The San Francisco call., 1896-05-17

bara spoke of Morve in reply to Howel's in
quiryl he grew inconsequentially stubborn.
AN, am lain TO hear of it. l have set a
be safe for the rest of the night. Meanwhile
he turned doggedly upon his heel to go-I
wish you hearty goodnight mistress
sir ! cried she at once, in fine wrath.
he was looking over his shoulder as he
went, but instantly, at her word, he turned
again 'Ah 1 did forget: 1 should have
bowed; but am poor unmannerly lout from
the mountains, as you did say in forgiveness
the first time you saw me. See, make my
bow now; is it sufficiently like TO be recog-
nlzed Tor me" My lord was mounted upon
his dignity.
But Barbara was as perverse as usual She
calmly refused to be provoked. She only
smiled in manner so sweet as famed his
stubbornness into blaze, and he was within an
ace OF stumping off upon his stills in dudgeon.
Within an ace, that is, if he had been the free
agent which he was so angrily busy in men
tally asserting himself to be. But she played
him with perfect skill. His heel was lifted to
go, as was her hand in the slight gesture tn at
commanded pause. while she said softly: And
was that all said? Did l say nothing more?
Why, sir! good lack l am so simple maid
thougnt | had said-had said and she
broke of in SO despairing1y sweet confusion
that the lads heart ieaped hot to his parted
lips, and he took half step toward her, his
shield tossed hastily back and his two hands
extended to embrace the maiden he had not
seen till a few hours agol Aho! when life is
young and the pulse is fire the world wsgs
bravely then.
"But the maiden had no mind to be en-
braced. Instead she drove him back-not half
a step, but full one. And after what l said,
sir, you have come up here, and, though you
sa w me in deadly peril, yet you asked after this
one and that one and all the people of the
place, saving my poor self. But forget; were
you not full angry with me this day in the
bower, in spite OF my pretty speeches to your
He showed his teeth IN little smile he
said: You are batting me again; but [ know
you now. Tell me, why should l ask after you?
Did not lit you in these arms and carry you
from your bower to your chamber? Would not
nv hes h1yt hGH
taken so much as one small scratch|
:. Your hearth She drew back in bright dis
ears soundly for your impertinenee If you dare
much as to dream you carried mel And
mot scratch" said you, sir ? Look at thatp-
showing a long slit in the silken texture of her
sleeve, and swiftly loosing a handkerchief
from the wounded arm beneath. What is
that" " she cried in tone OF subd ued tragedy
and stamping her pretty foot softly in EN-
phasis she held forth the arm and showed
across the delicate white flesh, the red line of
smart cut.
".sDuwP gasped the lad hating in his stride
with a shudder of swift horror-this wielder OF
the long swordl this leader of onsets and
meeter of tall men! And straightway there
forgetting all else but the soft flesh and the
cruel RED upon il, he took the shapely arm ten
derly in his hands and kissed the wound over
and over again. Was it wonderful If she forgot
10 be angry? Was it strange if she lifted the
lamp over her head to hide the rosy confusion
that stole up TO join the deepening glory of
her eyes? And yet she was the first to recover
"'But you are really wounded Seel that
stain is fresh from your cheek upon my arm !
Let me see it at once sirt' and she withdrew
her arm from his hold, yet gently, too, for all
that.
"'Nay, nay; it is nothing at ALL began he
when she broke ruthlessly in upon his words
"'Show it at once, cousin. Let me it,
eff he could have denied her command he
had no armor against her entreaty; so with a
depreciating smile he lifted the clotted locks
matted upon his cheek and showed the jagged
furrow of q pike-thrust extending a hands
breadth back from the temple. You see il is
but mere scratch after all quoth he.
'In the light OF the lamp she held so close
with CLEAN SO murderous that she volun-
tarily fell back pace, covering her eyes with
her fingers TO shut il out. Heavens mercyP