"And I'm a sinner," her lover replied blithely.
"You're the sinner I love, then."
They had reached a clump of firs. Without knowing how it happened she found herself in his arms. There were both tears and laughter in her eyes as her lips turned slowly to meet his.
"The first time since we were kiddies on the Victorian, sweetheart," he told her.
"Yes, it's true. I loved you then. I love you now.... Jack, boy, I'm just the happiest girl alive."
A mist-like veil of old rose hung above the mountain tops. Hand in hand they watched the rising sun pierce through it and flood the crotches of the hills with God's splendid canvases. It was a part of love's egoism that all this glory of the young day seemed an accompaniment to the song of joy that pulsed through them.
Later they came to earth and babbled the nonsense that is the highest wisdom of lovers. They built air castles and lived in them, seeing life through a poetic ambient as a long summer day in which they should ride and work and play together.
At last she remembered Lady Farquhar and began to laugh.
"We must go down and tell her at once, Jack."
He agreed. "Yes, let's go back and have it out. If you like you may go to your room and I'll tackle her alone."
"I'd rather go with you."
He delighted in her answer.
Farquhar was taking an early morning stroll, arm in arm with Lady Jim, when he caught sight of them.
"Look, Di!"
Both of the lovers knew how to walk. Lady Farquhar, watching them, thought she had never seen as fine a pair of untamed human beings. In his step was the fine free swing of the hillman, and the young woman breasted the slope lightly as a faun.
The Englishman chuckled. "You're beaten, Di. The highwayman wins."
"Nonsense," she retorted sharply, but with anxiety manifest in her frown.
"Fact, just the same. He's coming to tell us he means to take our little girl to his robber den."
"I believe you'd actually let him," she said scornfully.
"Even you can't stop him. It's written in the books. Not sure I'd interfere if I could. For a middle-aged Pharisee with the gout I'm incurably romantic. It's the child's one great chance for happiness. But I wish to the deuce he wasn't a highgrader."
"She shan't sacrifice herself if I can prevent it," Lady Farquhar insisted stanchly.
"I 'member a girl who sacrificed herself for a line lieutenant without a shilling to call his own," he soliloquized aloud. "Would have him, and did, by Jove! Three deaths made him Lord Farquhar later, but she married the penniless subaltern."
"I've always been glad I did." She squeezed his arm fondly. "But this is different, James."
Kilmeny and Moya stopped. The young man doffed his gray felt hat and bowed.
"Mornin', Lady Farquhar—Lord Farquhar. We've come to ask your permission for our marriage."
"Mornin', rebels. Fancy I'll have to refuse it," cut back Farquhar, eyes twinkling. For this bold directness pleased and amused him.
"That would distress us extremely," answered Kilmeny with a genial smile.
"But would not affect your plans, I understand you to mean."
"You catch the idea exactly, sir."
Lady Farquhar entered the conversation. "Are you planning to go to prison with him, Moya, when he is convicted of highgrading?" she asked pleasantly.
Moya told in three sentences of what her lover had done. The Englishman wrung Kilmeny's hand cordially.
"By Jove, you reform thoroughly when you go about it. Don't think I'd have enjoyed writing that check for Miss Joyce. Leaves you strapped, does it?"
"Dead broke," came the very cheerful reply.
"But of course Moya has some money," said Lady Farquhar quietly.
The Westerner winced. "Wish she hadn't. It's the only thing I have to forgive her."
Farquhar lifted his eyebrows. "Di," he remonstrated.
His wife came to time with a frank apology. "That was downright nasty of me, Mr. Kilmeny. I withdraw it. None the less, I think Moya would be throwing herself away. Do you realize what you are proposing? She's been used to the best ever since she was born. Have you the means to supply her needs? Or are you considering a Phyllida and Corydon idyll in a cottage?"
"It will have to be something of that sort at first. I've told her all this too, Lady Farquhar."
"What does that matter if we love each other?" Moya asked.
"You'll find it matters a good deal," said Lady Jim dryly. "When poverty comes in love is likely to wink out any day. Of course I realize that yours is of a quality quite unusual. It always is, my dear. Every lover has thought that since time began."
