The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-09-17
CHAPTER XIII
10.


munching contenteoly came up from
the stables, Grant for the twentieth
time turned over in his mind the events
Of 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 to 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
ever-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-
clusion; and If 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
sripped him! Could it be that in some
way he was small incarnation Of the
Zen of the Y.D, with all her clamorous
passion expressed now in childish love
and hero-worshlp? 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
down the mountain slopes and along
the valley at 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
at the door had been as genuine as
his. When she 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 GEES
lures, the quick play of sympathetic
emotions, as one by one he reviawed
them.
"You! 1 am Surprised had not
known" She had become confused
in her greeting and color that she
would have given worlds to suppress
crept slowly through her cheeks.
Il am surprised, too-and delight
ed" he had returned. 1.-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 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 a chair convenient to
Grants.
you see, I am a farmer now" he
said, alphabetically regarding his
Overalls.
what changes have comet But 1
don't understand; I thought you were
rch--very rich-and that you were
promoting some kind of settlement
scheme Frank has spoken of it,
"All Of which is true. You see. 1
am man of whims. 1 choose to live
5oyously."
IT know" And 1t was then that
their eyes had met and they had fallen
into a momentary silence.
"But why are you farming?" she
Aad exclaimed, brightly.
For several reasons. But most of
I'll because love the prairies and the
open life. It's my whim, and 1 fol-
low It,"
"You are very wonderful" she had
And then. with startling
directnesS, ~Are you happy?"
CAS- happy as have any right to be.
man I have been since child
hood"
She had risen and walked to the !
then, with an apparent '
change of impulse she had turned and |
faced him. He had noted that her l
figure was rounder than In girlhood, I
her complexion paler but the sunlight t
still danced in her hair, and her reck- S
less force had given way to g. poise q
that suggested infinite resources of t
character.
Frank has done well, too" she had v
said f
$50 1 have heard. l am told that he r
Jus done very well indeed" c
"He has made money, and he is busy
Ind excited over his pursuit of sue a
.ess-what he calls success. He has p
,1ven It his life. He thinks Of moth p
ng else" "
She had stopped suddenly, as though
Ter tongue had trapped her into say s.
ng more than she had intended.
"What do you think of my summer W
omef" she had exclaimed, abruptly.
Come out and admire the sweet peas"
nd with a gay little flourish she had a