Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-19

| thought /. that women are SO weak at definition
| and argument. -,
ings, Tom looked caEelessiy back over his shout
| der, and my eyes met his.
| He laughed, he absolutely laughed again. a
contemptuous hooking laugh that Jared upon
my FEELINGS, With look OF whitening scorn
leaned back in my. seat and devoted myself
altogether to the contemplation Of the scenery
around u.s. 1t was very lovely; we were near
| ing Eddiscombe, quaint little town embower-
ed in trees, overlooking narrow stretch of in
| land sea- The gray roofs shone in tho sun,
thousand dancing lights cleaned In the ripping
water; an orchard, full of rosy blossOming
trees, lay on our right hand to the left, undu-
lating green hills and slopes, while far beyond
was the breezy moorland, and on the horizon
some brown sails of fishing boats came SKIM
ming along the narrow blue line that was the
open sea.
pretty, amt 1t? ?" asked Tom. "There's no
place like England, no place like home, Lettice,
after ALL"
but il you have never travelled, TOMB"
"That's the very reason why" he replied.
somewhat enigmatically, and leaping lightly into
the dog-cart. he gave the bride rens shake,
and we set off at swinging trOt
There are few things more delightful to nv
mind than passing quickly through the air,
perched on the top Of high vehicle the guild
ance of which is intrusted to steady hand 1t
and comfortably at ease, though the sense of
swiftness almost catches the breath
Some time had gone by thus peacefully when
I said, "How pleasant this is, Toni"
But, even while spoke there was sudden
strange sound as though something in the
rickety harness had given way, and black OBJ
ject swayed for moment to and fro about the
mares neck, close to her ears. The animal was
frightened, doubtless. for our speed increased
tenfOld, and the old dog cart lurched and swung
from side to side.
ooh, Tom, not so fast, not so FAST" cried
"Hush!" said Tom under his breath.
l stared at him. vague dread chilling nv
heart He was sitting bolt upright. nay, he
was half standing. His lips, partly open, showed
his tightly clenched teeth; his eyes were fixed,
and he was frowning terribly His strong hands
held the reins in their powerful grasp, but the
ribbons were strained, and seemed almost about
to break asunder.
And then knew that Jerry was running
away, and that we were in danger.
laid my hand upon the rens. 'Oh, Tom let
| me help" whispered. But Tom shook off my
hand with no gentle movement.
GOOD GOd!' he said fiercey 'Iet me alone
will you? Sit stl-yes, you SHALL Do as tel,
you; do you hear?"
He glared at me for moment; his blue eyes
flashed like steel, and his face was quite white;
1 had never dreamed that Tom could look thus
obedience to Tom, of course, but from wish to
help him as well as from the consciousness that
| 1t was best to do so. Faster and faster grew
Jerry's speed; my head swan as the landscape
| times spinning recklessly along the road, some
| times jolting and lurching dangerously over
stones and rough places.
Suddenly Tom turned to me. "Letty, you
will promise to remain still whatever happens?"
he murmured hurriedly.
eyes. yes; why7"
Tom gave no answer, but the next moment
the dog cart swerved violently the mare
seemed about to climb the steep bank and l
was scarcely conscious of anything more. ex-
! nnnf rhol min
ears.
Then directly after. as 1t appeared to me.
found myself unaccountably sitting on the soft
grass, with Toms arms round my neck, and
Toms frightened eyes staring into mine.
"Oh, Lefty, you are real angel" said Tom
incoherently.
l could not speak; L thought was dreaming:
put my hand to my head. l was hardly aware
of my own identity; it never occurred to me
even to be angry at Toms affectionate attitude
And yet it was all true; the dog-cart and the
mare had vanished, and /, weak and giddy, was
sitting by the roadside, leaning against this
meekest and contritest of cousins.
"Oh, Lefty" said Tom. In a voice that was
absolutely low and husky, ''can you forgive
me? Oh, Lefty, my darling, nearly killed you
When we were shot out of that beastly trap and
picked you up, you had tainted. and l thought
you were dead. But you are all right amt
your Say you are all right, Lefty"
There were two big tears in Toms kind ewes
as he gazed anxiously at me. was all right,
| 80 right. indeed, that I am convinced my strong
est feeling at that particular moment was one of
| triumph that fate and together had reduced
Tom to such an abject condition. Possibly he
discerned something of the kind in my tell-tale
face, for he smiled and breathed sigh of relief
And then he blushed deep red through his
brown skin.
Lefty, give me kiss, just one kiss"
"Why? Oh, Tom, can't can't"
eyes, you can, just one; because you hate
me-" said Tom, ilogically. and 80, without wait
ing my permission, he took me in his big. strong
arms and held me. And strange and sudden
knowledge came to me that our hate was not
hate after ALL but only love in disguise For,
indeed, from time immemorial, mythical and
historical, has not the foolish young god been
prone to disguise? AS we sat hand in hand,
gazing at each other, there was no need for
speech and Tom and were both silently agreed
that we had loved each other all our lives.
But at last he spoke: LEFTY. do you remem-
Der the first time l ever saw your"
eyes; 1t was at grandpapa's house at Twick-
enham. We were party of children playing
together. and a horrid little boy wanted to put
some earwigs down my back and you wouldn't
let him.
81 gave him jolly thrashing and made him
eat one of his own carvings And the second
time saw you, Lefty. you cried because made
you sit in cherry tree and wouldn't let you
had picked for you.'
"And my French governess cried also, and
said you had bad heart"
$50 she did. Well, the third time we met you
were grown up and wouldn't speak to me at all,
so it was my turn to be in Coventry"
"And how about Jerry ?" l asked after pause.
"She is in the sand-pit, probably. 1 tried to
upset the trap to save us from worse destruc-
ton. didn't know exactly what to do" added
Tom ingenuously. "But the old mare disap-
proved of my plans, and split up, and went on
her way rejoicing"
sob, Toni"
$50 now you must walk home, Lefty. Or
stay, let us go as far as that white farmhouse.
1t will do you good to rest bit, anyhow"
We walked awhile, and then, at a turn in the
road we came upon Jerry, quietly grazing by
about her neck, and the old dog-cart, scarcely
injured, still at her heels. She allowed Tom to
go up to her and stroke her neck and examine
her hooks and fetlocks with learned hand, and
lead her (for she was not in the least hurt) in
the direction Of the farm
Then, Tom, who wasla master in such work,
embarrassed Jerry and took her round to the
stables, tended her and washed her. and
mended the dog-cart with sundry ropes and bits
of wood, thereby earning the unbounded admi-
ration and rpsnopt of hof a 6ozan loutioh