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Show WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR (Continued from last week.) It was ten years after that eventful night when Jack had resolved to leava the east for Montana, that a party of pleasure seekers took their j urney into the western hills for the summer. The party was comprised of Dr. and Mrs. Brown, Miss -Farnsworth, known as Marie, and Spencer Marley, a cousin of Dr. Brown's. "Come Marie, let's take the path by the old spring. Ic is mujh smoother and from the north and west we can get a better view of thi glorious sunset." sun-set." Marie was not the same todry and Spencer had noticed it. Never during their whole stay in the Moitani highlands high-lands haa she been so indirferent. Time and time again he had endjavor-ed endjavor-ed to devise some way by which he could break the spell which was now on, and having failed in every other attempt he was now trying to prsaale nar to climb with him to an elevation on the blue clilf to the east of their camp where they could get a view of the glorious valley below. Far to the west from the blue cliff the valley dipped gently to the next rising hills, wnich were now bathed in the purple tines of the evening. The young man parted the growing brush, w.ure it had obstructed thi path, and made the journey as pleasant by his jolly laughter as possible. At times he would taKe long-side glances at her as she moved quietly ab.ig basidj him How beautiful she looked that evening with her brown hair thrown back and the white shawl hanging carelessly from one shoulder. "How wonderf-il it all is, Marie,', began the youth again. "I would feel just like throwing my hat in the air and shouting, if it weren't for disturbing you." Marie could hardly surpress a smile at seeing his boyish enthusiasm. "Look Mirie, thjre whare the sunlight strikes those peaks and see h w the purple shadows creep right up to tne very feet of the golden castles." "Spencer," Marie spoke for the Bret time, "you are so enthusiastic and I can't really help admiring that quality in you. " "Now Marie that sounds more like friendship. Now I will throw my hat in the air. Here, let's sit here, it looks just like someone had made t.iis seat for two." For some time the two sat quietly gazi. J "n the lindscaps below, when j Spencer pointed to a distint ptrt of the ' shaded valley, where three dirk objects moved uncertainly and then passed into the woods near by. "Did you see that, Marie?" "Yes, I have been witching them for some time. I think it must be those Indians that called at the camp after dinner. I wonder why they are hanging hang-ing around here, they acted rather stupid and hateful, not at all like the tribe that visited us Wednesday." Spencer laughed at her concerned attitude. at-titude. "Now I suppose you are expecting ex-pecting to lose your scalp the next minute? Shall I make you a dagger or gun of my staff?" "No you needn't'" retorted Marie. "If you can take care of your own scalp I can look after mine." "I can plainly see you want to quarrel but I am not in that hum r. Yo,i have acted very strange and indifferent today; tell me what ails you. I can't bear to see you act this way." j The girl sighed. "Everything was , so beautiful yesterday that I felt that I should never want to go back to the dingy city again, but today I wish our vacation were ending instead of having ' just begun." The man at her side ! breathed heavily as she spoke. "1 ; know what you mean Marie; our conversation con-versation of last night has caused this j great change. I did not mean that my : words should have such an unpleasant . influence over you. Did I offend you? Have I made you unhappy, Marie?" he ' pleaded as his arm unconsciously .found , its way to her waist. 1 "Oh, no, " she said as she drew away, "don't do that, Mr. Marley, I beg of you. Do not destroy our friendship, i It has been so dear to me, but no-v you are making it impossible to treat you even as a friend. It would be wrong for me to deceive you. You could never be happy with me as your wife for I can't love you in that way, but we could be such good friends Let's be friends. I cjuld always 1 e you as a friend, but it c.ui't be anything else." "But Marie," he pleaded, I cannot give you up after all the encouragement j you have given me." "No Spencer, you are mistaken, I j have never encouraged anything but I friendship. " "Oh, Marie, don't speak like that," pleaded the young man. "Promisa that you will give me soma hops and I will be satisfied. Only one word. Don't say no." I "Please Mr. Marley, don't. I am so unhappy. Djn't take advantage of my i symp uhy. You are so good but I can't i promise vou anything-. If I should promise now, the moment you were out of my sijht I siiould htte mys;lf for what I had done. You c-m learn to love someone else and til it sm?oi3 lovinj ' you would make you happ." A dark something frjmbahiilmived quietly fro.n its hi ling place an 1 crept ; nearer. Tne gold of the sky ii the west wis fading am the dark less fron theshadovs was slowly creeping over the earth. "I have asked so little Marie, you ount to think or my hiop' ie;s i little. Promise me that I may luve the privilege of winning your 1 ive. Spjak, make me happy wich this vary sm ill primise." Tae shido.v hilf arose for an instant an I the l q lie ly sink a rain. The girl's n r i Is w ;r e t h ;r f i2e b this time ail tie tear vere falling fast. "Oh if I could bit refuse aid not offend" thought she. "If I could but put an en 1 to this torture an! misery." Receiving no ansver the n in grtsped one of her hands as he pleaded. "Please Marie, just that little shadow of a promise. " The girl arose from the rock and looked look-ed at the passionate face. "If I p.omise will you agree never to speik of it again unless I wish it?" "I'll promise anything you ask if I may but love you a little." "Then be satisfied," Sbid the girl as she turned to go. The sha low arose quietly ani leaped in the trail behind them. (To be continued) |