The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-08-13
CHAPTER vIIr-contInusd.

Gay was warm she dismOunted by q
ford and sat down upon q fiat rock
close to the water. The rock remind
ed her Of the one on which she and
Grant had sat that night while the
thin red lines of fire played far up
and down the valley. Her ankle was
paining q little so she removed her
boot and stocking and soothed II In
the cool water.
As she sat watching her reflection
In the clear stream and toying with
the ripple about her foot a horseman
rode quickly down through the cot
tonwoods on the other side and
plunged Into the ford. 1t happened so
quickly that neither saw the other I'M
I'll he was well into the river. Al
though she bad had no dream Of see-
ing him here, in some way she felt no
surprise. Her heart was behaving
boisterously. but she sat outwardly de-
mure, and when he was close enough
she sent frank smile up to him. The
look on his sunburned face as he re-
turned her greeting convinced her that
the meeting, on his part, was no less
unexpected and welcome than 1t was
to her.
When his horse was out of the wa
ter ne dlsmounted and walked to her
with extended hand.
''This Is an unexpected pleasure"
he said. How IL the ankle progress
ingT
well enough" she returned, but
It gets tired as the day wears on.
am just resting Bit"
There was a moment of somewhat
embarrassed silence.
"That Is good-sized rock" he sug-
gested, at length.
yes, isn't it7 And here in the shade,
at that"
She did not invite him with words, |
but she gave her body slight hitch,
as though to make room, although |
there was enough already He sat down
without comment.
mot unlike a rock I remember up
in the foothills" he remarked, after a
silence.
"Oh, you remember thatl 1t was
like this, wasn't it7"
Same two people sitting on It,"
Yes"
'Not like this, though"
mo. You're mean. You
know didn't intend to fall asleep"
"Of course not. Still. :"
His voice fingered on 1t as though 1t
were delightful remembrance.
She found herself holding one of her
hands In the other. She could feel the
pressure of Transley's ring on her
palm. and she held 1t tighter still.
"RIdlng anywhere In Particular he
inquired.
mo. Just incoming She looked up
at him again, this time at close quar-
ters. 1t was a quick, bright flash on
his face-a moment only.
''Why moonlng?"
She did not answer. Looking down
In the water he met her gaze there.
you're troubiedi" he exclaimed.
"Oh, mol My-my ankle hurts a
little"
He looked at her alphabetically.
But not that much" ne said.
She gave forced little laugh.
"What a mind reader you are Can
vou tell my fortunef"
II should have to read 1t In your
hand.r
She would have extended her hand,
but for Transley's ring,
mo. No. You'll have to
rsad It in--in the stars"
ioo M In
,ocently. I
II cannot read 1t there" he said, |
liter his long gnze mad begun to whip /
he color to her cheeks. "There Is no I
answer"
She turned again to the water. and q
lfter a long while she heard his voice. {
'ery low and earnest. r
"Zen, could read fortune for you, s
you would not be offended. We are 9
'nly chance acquaintances-not very T
veil acquainted. yet" t
She knew what he meant, but she q
pretended she did not. Even In that Q
something came to her OF c
speech about love being a I
anne of pretense. Very well, she v
would play the game-this once.
II don't see how could be offended v
t your reading my fortune" she muir s
nured. n
"Then this Is the fortune would \
cad for you." he said boldly. II see 8
Dung man. a rather foolish young II
nan, perhaps, by ordinary standards, b
nd yet one who has found a great v
cal of happiness In his simple. uncon- v
entional life. Until a short time ago h
. felt that life could give him all the 8
appipess that was worth having. He b
ad health, strength, hours of work h
nd hours of pleasure, the fields, the "
Ills. the mountains, the sky-all W
DDS open places to live In and enjoy. a
Ie thought there was nothing more. b.
"Well, then he found, all Of a sud
en-. that there was something more
more. He made that dis a
overy on a calm autumn night. when 81
re had blackened all the foothills and Il
I'LL ran In dancing red ribbons over Il
tofr distant cpeafs That NIGHT | N,