The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-05-25
CHAPTER II-Continued

ger looked up sharply.
The eyes of the two men met and
held.
1t was as If two blades struck and
crossed, as If armed forces clashed.
There was instant hatred in it, in
slant opposition.
Then Sonya swung into her saddle
and was away at lope, Rod follow
ing close behind.
"Who was that MANI" he asked thin
iy when he had caught up with her.
"Do you know him?"
81 don't know, and l do not" said
the girl crisply, land | don't like your
tone. Oh, Rod dear, do wish you
would understand me better"
"Forgive me, Sonya," said Blake,
"but I hate all men who look at you
too long,"
The ride back to the ranch was beau
tiful beyond words with the newly
risen sun bathing the weathered peaks
and pinnacles of desert stone, but
somehow it's glory missed the girls
heart.
Whether 1t was seeing again the
face of the man of Lone Mesa. or
Rods unreasoning jealousy, she could
not say. At any rate, she was silent
and preoccupied, and more than once
Blake looked at her sharply.
"Sonya," he said presently, II know
you are tired, that you've had hard
night, but want to have talk with
you, and this seems the best chance
I'm likely to have, since you are so
busy all the time. My longing and
love for you are an old story. I'm not
going into it again. I'm just telling
you that I'm leaving for the East day
after tomorrow, and 1t has been my
hope to take you back this time Sonya
darling, will you conner
He reached over and took her hand,
and at the caressing pressure Of his
fingers tears actually came to the girls
eyes. Maybe because she was so tired,
maybe because she needed bit Of look
ing after herself. Then she shook her.
self mentally, squared her shoulders.
as it were. She smiled into Rods
eyes, squeezed his hand.
II didn't know you were going back
so soon, DEAR" she said steadily, land
I think want to go along, but there
is the woman back there who will
surely die, after all my hard pull to
save her, if l leave her now. She
needs care and stringent treatment,
and there is no one on the Reserva-
ton who can-who will-give it to her.
I can't leave her, Rod"
The man Strengthened up, loosed her
hand.
1t was not In human nature to take
a blow like this and not feel its I'M
pact. He locked straight ahead for
little while, riding with his hands
crossed on his pommel and Sonya
watched him anxiously.
sit isn't a within, Rod. Nor other
men. haven't looked at another man
since gave you my promise. It's
bigger thing than that. Bigger than
myself, bigger than you, think. It's
something which partakes of the uni
versal, the infinite. Something inside
my soul, an obligation TOTO the
Creator HIMSELF" she added hesitant-
ly, eff you see what l mean. have
the knowledge, the health-here is the
opportunity, the crying need. Let me
stay with them a while longer, Rod,
please. Let me teach them more n.y.
giene, more child care. more mother
care. They know so little, have so
little"
Blake drew a long breath, looked
back at her, his eyes dilated and deep
with feeling.
you should be a Portia," he said,
"you plead so eloquently. And for a
bunch Of dirty redskins who'd cut
your throat for dollar any day."
Sonya's lips fell open. How little
this man knew. this man Of the cities,
Of the rushing world beyond the
desertl How appallingly inadequate
his judgmentsi
: What he was missing Of the mystery
of life, its priceless gifts of spirit, its
lighted deepsl A tender yearning for
this blindness in him welled up in her,
and she touched his arm.
Forgive me-" she said, II see how
1t must seem to you. but believe me,
Rod, It Is not SO. I cannot make you
see it Only try to believe what say
about it. Won't you, dear? Stand
steady for another stretch. until can
do little more, leave my mark a
little palmer In this soil which love,
among these people whom love too"
Blake shrugged his shoulders under
his thin leather coat.
II suppose / must, or go down In
your black books as a tyrant. Very
well. Sonya. I'll give you six months
longer. but at the end Of that time
shall demand the fuifllment Of your