"We'll have to take our fighting chance of that," Jack replied.
Moya, her eyes shining, nodded agreement. No great gain can be won without risk. She knew there was a chance that she might not find happiness in her love. But where it called her she must follow—to a larger life certainly, to joy and to sorrow, to the fuller experiences that must come to every woman who fulfills her destiny.
A voice hailed Jack. Colter was hurrying up the street, plainly excited. Kilmeny moved a few steps toward him.
Lady Jim took advantage of his absence to attack Moya from another angle. "My dear, I wish I could show you how much depends on a similarity of tastes, of habits, of standards. Matrimony means more than love. It means adjustment."
"I've thought of that too. But ... when you love enough that doesn't help the adjustment?" asked the girl naïvely.
She had appealed to Farquhar. That gentleman came to her assistance. "It does."
"This isn't a matter to be decided merely by personal preference," urged the older woman. "There may be—consequences."
The color beat into the face of the young woman in a wave, but her eyes held steadily to those of Lady Farquhar.
"I ... hope so."
"Bravo, Moya!" applauded her guardian, clapping his hands softly.
"Don't you think they—the consequences—deserve a better chance than you will give them?"
"I'll answer that, Di," spoke up Farquhar. "When a girl chooses for the father of her children a man who is clean and strong and virile, and on top of that her lover, she is giving them the best possible chance in life."
Moya's gratitude shone through the eyes that met those of her guardian.
Kilmeny swung back to the group he had left. "I've good news, friends. This is my lucky day. You remember that when I was rescued from the Golden Nugget my pockets were full of ore samples I had picked up as I was tunneling."
"Yes ... picked them up while you were delirious, didn't you?" Farquhar replied.
"Must have, I reckon. Well, you know how miners are always having pieces of quartz assayed. Colter took these to the man we employ. He's just learned that it is high-grade stuff."
"You've made a strike?"
"Looks like it. Colter wasn't taking any chances, anyhow. He hiked right around to the owners of the mine and signed up a five-year lease in his name and mine."
Farquhar shook hands with him cordially. "Hope you make a fortune, Kilmeny."
Moya's chaperon, facing the inevitable, capitulated as graceful as she could. After all, the girl might have done worse. The man she had chosen was well born, good looking, forceful, and a leader in his community. If this fortunate strike was going to leave him well off, clearly she must make the best of him.
"You're a lucky man. I hope you know you don't deserve a girl like Moya," she told him as she shook hands.
"I know it, all right. Can you tell me who does?" he flung back, with a gay insouciant smile.
At that moment Ned Kilmeny stepped out upon the hotel porch. Lady Jim nodded toward him.
"Perhaps," his cousin conceded. "But in this little old world a man doesn't get what he deserves."
"I see he doesn't. Ned is a better man than you."
"Yes," he admitted.
Captain Kilmeny, coming down the porch steps, saw in a flash what had happen
ed. He came forward with the even stride and impassive face that seldom deserted him. In two sentences Lady Farquhar told him the facts.
"You lucky dog," he said to his cousin as their hands gripped.
Jack had never liked him better than in this moment when he was giving up so cheerfully the thing he wanted most in the world.
"It isn't always the best man that wins, captain. I take off my hat to the better men who have tried and failed. Perhaps it may be a comfort to them to know that I'm the man that needs her most."
The captain turned to Moya. "So you've found that good hunting already," he said to her in a low voice.
"Yes, I think I have ... I'm sure of it, Ned." Her eyes were full of tender sympathy for him. She wished she could tell him how much she admired his fine spirit.
"God keep you happy," he said wistfully.
Jack joined them and slipped Moya's arm into his. "Amen to that, captain. And since Jack Kilmeny has been appointed deputy on the job I'm going to see your wish comes true."
Moya looked at her lover and smiled.
* * *
Nine Splendid Novels by
WILLIAM MacLEOD RAINE
THE PIRATE OF PANAMA
A tale of old-time pirates and of modern love, hate and adventure. The scene is laid in San Francisco on board The Argus and in Panama. A romantic search for the lost pirate gold. An absorbing love-story runs through the book.
