The Bozeman courier., 1927-11-18

fruitlessly to herself. 'To break through
the wall Of my pride-my last defense,
and find pity!'
Alecs voice, strangely tense, ripped
into the silence. wen be getting fool
ish if we stay in the black magic of this
place much longer, Julia. And tomor-
row" his caught, unsteady laugh ended
dismally Here, I'll strike a match and
see if can't open it."
There was the friendly sputter Of the
match on the stones Of the wall-the
yellow flare Of light. A low burst Of
rose from the canal. And then, with a
clang, the bolt slid back under Alec's
hand.
That's all it needed" he laughed, "a
bit Of strength
The gate in the wall swung open. The
broad and lighted canal was a stones
throw away-a vision Of loveliness. But
as they stepped forward to go through,
Julia laid her hand on his arm. Not
yet, Alec, it's too beautiful" she said
breathlessly.
And in the magic stiffness Of that sec
"a little strengthl'' Then, with a half
sob catching in her throat she said,
ALEC, I'm silly, sentimental perhaps, to-
night-but this, all this" She swept
her hand towards the delicate jeweled
loveliness before them, land this gate
|
ever tell you about the wall, Alec? That
was funny thing" she rushed on.
, when I was a youngster always
' wanted to play witch the little girls on
: Center street Oh, wanted to do hun
dred things, Alec; but my nurse always
told me my position wouldn't allow it.
And so began to think about being
! Julia Sloan, and having to live in the
big house end everything as If it were &
wall-a wall that stood between me anc
all the things really ever wanted.
mated the wall. But never had the
!; strength to break through. Now if
had, I might have come out Of Loneliness
: into beauty like this!"
In the stiffness, Alec Farraday's hanC
reached down to hers, gripped her ic!
: fingers. you're cold," he said shaktly
would it matter muchP" she sale
slowly.
= His grip on her cold little finger
!, frightened almost to a point Of pain
? Julia he said huskily, "Are you try
ing to torture me? can't pretend an!
longer. You know that I love you. Blu
I, for Gods sake, Julia, either tell me II
= get out Of your sight forever, Or
. The grip about her fingers lessened. Hi
arms dropped to his sides. Don't laugl
7 at me, Julia, guess I am-mad."
Julia lifted her tragic little white fac
2 to him. "Alecl" she whispered.
< And he caught her in his arms.
= Hold me close. Alec" she begged, "be
: cause need courage to tell you q hun
= dred things. But had to know whethe
q you really loved me, Alec, had to knoV
!, that first. You see you might have beel
e ljust sorry for me. And I didn't wan
q thatl You see I'm really terribly poo
and"
Is He stopped her words with his lips
Beloved" he said, you can tell me al
e that some other time. But now, thi
3 minute, after all these years Of losin
t, you and longing for you and loving 20
II can't hear anything but the song
my own hearth
a And now whenever there is q new
conner or a guest Of honor at the bridg
e. tables or the tea tables OF the Frankli
County Country club, Some one is quit
e SIRE to point out the magnificent ne
= white colonial on the slope above Sum
D. NIT road.
D. That" the visitor viii be told, sis th
d hcme Of the Countess Danzietti-
le should say, Of course, the Alec Farrs
1e daysl But then we always think Of JUL