The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-29

nisht.H N. M n, 4.
WIN these words rinsins In her ears she
began her Journey. Tho horse. Al II eager to
maintain the reputation which his native dis
trict had given his race. 40 we'll as tho
race Of tho pretty woman behind him,
lcaped impatiently forward. but pull
cd together by the nno and nrm fingers
that seemed TO guide rather than chcck
his exubersnce. he presently struck into the
long swinging pace Of his kind. and kept IL
throughout without break" or acceloration.
Over the paved streets the light buggy ratified.
and the slender shafts danced around his
smooth barrel. but when they touched the level
high road. horse and vehicle slipped forward
through the night--A swift and noisoless phan-
tom. Mrs. Tucker could soc his graceful back
dimiy rising and falling before her with tire
loss rhythm and could feel tho Intelligent pros
sure Of his mouth until It seemed the respon-
slve grasp Of q powerful but kindly hand.
The faint glow Of conquest came to her cold
check; the slight stirrings Of pride moved her
preocoupiod heart. A soft light filed her
hazel eyes. A desolate woman. beroit OF hus-
band and home. and flying through storm
and night-ahe knew not where-sho still
leaned forward toward her horse. Was he
Blue Grass. then. dear old boy2" sho gently
cooed ct him In the darkness. He evidently
,oas. and responded by blowing hor an osten-
tatious equine kiss. And no would DO good
TO his own forsaken Bclle." she murmured
caressingly. "and wouldn't lot any one harm
herr" But here. overcome by the lazy WITCH
cry OF her voice. he shook his head 30 violently
that Mrs. Tucker. after the fashion OF her
Sex had the double satisfaction OF demuroly
restraining the passion she had evoked.
To avoid the moro travelled thoroughfare
while the evening was still early It had boon
arranged that she should at Hrst TAKE less d.
rect but loss freQuented road. This was IA
nous pleasure drive from Ban Francisco-a
gravelled and sanded stretch OF eight miles
to the sea- and an ultimate cocktail In
stately pleasuredome decroed" among
tho surf and rocks Of the Pacific shore. 1t
was deserted now. and left to the unobstructed
sweep Of the wind and rain. Mrs. Tucker
would not have chosen this road. With the in
stinotive jealousy Of bucolic inland race born
by great rivers. she did not like the sea; and
again the dim and dreary WASTE tended to re-
flight, upon which she had resolutely shut her
eyes. But when she had reached 1t the road
suddenly turned. following the trend Of the
beach, and she was exposed to the full power Of
its dread Vaccinations The combined roar Of
sen and shore was In her ears as the direct
force Of the gale had compelled her to iurl the
protecting hood Of the buggy to keep the light
vehicle from oversetting or drifting to leeward.
she coud no longer shut out the heaving chaos
on tho right from which the pallid ghosts OF
dead and dying breakers dimly rose and sank
as II In awful salutation. At times through
the darkness white sheet appeared
spread before the path and beneath the
wheels Of the buggy. which. when with
a, tell
drag the exhausted beach seward with II. But
the blind terror Of her horse. who swerved ut
every sweep Of the surge. shnmed her own
Interpretations foars. and with the effort to
control his alarm she regained her own SELF
possession albeit with eyelashes wet. not alto
gether with the salt spray from the sea. This was
followed by a reaction. perhaps stimulated by
her victory over the beaten animal. whom for a
time-she knew not how long-she ielt only
mad sense OF freedom and power. oblivlous Of
even her sorrows. her lost homo and husband:
and with intense feminine consciousness she
lonRed to be man. She was scarcely aware
that the track turned again inland until the
beat OF tho horses hoofs on the firm ground and
an acceleration OF speed showed her she had
left tho beach and the mysterious sea behind
her. aud sho remembered that she was near
the end OF tho first stage OF her journey. Half
side inn where she was to change horses rose
out OF the darkness.
Happily for her the hostier considered the
horse who had n local reputation. OF moro i'm
portance than the unknown muffled figure In
the shadow OF the unfured hood and confined
his attention to the animal. After o careful
examination OF his feet and a few comments
addressed solely to the superior creation. he
led him away. Mrs. Tucker would have liked
to part more affeotlonately from her four
footed compatriot. and felt a sudden senss OF
loneliness at the loss OF her new friend.
but recollection Of certain cautions Of
Captain Poindexters kept her mute. Never
the!ess. the ostler's ostentations ADMIRATION Of
Now then. aren't you going to bring out that
mustang for the Seforn?" puzzled her. 1t was
not until the fresh horse was put to- and she
had flung a piece OF gold into the attendants
hand. that the Grdcins" OF his unmistakable
Saxon speech revealed to her the reason Of the
LAWYERS caution. Polndexter had evidently
represented her to these people as a native
Californian who did not speak English. In her
inconsistency her blood took fire at this first
suggestion OF deceit. and burned In her face.
Why should he try to pass her of as anybody
else? Why should she not use her own-her
husbands name? She stopped and bit her Lip.
1t was but the beginning Of an uneasy train
OF thought. She suddenly found herself think
ing OF her visitor. Calhoun Weaver-and not
pleasantly. He would hear OF their ruin to-
morrow. perhaps Of her own flight. He would
remember his visit, and what would be think
OF her deceitful frivolityp Would he believe
that she was then ignorant OF the failure? 1t
was her FIRST sense Of any accountability to
others than herself. but even then 1t WAS rather
owing to an uneasy consciousness OF what her
husband must feel II he were subjected to the
criticisms OF men like Calhoun. She wondered
II others knew that he had kept her In igno-
rance Of his fight. Did Poindexter know it-or
had he only entrappsd her into the admission ?
Why had she not been clever enough to make
him think that she know It already For the
moment she hated Polndexter for sharing that
secret. Yet this was again followed by new
impationce OF her husbands want Of insight
into her ability to help him. OF course
the poor fellow could not bear to worry
haa HN o.