The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-09-03

Soilness III nef voice Wnlcn ne n&1 mol
noted In those bygone days; she
seemed more resigned and yet more
poised; the strange wizardry of suf-
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-confidence, and 1t had
toned down the angularlties of her
character. To Grant, straight from
his long exile from fine womanly do
mesticity, she suddenly seemed alto
gether captivating.
"But didn't want to forget - he in
sisted. 81 wanted not to fcrget-you."
She could not misunderstood the
emphasis he placed on that last word,
but she continued as though he had
not interrupted.
II knew you would write once or
twice out of courtesy. l knew you
would do that. l made up my mind
that If you wrote three times, then
would know you really wanted to re-
member me. l did not get any
third letter."
But how could I 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-yo
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 unanswer-
able. His delight in her presence now
did not alter the fact that he had
found 1t quite possible to live for four
years without her, and 1t was true that
upon one OF two great vital moments
his mind had leapt, not to Phyllis
Bruce, but to Zen Transleyl He
blushed at the recollection 1t was an
impossible situation, but It was truel
He was framing some plausible ar
gument about honorable men not per-
sisting In a correspondence when Muir
doch hustled in again.
Mother is going to set the dining
room table," he announced, land the
COutc Will Uc Icduf w Gill;
sir, you do look well in uniform. You
will be wondering how the business
has gomez"
Not half as much as I am wonder
ing some others things" he said, with
a significance intended for the ear Of
Phyllis.
Come, Mr.. Grant; come. every
bodyr' a cheerful voice called from
behind the sliding doors which shut
off the dining-room. The fragrant
smell Of coffee was already in the air,
and as Grant took his seat Mrs. Muir
doch declared that for once she had
decided to defy all the laws of diges-
ton.
At the table their talk dribbled out
into thin channels. 1t was as though
there were at hand a great reservoir
of 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 al all 1t was to relate |
some humorous incident. That, 1t |
seemed, was all he cared 70 remember. |
He was conscious Of a restraint which |
hedged him about and hampered every |
mental deployment.
Phyllis. too, must have been con-
scious of that restraint for before
they parted she said something about
human minds being like pianos, which
get out 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
bridge to lean against the railing and
watch the trembling reflection of city
lights in the river.
81 have itl' he suddenly exclaimed
10 the steel railing. 81 have 1t ~
He paused for q moment TO turn
over his thought, as though TO make
sure II should not escape. Then. at a
PACE which aroused the wondering
dance of one or two placid policemen.
,e hurried to the hotel.
Under and Grant had been assigned
q the same room, and the sergeant's
lreams. If he dreamt at all. wese of
he sweet hay meadows of the West
;rant turned on the light and looked
Town into the face Of his friend. A
mile. born of fields afar from wars
larms. was playing about his lips.
,yen in his excitement Grant could
ot help rejecting what wonderful
hing 1t is to sleep in peace. Then
.I have itl he shouted. "Linder. I {
ave II"
The sergeant sat up with start.
linking.
az have it," Grant repeated
Them. you mean." said Under. sud S
enly awake. 'Why, man. what's '
rong with you? You're more ex- T
ted than II we were just going over S
le top" |