The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-22


ular skia. which might b. identlnedf" IL
asked timidly.
Low knitted his arched brows. but fell .
strange sense OF relief Perhaps not" he
said carelessly; but It's too late now to mend
| matters"
That afternoon she wrote several iottefs and
tore them up. Ono. however. she retained and
| handed II to Low TO post At Indian Spring.
whittier no was going. She called his attention
to tho superscrlption being the Same as the
previous letter. and added. with affected
gsiety. But II the answer isn't ~ prompt
perhaps It will DO pleasanter than the last"
Her quick feminine eye noticed q little excite6
mont In his manner and q moro studious attan:
ton to his dress. Only few days before she
would not have allowed this to pass without some
mischievous allusion to his mysterious sweet
heart: 1t troubled her Rroatly now to ind that
she could not bring herself to this household
| pleasantly. and that her lip trembled and her
ego grow moist as no parted from hcr.
The afternoon passed slowly; no had said he
might not return to supper until late never
| theless strange restlessness took possession
OF her "a the day wore on: she put aside her
work. the darning Of his stockings. and RAM
bed almlessly through tho woods. She hnd
wandered. she knew not how far. when she
WAS suddenly selzad with the same vague sense
| of a foreign presence which she had felt before.
Could 1t be Cursor asain-with word Of warn
ing1 No! she know 1t was not he; 80 subtle
had her sense become that she even fancied
that she detected in the invisible aura project
ed by tho unknown no Significance or relation
to herself or Low. and felt no fear. Neverthe-
less she deemed 1t wisest to sock tho protection
OF her sylvan bower. and hurried swiftly
thithsr.
But not 90 quickly nor lxedly that she did
not once or twice pause In her flight to examine
the now conner iiom behind . friendly trunk.
He was . stranger-a young fellow with o
brown moustache. wearing heavy Mexican
spurs in his riding boots. whose tinkllng he
apparently did not care to conceal. He had
perceived hcr. and was evidently pursuing her.
but so awkvardlv and timidv that she euded
| him with oasc Whom she had reached the Sc
curity OF the hollow treo and pulled the curtain
| OF bark before tho narrow opening. With her
| eye to the interstices. sho waited his coming
| He arrived breathlessly In the open space be-
fore tho tree whore the bear once layi tho
dazed. bewidcred. and half-awed expression OF
his faco as he glanced around him and through
the openings OF tho forest oislos broughta faint
smile to her snddoned face. At last he called
| In n haif-enbarrassed voice:
Miss Nellie!"
Tho smile faded from Tercsa's cheek. Who
was Miss Ncllior She pressed her ear 10 the
opening. Miss Wynnel' the voice again
called. but was lost In the echoless woods. De-
voured with a now and gratuitous curiosity.
In another moment Teresa felt sho would hnve
disclosed herself ut any risk. but tho stranger
rose and began to retrace his steps. Long after
his unkiing spurs werc lost In the distance
Teresa remained like u statue staring at the
place where he had stood. Then she suddenly
turned like mad woman. glanced down ut tho
gown she was wearing. tore it from her back
as II 1t had been polluted garment. and
stamped upon It In CONFUSION Of rage. And
then. with her beautiful bare arms clasped to-
gsther over her head. she threw herself upon
| her couch In tempest Of tears.