omance?

CHAPTER VIII

Felipe

As soon as Mrs. Burton and his father were out of sight Felipe began
singing:

"I will make you brooches and toys for your delight
Of bird-song at morning and star-shine at night.
I will make a palace fit for you and me,
Of green days in forests and blue days at sea.

"I will make my kitchen and you shall keep your room
Where white flows the river and bright blows the broom
And you shall wash your linen and keep your body white
In rainfall at morning and dewfall at night.

"And this shall be for music when no one else is near,
The fine song for singing, the rare song to hear!
That only I remember, that only you admire,
On the broad road that stretches and the roadside fire."

Then Felipe's song ended, and yet it seemed to Gerry that she could
still hear the inflections of his voice.

"Thank you; that was lovely. I did not know I cared so much for music
before," the girl answered simply and without the least touch of
coquetry which one might have expected of a girl like Gerry in such
surroundings. "But what an exquisite voice you have and what a beautiful
night it is! I am sure I do not remember another half so lovely."

Then Gerry leaned forward a little so that she could see more clearly
out into the garden.

"I don't wonder you feel that you cannot give all this up," she
continued, with a graceful movement of her hand. "It seems to me wicked
that you should be forced into the war, hating it as you do and perhaps
spoiling your future as a singer. I agree with you, one ought to live
his own life. All men are not equally fitted to be soldiers."

Gerry spoke with an unexpected vehemence which rather surprised her. For
the past hour Felipe Morris had been pouring forth his side of the war
problem to her, but as he was an entire stranger there was no especial
reason why she should be so disturbed over the thought of his being
forced to enter the army.

"I suppose I understand why you so hate giving up your home and your
life here on the ranch and your music and all the rest, because I have
never had a home of my own, or any possessions of much value," Gerry
ended in a quieter voice and manner.

"You possess nothing of value!" Felipe Morris repeated, and although he
said nothing more Gerry felt oddly flattered and happy.

Then Felipe laughed unexpectedly.

"I wonder if you realize, Miss Williams, that we have seen each