The Dolores star., 1924-08-29
CHAPTER XIII
-16-


the stables, Grant for the twentieth
time turned over in his mind the events
OF Il day that was to stand out as an
epoChal one In his career The meeting
with the little boy and the quick friend
ship and confidence which had been
formed between them; the mishap, and
the trip 10 the house by the river
these were logical and easily followed
But why, OF all the houses in the world.
should 1t have been Zen Transley's
house? Why. of all the little boys in
the world. should this have been the
son of his rival and the only girl he had
sver-the girl he had loved most in all
his life? Surely events are ordered to
some purpose; surely everything is not
mere haphazard chance The fatallsm
Of the trenches forbade any other con
cluslon; and II this was So why had he
been thrown into the orbit of Zen
Transley? He had not sought her; he
had not dreamed Of her once in all that
morning while her child was winding
innocent tendrils of affection about his
heart. And yet-how the boy had
grlpped him! Could it be that in some
way he was n small Incarnation of the
Zen of the Y.D.. with all her ClamorOus
passion expressed now in childish love
and herO-worship? Had some intelli-
gence above his own guided him into
this environment. deliberately inviting
him to defy conventions and blaze
path of broader freedom for himself,
and for her? These were questions he
wrestled with as the shadows crept
the valley Mt his feet.
For neither Zen nor himself had
connived at the situation which had
made them, OF all the people in the
world, near neiGhbors In this silent
valley. Her surprise on meeting him
mt the door had been as genuine as
his. When size had made sure that the
boy was not seriously hurt she had
turned TO him. and instInctively he
had known that there are some things
which all the weight Of passing years
can never crush entirely dead. He
loved to rehearse her words her geS-
lures, the quick play of sympathetic
emotions, as one by one he reviewed
them.
You! ! am surprsed-I had not
known" She had become confused
In her greeting, and a color that she
would have given worlds to suppress
crept slowly through her cheeks.
81 am surprised, too-and delight
ed" he had returned. "The little boy
came to me in the field. boasting of his
braces" Then they had both laughed.
and she had asked him to come in and
tell about himself.
The lIving-room, as he recalled 1t,
was marked by the simplicity appro-
pirate TO the summer home, with Just
a dash OF elegance in the furnishings
to suggest that simplicity was a mat
ter of choice and not Of necessity
After soothing Wilson's sobs, which
had broken out afresh in his mothers
arms. she had turned him over to a
maid and drawn chair convenient to
Grants.
"You see, I am a farmer now" he
said, apologetically regarding his
OveralIs.
what changes have come But /
don't understand; | thought you were
rich-very rich-and that you were
promoting some kind of settlement
scheme. Frank has spoken of it,
"All of which Is true You see, I
am a man of whlms. l choose to live
Joyously."
81 know" And 1t was then that
their eyes had met and they had fallen
into a momentary silence.
But why are you farmingT she
had exclaimed, brightly.
For several reasons. But most of
all because l love the pralries and the
open life. It's my whlm, and ! fol-
low IT.
You are very wonderful" she had
murmured. And then. with startling
dfrectness, "Are you happy?"
'As happy as have any right to be.
Happier than have been since child
hood"
She had risen and walked to the
mantelpiece; then, with an apparent
change of Impulse. she had turned and
faced him. He had noted that her
figure was rounder than in gIrlhood,
her complexion paler but the sunlight
still danced In her hair, and her reck-
less force had given way to a poise
that suggested infinite resources Of
character.
Frank has done well, too" she had
said
go have heard. am told that he
has done very well indeed"
'He has made money, and he Is busy
and excited over his pursuit of sue
cess-what he calls success. He has
given It his life. He thinks of moth
ing else
She had stopped suddenly, as though
her tongue had trapped her into say
ing more than she had intended.
"What do you think of my summer
home?' she had exclaimed, abruptly.
"Come out and admire the sweet peas"
and with gay little flourish she had
led him into the garden. ''They tell