12mo, Cloth, Jacket in Colors. Net $1.25.
THE VISION SPLENDID
A powerful story in which a man of big ideas and fine ideals wars against graft and corruption. A most satisfactory love affair terminates the story.
12mo, Cloth, Illustrated. Net $1.25,
CROOKED TRAILS AND STRAIGHT
A story of Arizona; of swift-riding men and daring outlaws; of a bitter feud between cattle-men and sheep-herders. The heroine is a most unusual woman and her love-story reaches a culmination that is fittingly characteristic of the great free West.
12mo, Cloth, Illustrated. Popular Edition 50 cents.
BRAND BLOTTERS
A story of the Cattle Range. This story brings out the turbid life of the frontier with all its engaging dash and vigor with a charming love interest running through its 320 pages.
12mo, Cloth, Illustrated. Jacket in Colors. Popular Edition 50 cents.
"MAVERICKS"
A tale of the western frontier, where the "rustler," whose depredations are so keenly resented by the early settlers of the range, abounds. One of the sweetest love stories ever told.
12mo, Cloth, Illustrated. Popular Edition, 50 cents.
A TEXAS RANGER
How a member of the most dauntless border police force carried law into the mesquit, saved the life of an innocent man after a series of thrilling adventures, followed a fugitive to Wyoming, and then passed through deadly peril to ultimate happiness.
12mo, Cloth, Illustrated. Popular Edition, 50 cents.
WYOMING
In this vivid story of the outdoor West the author has captured the breezy charm of "cattleland," and brings out the turbid life of the frontier with all its engaging dash and vigor.
12mo, Cloth, Illustrated. Popular Edition, 50 cents.
RIDGWAY OF MONTANA
The scene is laid in the mining centers of Montana, where politics and mining industries are the religion of the country. The political contest, the love scene, and the fine character drawing give this story great strength and charm.
12mo, Cloth, Illustrated. Popular Edition, 50 cents.
BUCKY O'CONNOR
Every chapter teems with wholesome, stirring adventures, replete with the dashing spirit of the border, told with dramatic dash and absorbing fascination of style and plot.
12mo, Cloth, Illustrated. Popular Edition, 50 cents.
* * *
THREE SPLENDID BOOKS BY ALFRED HENRY LEWIS
FARO NELL AND HER FRIENDS
A new story of "Wolfville" days—the best of all. It pictures the fine comradeship, broad understanding and simple loyalty of Faro Nell to her friends. Here we meet again Old Monte, Dave Tutt, Cynthiana, Pet-Named Original Sin, Dead Shot Baker, Doc Peets, Old Man Enright, Dan Boggs, Texas and Black Jack, the rough-actioned, good-hearted men and women who helped to make this author famous as a teller of tales of Western frontier life.
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Popular Edition. 50 Cents
THE APACHES OF NEW YORK
A truthful account of actual happenings in the underworld of vice and crime in the metropolis, that gives an appalling insight into the life of the New York criminal. It contains intimate, inside information concerning the gang fights and the gang tyranny that has since startled the entire world. The book embraces twelve stories of grim, dark facts secured directly from the lips of the police and the gangsters themselves.
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Popular Edition. 50 Cents
THE STORY OF PAUL JONES
A wonderful historical romance. A story of the boyhood and later life of that daring and intrepid sailor whose remains are now in America. Thousands and tens of thousands have read it and admired it. Many consider it one of the best books Mr. Lewis has produced.
12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Popular Edition. 50 Cents
G. W. DILLINGHAM COMPANY
Publishers New York
* * *
Books by Edward Marshall
BAT—An Idyl of New York
"The heroine has all the charm of Thackeray's Marchioness in New York surroundings."—New York Sun. "It would be hard to find a more charming, cheerful story."—New York Times. "Altogether delightful."—Buffalo Express. "The comedy is delicious."—Sacramento Union. "It is as wholesome and fresh as the breath of springtime."—New Orleans Picayune. 12mo, cloth. Illustrated. $1.00 net.
