The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-21

ly and deeply interested in the beauty of a
passion vine near the gate. At the first
discovery of their isolation, their voluble
exchange of information about themselves
and their occupations since their last meet
ing, stopped simultaneously. Clarence,
who had forgotten his momentary irrita-
ton and had recovered his old happiness
in her presence, was nevertheless conscious
of some other change in her than that sug-
gested by the heightened skirt and the
later and more delicate accentuations of
her prettiness. 1t was not her affec-
tation of superiority and older So
cial experience, for that was only
the outcome of what he had found
charming in her as child, and which
he still good-humoredly accepted, nor was
it her characteristic exaggeration of speech
which he still pleasantly recognized. It
was something else-vague and indefinite.
Something that had been unnoticed while
Mary was with them, but had now come
between them like some unknown presence
which had taken the cOnfidantes place
He remained silent looking at her half
Frightening cheek and conscious profile.
Then he spoke with awkward directness.
You are changed, Susy-more than in
looks"
"Hush!" said the young girl in q tragic
whisper with warning gesture towards
the blandly unconscious Mary.
"But," returned Clarence wonderinRly.
''she's your-our friend, you know"
Il don't know" said Susy, in a still
deeper tone, "that $50, don't ask mel
But when you're always surrounded bv
spies-when you can't say your soul is
your own you doubt everybody!' There
was such pretty distress in her violet
eyes and curving eyebrows that Clarence,
q vo rfi
lars, nevertheless possessed himself of the
little hand that was gesticulating danger
ously near his own and pressed it SYM
pathetically. Perhaps preOccupied with
her emotions she did not Immediately
withdraw it, as she went on rapidly: "And
behind these bars!" pointing to the grille.
You'd know what suffer-"
But" began Clarence.
"Hush!" said Susy, with q stamp of
her little foot.
Clarence, who only wished to point out
that the whole lower end of the garden
wall was in ruins and open clearly to tho
plain, flushed"
"And listen! Don't pay me much at.
tention today, but talk to hef'-indicating
the still discreet and distant Mary-''be-
fore father and mother. Not word to her
of this confidence, Clarence! Tomorrow
ride ont on your beautiful horse and come
back by way of the woods, beyond our
turning, at 4 o'clock. There's q trail to
the right of the big madrona tree Take
that. Be careful and keep good lookout,
for she mustn't se6you."
"Who mustn't see me ?" said the puzzled
| Clarence
"Why Mary-of course-you silly bowl
returned the girl impatiently. "SheIl be
| looking for me! Go now, Clarence! Stop!
Look at that lovely big maiden's blush up
there, pointing to pink-suffused speci.
men of rose grandit!ora hanging on the
wall. Get it, CIarence-that one-IW
! show you where-therep' They had al
ready plunged into the leafy bramble, and
standing on tip-toe with her hand on his
| shoulder and head upturned. Susy's cheek
had innOcently approached Clarence's
own. By reason of which. Clarence pos
sibly through some confusion of color.
fragrance or softness of contact, seemed to
have availed himself of the opportunity in
way which caused Susy to instantly re-
join Mary Rogers with affected dignity,
leaving him to follow a few moments later
with the captured flower.
Without trying to understand the reason
| of tomorrow's rendezvous, and perhaps
not altogether convinced of the reality of
Susy's troubles, he, however. did not find
that difficulty in carrying out her other
commands which he had expected. Mrs.
Peyton was still gracious, and with femi-
nine tacteinduced him to talk OF himself
until she was presently In possession of
his whole history-barring the episode of
his meeting with Susy-since he had
parted with them. He felt strange salts
faction in Familiarity pouring out his con-
fdences to this large. queenly woman
whom he had always held in awe; there
was new delight in her womanly inter-
est IN his trials and adventures; and
subtle pleasure even in her half
motherly criticism and admonition of
some passages. / am afraid he forgot
Susy, who listened with the complacency
OF an exhibitor; Mary. whose black ewes
dilated alternately with sympathy for the
performer and depreciation of Mrs. Pey-
tons critical glances, and Peyton, who.
however, seemed lost in thought and pre-
occupied. Clarence was happy. The
softly shaded lights in the broad spacious.
comfortably furnished drawing-room
shone on the group before him: it was a
picture OF refined domesticity which the
homeless Clarence had never known q,