Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-08-23

fering had worked new wonders In her
soul. Suddenly. as he looked upon
her, he became aware Of new quality
in Phyllis Bruce-the quality of gentle
ness. She had added this to her
unique self-confdence, and 1t had
toned down the angularities OF her
character To Grant, straight from
his long exile from fine womanly do
mestlcity, she suddenly seemed alto.
gether captivating.
But didn't want TO forget p he In
sisted. Il wanted not to forget-you."
She could not misunderstanding the
emphasis he placed on that last word,
but she continued as though he had
not interrupted.
81 knew you would write once or
twice out Of courtesy. l knew you
would do that I made up my mind
that If you wrote three times, then |
would know you really wanted to re-
member me. . did not get any
third letter"
But how could know that you had
placed such test-such an arbitrary
measurement-upon my friendship?'
1T wasn't necessary for you TO
know If you had cared--enough-you
would have kept on writing"
He had to admit to himself that
there was just enough truth in what
she said to make her logic lnanswer-
able. His delight in her presence now
did not alter the fact that he had
found il quite possible to live for four
years without her, and 1t was true that
upon one or two great vital moments
his mind had leapt, not to Phyllis
Bruce, but to Zen Transeyl He
blushed at the recollection; 1t was an
impossible situation, but II was true
He was framing some plausible ar
gument about honorable men not per-
slstlng in a correspondence when Muir
doch hustled In again.
Mother is going to set the dining
room table" he announced, "and the
coffee VIII be ready presently. Well,
sir, you TO look we'll in uniform. You
will be wondering how the business
has goneT
"Not half as much as I am wonder
Ing some others things" he said, with
significance intended for the ear of
Phyllis
Come. Mr.. Grant: come, every
bodyr cheerful voice called from
behind the sliding doors which shut
off the dining The fragrant
smell of coffee was already in the air,
and as Grant took Ais seat Mrs. Muir
doch declared that for once she had
decided to defy all the laws of diges-
ton.
At the table their talk drlbbled out
into thin channels. II Was as though
there were at hand great reservoir
or thought Of experience, OF deep
groupings into the very well-springs Of
life, which none Of them dared to tap
lest 1t should rush out and overwhelm
them. They seemed in some strange
awe of its presence, and spoke, when
they spoke at all, Of trivial things
Grant proved uncommunicative, and
perhaps, in a sense. disappointing He
preferred to forget both the glories
and the horrors of war; when he drew
on his experience ar all II was to relate
some humorous incident. That, 1t
| seemed, was all he cared 10 remember
He was conscious Of restraint which
hedged him about and hampered every
mental deployment
Phyllis, too, must have been con
sclous of that restraint, for before
they parted she said something about
human minds being Ike pianos, which
get ont OF tune for lack Of the mas
! ter-touch.
When Grant found himself In the
street air again he was almost swal-
lowed up In the rush OF things which
he might have said. He paused at a
bridge to lean against the railing and
watch the trembling reelection OF city
| lights IN the river.
Il have it," he suddenly exclaimed
to the steel railing. II have IT."
He paused for moment to turn
over his thought as though to make
sure II should not escape Then. at
pace which aroused the wondering
glance Of one or two placid policemen.
he hurried TO the hotel.
Under and Grant had been assigned
to the same room. and the sergeant's
Dreams II he dreamt at all, were Of
the sweet hay meadows Of the West
Grant turned on the light and looked
down into he face OF his friend. A
smile. born Of fields afar from wars
alarms, was playing about his lips
Even in his excitement Grant could
not help rejecting what wonderful
thing It is 10 sleep In peace Then
Il have IT." he shouted. 'IInder. l
have it,
The sergeant sat up with a start
blinking.
81 have It" Grant repeated.
Them You mean, said Under. sud
denly awake why. man, what's
wrong with you? You're more ex-
cited than if we were Just going over
the top"
I've got my great idea. know
what I'm going 70 do with my money"
Wei. don't do IL tonight" Under