her,
and now he was overwhelmed with his
opportunity. 1t would be a terrible
thing to do, but If she did lot waken
at once No, he would fight the
temptation. That would be more than
spunk. 1t would She stirred-he
feared she would awaken.
He had dropped back erect when
she opened her eyes. They were sleepy,
yet surprised until she saw him.
Then she was wide awake in a second,
bewildered, uncertain.
"Why-you here?" she asked, slowly.
Large as life I" replied Dick, with
unusual gayety.
GLOW long have you been hereY'
Just got here this fraction of a sec
ond,' he replied. lying shamelessly.
81 thought was-dreaming," she
said, and evidently the sound of her
voice treasured her.
eyes, you looked as If you were
having pleasant Dreams" replied Dick.
$50 sorry to wake you. l can't see
how / came to do it, l was so quiet.
Mercedes didn't wake. Well, I'll &c
and let you have your siesta and
Dreams"
But he did not move to go. Nell
regarded him with curious, specula-
tive eyes.
isn't it a lovely dayT" queried Dick
yesterday was finer, but you didn't
notice it."
"Oh, yesterday was somewhere
back in the past-the i~nconsequential
past"
Nell's sleepy eyes opened a little
wider. She did not know what to
make of this changed young man
Dick felt gleeful and tried hard tc
keep the fact from becoming manifest
"What's the inc%onsequential past
You seem remarkably happy today"
81 certainly am happy. Adios
Pleasant dreams"
Dick turned away then and left the
patio by the opening into the yard
Nell was really sleepy, and when she
had fallen asleep again he would re
turn. He walked around for a while
Presently, as if ma%gnet-drawn, he re
traced his steps to the patio and en-
tered noiselessly.
Nell was now deep In her siesta
She was inert, relaxed, %untroubled b.