San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-19

supremacy. all her love for the master
of Paradise, were outraged and
aroused.
Val" she said to the girl, 81 know
you are suffering with the loss, that
you loved Redstar-but think of your
father.
"If you are sick over this what do
you think he feels? He who is so
proud, who has been set apart like,
who has been invincible! While
others lost on every side he has been
inviolate. None dared to strike at
Paradise before. Now the invincibil-
ity is broken. He has been insulted
like any common rancher, the thing
he priced above all his possessions
stolen from his very door. We must
be brave for his sake. so don't let him
see you fret like this"
And Val knew she must conquer the
feeling sooner or later, and she began
to long for the comforting peace of
Refugio and Father Hillaire.
SO at last, on a golden day when
the little winds were still and soft
white clouds floated lazily in the high
blue vault. she saddled the gelding
and went away.
anu tHGu sic tOuc W tnC SdtC vi
Refugio where Father Hillaire stood,
though with SO strange a trouble on
his face that she forgot her own.
She swung from her saddle to take
his hand. searching his features. And
then. over his shabby shoulder, she
looked once more into the face Of the
black-haired stranger, for Velantrie
stood beside the table in the PADRES
garden.
But Father Hillaire moved between
them and drew her eyes to his own.
"My daughter" be whispered, do
not mention loss or trouble here"
Wonderingly Val nodded and fol-
lowed him In along the wall while
Bonifacio took her rein and led her
horse away.
Many times in his long life had
fires. and searched his good heart
for the better thing to do. He stood
there now as he led Val Harmon to
face the man at the table.
What vital things might happen
slip out to unleash tragedy
He held the girls hand and looked
at the man. and his gentle eyes were
deep with trouble.
my son." he said at last, this is
Val Harmon, the sweetest, purest,
truest thing in womanflesh ! have
ever known, except her mother"
The girl flushed and turned her
dark eyes up to him.
"And this, VAL" he said, taking
the strangers hand to place her own
therein. 'is Don Velantrie, stranger
to the rangeland, sometime of the
Border
The two young creatures did not
smile, for gravity seemed to wait upon
their meetings. Instead they looked
into each others eyes with breath
less seeming of intensity, and without
yolition their hands clasped eagerly.
Father Hillaire. wise in the reading
of signs, saw that look of dawning
wonder, and his heart contracted.
We've met before, PADRE" said
Velantrie. quietly. Il am glad to say.
for if we hadn't l should not be here
this hour"
And he smiled then. straight down
at Val. while his two blue eyes studied
hers, first one and then the other.
The girl drew her hand away and
with word of excuse passed on into
the house to find Josephine.
Velantrie turned and looked after
her.
When she was gone from sight he
looked at Father Hillaire.
Padre" he said gravely, that's
why ] came OF Refugio today-to ask
you who she was-for she saved my
life at the dance at Santa Leandra."
And he proceeded to tell him of
that wild hour and its elimination.
ut was splendid action" he fin.
ishcd admiringly. swift and keen and
timed to the second. If she were
man she'd be good rider, a good
loser and a good shot"
'She is all three" said the priest,
and with sigh he gazed out across
the spreading plains toward the
south.
Presently he seemed to come back
from the infinitude of that far gaze
and smiled at Nelantrie, sad crink-
ling of his features.
My son." he said. "she is the
flower Of the rangeland. glad. whole
some. high-souled. born to peace and
the even way of honor and of hap
piness. Id lay down this old body
of mine to keep sorrow from her
sweet heart, tears from her pretty
eyes"
velantrie stirred, fiddlci with his