THE MIDDLE WALL
The Albany Times-Union says of this story of the South African diamond mines and adventures in London, on the sea and in America: "As a story teller Mr. Marshall cannot be improved upon, and whether one is looking for humor, philosophy, pathos, wit, excitement, adventure or love, he will find what he seeks, aplenty, in this capital tale." 12mo, cloth. Illustrated. 50 cents.
BOOKS NOVELIZED FROM GREAT PLAYS
THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE
From the successful play of EDGAR JAMES. Embodying a wonderful message to both husbands and wives, it tells how a determined man, of dominating personality and iron will, leaves a faithful wife for another woman. 12mo, cloth. Illustrated from scenes in the play. Net $1.25.
THE WRITING ON THE WALL
The Rocky Mountain News: "This novelization of OLGA NETHERSOLE'S play tells of Trinity Church and its tenements. It is a powerful, vital novel." 12mo, cloth. Illustrated. 50 cents.
THE OLD FLUTE PLAYER
Based on CHARLES T. DAZEY'S play, this story won the friendship of the country very quickly. The Albany Times-Union: "Charming enough to become a classic." 12mo, cloth. Illustrated 50 cents.
THE FAMILY
Of this book (founded on the play by ROBERT HOBART DAVIS), The Portland (Oregon) Journal said: "Nothing more powerful has recently been put between the covers of a book." 12mo, cloth. Illustrated. 50 cents.
THE SPENDTHRIFT
The Logansport (Ind.) Journal: "A tense story founded on PORTER EMERSON BROWNE'S play, is full of tremendous situations, and preaches a great sermon." 12mo, cloth bound, with six illustrations from scenes in the play, 50 cents.
IN OLD KENTUCKY
Based upon CHARLES T. DAZEY'S well-known play, which has been listened to with thrilling interest by over seven million people. "A new and powerful novel, fascinating in its rapid action. Its teaching story is told more elaborately and even more absorbingly than it was upon the stage."—Nashville American, 12mo, cloth. Illustrated. 50 cents.
* * *
ALBERT ROSS' ROMANCES
A NEW EDITION AT A POPULAR PRICE
Albert Ross is a brilliant and wonderfully successful writer whose books have sold far into the millions. Primarily his novel
s deal with the sex-problem, but he depicts vice with an artistic touch and never makes it unduly attractive. Gifted with a fine dramatic instinct, his characters become living, moving human beings full of the fire and passion of loving just as they are in real life. His stories contain all the elements that will continue to keep him at the head of American novelists in the number of his admirers.
Mr. Ross is to be congratulated on the strength as well as the purity of his work. It shows that he is not obliged to confine his pen to any single theme, and that he has a good a right to be called the "American Eugene Sue" or the "American Zola."
12mo, cloth. Price per volume, 50 cents.
Black Adonis, A Original Sinner, An
Garston Bigamy, The Out of Wedlock
Her Husband's Friend Speaking of Ellen
His Foster Sister Stranger than Fiction
His Private Character Sugar Princess, A
In Stella's Shadow That Gay Deceiver
Love at Seventy Their Marriage Bond
Love Gone Astray Thou Shalt Not
Moulding a Maiden Thy Neighbor's Wife
Naked Truth, The Why I'm Single
New Sensation, A Young Fawcett's Mabel
Young Miss Giddy
G.W. DILLINGHAM CO.
Publishers New York
* * *
"THE ART OF THE PHOTOPLAY" is a condensed textbook of the technical knowledge necessary for the preparation and sale of motion picture scenarios. More than 35,000 photoplays are produced annually in the United States. The work of staff-writers is insufficient. Free-lance writers have greater opportunities than ever before, for the producing companies can not secure enough good comedies and dramas for their needs. The first edition of this book met with unusual success. Its author, now the Director General of Productions for the Beaux Arts Film Corporation, is the highest paid scenario writer in the world, as well as being a successful producing manager. Among his successes were the scenarios for the spectacular productions: "Robin Hood," "The Squaw Man," "The Banker's Daughter," "The Fire King," "Checkers," "The Curse of Cocaine" and "The Kentucky Derby."
WHAT THOSE WHO KNOW HAVE SAID:
The Highgrader Page 21