Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1924-02-22
HE DECIDED TO
GIVE UP "CINNY"
By MOLLIE MATHER
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Armsdale decided to give up "Ginny.
Ii really must be done before the Lor-
rimers should come with their guest
to make a camping party in the noun
tain, which for months had been Arms
dale's stopping place.
At first the appalling silence had
worn YEARLY, the days filed in with
sketching had not banished his bore
dom-then Armsdale came upon Gin
ny"-"Ginny" in a dark blue cotton
frock, golden lights iiecking her
coal black eyes as she glanced grayely
up at him.
The winsome and brooding feminine.
"Ginny' had a sphinx-like quality OF
sitting, half-absent to conversation, alb
sorbedly unconscious of the glowing
world about her, her fathomless black
eyes deep in reverie, the golden lights
Armsdale so admired flashing sudden
ly as she glanced at one in awaken
ing. Armsdale often brought about
this swift awakening by an abrupt
remark. 'Ginny',' he would accuse,
what is your mystery? Where are
you in your absorbed silence" She
gave no returning smile to his banter.
"Ginny's" rare smile piqued his in
terest; she would answer gravely:
MY thoughts were not with you,
Artist" Her title, amused and
pleased Armsdale-always he was
just-"Artist."
He had first found "Ginny" seated
on fallen tree in an upper opening of
the forest. Her face had been raised
to the song of a bird, and he had
noted at once the smallness of her
brown hands, the neatness of the small
feet, too, in their Indian moccasins.
Though "Ginny's" frock was of dark
cotton, she wore about her throat
long string of red beads made from
shining mountain berries.
He knew that he would make love
to her, and he wondered if always she
would dart away as she did when he
first began TO talk to her He en-
deavored to hold her in conversation
which he made an interesting lure
with books of travel and adventure.
He was permitted to know little of
her-the very name of "Ginny" came
to him through the chance call of a
woman. They had fingered in the
woodland shade until the noon hour,
then had come the sharp call: "'Gin-
ny'l 'Ginny'l '
Thine for dinner" his wood nymph
had said, and darted off.
He asked Harris that evening to
make inquiry regarding the woman
who had called from the clearing, and
to find out, if possible, who might be
this girl whose unsmiling face seemed,
as time passed, to hypnotic his senses.
Certain it was that the thoughtful
gaze of "Ginny" haunted him long
after he had left her presence.
Harris learned only that man and
his wife occupied neatly fashioned
log cabin on the upper opening. The
house was often long closed and va
cant, and the young woman also |
stopped there-whose name was Gin |
n.y."
Armsdale ventured gentle question
ing concerning 'Ginny," and her life |
in the mountain. Sweet, inscrutable, |
she evaded reply. He was sorry for !
her; a lonely life for one young and |
fair as "Ginny." Yet, deliberately he |
planned to add to that sorrow by |
teaching her the lesson of love-to her
later desolation.
Her continued companionship gave
to him the answer he sought: for
again "Ginny" came TO his side
yielded even wonderingly to his kiss.
He had laughed exultantly as she
darted from his embrace; frightened
for the time, he thought, amusedly.
His amusement did not last. Over
came the desire TO see the
maid again; he had sought
her eagerly, but after the caress she
made no picture in the vagrant sun
shine of the forest path.
SO. still each day hopefully at the
trysting place Armsdale made his de-
rision. He would give up "Ginny."
When she must come again he would
tell her that she might no longer seek
him I'm the forest opening mex
licably against the thought came a
memory flash of "Ginny's" somber
Eyes. the CLINT Of gold in their depths
hat stirred his pulses. Poor little
mountain maid. she would grleye for
lin in her Observation-Disclosures silent
women were strange. But-fhe LOr-
liners were coming. and with them
Helen Moreland. whose assured place
y society. whose confident charm he
night SIN consider worthy 10 claim
IFS own The artist arose IN sudden
agerness, hanishing unhappy thought
4 his determined task "Ginny'
TODD before him. He sfared-"Gin
-" With an enhancing smile curling
er red lips as she wound me red
ends about her singers
"1he time has e0meF remarked 4
his noN "Ginny" ne che Nalrus said,
20 faik ~ mang thlnRs Ms War
'ng pfih whom : am Staying felif :
~ fhai SON are f0 NaYf fHosis obey