The Dolores star., 1924-09-26

They were sane, quiet eyes now: The
fight was over; only the eternities lay
ahead.
"Grant-tell me one thing" he muir
INJURED. "You have been straight
with Zen?'
"As God hears me-" Grant an
swered.
For an instant the eyes Of the rivals
and friends-met; rivals no longer; !;
friend6 OILY, forever. Then the form
of Transley shivered in the arms OF
Zen and Dennison Grant shiyered, aud
settled into eternal sleep.
The sun of another summer was
flooding the tawny flanks OF the foot
rode together over the old trail 10 the
Y.D. Since Transley' death Grant had
not spoken to Zen of love; he seemed
to know that at the proper time Zen
herself would break silence. And now
she had asked him to accompany her
TO her fathers home, and to spend a
few days roaming their old haunts In
the foothills.
Y.D., older. but in unimpaired vigor,
greeted him boisterously. "Well well,
you old coyotel Had to come back to
the hills! They all do. If l was a
young man again I'd get me a herd O
heifers an trek into the back country.
spite o. hell an high water"
The greeting of the rancher's wife
was less effusive, but no less sincere.
The evening was spent ir hospitality.
The next afternoon Zen appeared at
the gate with horses saddled for two.
Come, Denny, we are going for a
ride she announced. 'and in few
minutes their mounts were pounding
down the trail which led over the foot
hills to the South Y.D.
Zen was strangely silent upon their
ride, and Grant, after futile attempts
to engage her in conversation. was
content to ride at her side and admire
her horsemanship and her beauty. The
suffering and the years had left her
strangely unscarred; she seemed to
Grant wholly as adorable as on that
day OF her unspoken confession when
they had met at the ford. Soon she
must speak! Well, he had waited; he
still could wait.
They followed the trail, little
changed by all the passage Of years,
down the slopes to the South Y.D.
They forded the river, and Zen swung
her horse about in the grove of cotton
woods.
You remember this spot. Denny P
she asked. 1T is where we first met"
II remember" he said No, he would
not be tempted into a demonstration.
She must lead.
The sun was gliding the mountain
tops with gold, and gliding, too, Zen's
face and hair with beauty ineffable.
For a moment she sat in the slantins
light like statue Of bronze For an
instant her eys met his then fell She
spurred her horse to a plunge and gal
loped ahead up the valley.
Miles passed, and the quick twi-
light Of the foothills was upon them
1t was by great bowlder a sort Of
fiat rock stranded on the sloping
shoulder of a hill. Something seemed
to burst in Grants throat as he rec
ognized 1.-THE rock on which they
had spent that memorable night so
long ago when the world and they
were young! Thank God, Zen was
young still Romance burned in ner
heart-who but Zen would have
thought of this?
He sprang from his horse. and she
from hers. He approached her with
open arms.
"Zen-you have brought me here
for purpose! Don't deny 1t! un-
derstandw
She WAS in his arms. How well
you read ones mind" she murmured.
But oh. how slowly"
He held her tight. There were
worlds to say, but he could whisper
only "Zen-my Zen." into the tangled
glory of her hair.
At length she held him gently away.
II believe some one is coming I'D the
trail" she said
1t was true enough; horse and
rider were rapidly approaching. As
he skirted the hill he caught sight OF
them, swung off from the trail and
rode up beside them.
"Ah, here you are!" he exclaimed.
Hope didn't keep you waiting Mrs.
Transley?"
you are punctuality ITSELF" Zen
said, as she took his hand "You
haven't met Mr.. Grant? Denny, this
Is Mr.. Munroe-the reverend Mr.,
Munroe'
'The reverend! What! How! Zen.
explain things"
Very simple. Mr.. Munroe was to
meet us here at eight. It's eight
o'clock, and here he Is"
Zen was unstrapping a kit from her
saddle. II have a document here-if
l haven't lost it-which will Interest
Mr.. Munroe. All. here 1t Isl"
She produced an envelope, and Mr.
Munroe examined the contents. "Seem,
all in order" he remarked. "A
license authorizing the marriage OF
Dennison Grant and Zenith Tronslay