The Coolidge examiner., 1931-01-09
CHAPTER VII
Peace Terms.

MO THRILL as of wine raced
through Barbara's veins these
days when she rode the hilltops.
Life had lost its SAVIOR. She did
not at early morning drink in the
air with unconscious joy because a
new world had been born for her de-
light.
Until lately she had been queen
of her little world with all the priv.
ileges that implies. The only daugh.
ter of Wesley Steelman, cattle king
of the San Marcos, held an envi-
able position in that roughriding
frontier country. Her personality
had enhanced her value. BY reason
of vital youth, high spirits. and
abounding good looks she was an
individual in Ter own right. 1t had
not occurred 20 her that she could
not mold life 20 her liking. What
was the use of wealth, power. a
heady will, and a full share of
charm (she was not absurd enough
TO deny to herself that she had
way with men) If these would not
get her what she wanted?
Now she rode with diminished
head. An immovable force had
brought her up short. 1t had seemed
to her, not many weeks since. a fine
thing to draw David Ingram and
her father together. Eagerly she
had adventured TO that end. By
her means friendlineSs would grow
in that divided community where
enmity had been. Signally she had
failed. That, she recognized now.
had been inevitable.
A bitter personal humiliation had
accompanied the failure. 1t had
come to pass soon that when they
met she had moved toward Ingram
with gifts in ner eyes, and what
she offered meant so little to him
that self-will and stubbOrnness
were more necessary to his life.
Love! What was that TO him? He
had snatched at her roughly, not
because he needed her and could
not bear to do without her, but as
a weapon with which to wound her
father. When she let herself think
of it Barbara became a river of woe
because of the shame and sorrow
in her bosom. She was young
enough TO feel that what had hap
pened to her was tragic. 1t was
not yet within her experience thar
time mell0ws the sharpest sting of
shame to tender memory.
In the company of Garrett
O'Hara she found comfort. In
spite of his shyness he had a gift of
cOmpanionship. She liked to ex-
plOre his mind. He did not in the
least object to being made fun of
by her, for he sensed that she liked
and respected him.
Once she referred to the secret
that he knew mice girls back
East don't do what Pve done. Down
in yore heart what do you think
of me? How much do you despise
me?"
81 told you once that I'd want
my sister to be like you," he an
swered.
$50 you did, before you had
time to think over what | had done
It's not fair to press you too hard.
OnIy-Tll wish yOre sister better
luck than that" Her smile was
bitter. 1t seemed to him that her
lips quivered with disdain of her
self.
He could not leave the subject
on that note. 1t was incOngruOuS
that all the splendid life of her
should be submerged in a shame
born of an unhappy experience for
which he did not feel her to blame.
He looked away at broken line of
the silhOuetted hills pushing their
crests skyward. Presently he said,
as though the comment were a
casual one Il wouldn't think much
of a man who couldn't do some
thing foolish if-if he was fond of
of sCme one"
you mean of a girl" she speci-
fed.
"Say of q girl" he admitted. and
the color came again into his face.
Never before had he talked about
such things to a woman.
"YeS, but a girl is different. You
know that well enough. It's her
place to be modest and wait. She
mustn't show her feelings. If she's
nice she's not supposed to have any
not till-till-"
CTO BE CONTINUED.)