Evening star., 1897-07-31

Price.
How" l said shamefacedly.
DO you go?" she asked sharply. lis Il
settled? That first OF all. IL you please"
As to The oing-somewhere-I had made
up my mind long ago: before l met her. or
went into the Seven Stars or knew that A
dozen mad topers were roaring treason
about the town. and bidding far TO hang
us all But being OF cautious temper.
and seeirg conditions l had not coniem-
plated. added. and having besides a shrewd
Idea that l could not withdraw afterwari.
i hesitated. IL is dangerous ! said.
VIII tel you what Is dangerous" she
answered. showing her little white teeth
as she flashed her eyes at me. And that
is 10 be where we are. DO YOU know what
they are doing there" and she pointed
toward the mal ket wherce we had come.
No, L said reluctantly wishing she
would say no more.
killing the king" she answered I'm a
low voice. 1t is for Saturday or Saturday
week He is to he stopped i'm his coach as
ne comes from hunting-in the lane b,
tween Turrham green and the rivei You
can count their chances. They are merry
plotters. And now-now." she continued.
do you know where you stand Mr. Price.
and whether IL Is dangerous
Il KNOW, i said. trembling at that bloody
design, which no whit surprised me. since
everything l had heard corroborated 1t.
Il know what I have to do"
Nhat?" she said.
Go straight to the secretary's Office
said, and tell him."
You won't do it," she answered. ''or. at
least. I won't
Why" i asked, a-tremble with excite
ment
Why" she echoed. mo, king me- And 1
noticed that not only were her eyes bright.
but her lips red. why, firstly. MIR Price.
because I want to have done with plots and
live honestly. and that is not TO d., done
on blood money. And. secondly. because
II is dangerous. as You call IL. DO you
want to be in evidence, set up for all to
point at, and six months after to he de-
coyed TO Wrapping. dropped into dark
hold, and carried over TO France2'
God forbid j said, aghast at this view
of things.
Then have done with informing" she-
answered, with a little srurt of heat. or
let IT be. at any rate. until W. are safe
ourselves and snug in the country. Then.
IL you choose. and you do nothing To hurt
my uncle-for l will not have him touched
We may talk of it. But not for money
These words safe and snug telling of A
prospect that at that moment seemed uf all
others the most desirable in the world
dwelt so lovingly on my car. that in plac,
of hesitation felt only eagerncss and
haste. Il will go,'' | said.
You will?" she said.
Yes L answered.
And WHAT" I said. wondering.
She hesitaJed moment and then: That
is for you to say" she replied. lowering her
eyes.
1t is possible that l might not have un-
derstood her even then. if | had not mark
cd her face and seen that her lips were
quivering with sudden bashfulness which
words and manner in vain beied She WIS
not. not all boldness, she benchcd at last =
AID lowering her eyes. drew forward the
shawl that covered her head the street
urchin gone out of her. And |. seeing and
understanding. had other and new thoughts
of her which remained with me. IF you
mean that" / said. Il will make YOU my
wife il you will let me-
We'll. We'll see about il when We get 20
Romford." she answered. locking nerVously
aside. and plucking at the fringe of the
shawl. We have to escape first. And now
listen, she continued rapidly and I'm her
ordinary voice. My uncle Is removing to-
orrow to another hiding place. and / 70
first with some clothes. He will not fiit
himself until IL is dark. DO you put your
trunk outside your door and / will take It
and send II by the Chelmsford wagon. Al
neon meet me at Clerkenwell gate and We
will walk to Romford and hide there until
We know how things are going"
WY Romford?' / asked.
Why anywhere?' she answered impa-
tiently
That was true enough. and seeing I'm what
mood she was. and that out of sheer con-
trariness she was inclined. because she had
melted TO me moment before, to be tn.
MOI more shrewish now. / refraired from ask
ing further questions. listening instead to
her minute directions. which were given
With as much clearness ard perspicuity as
If she had dwelt on this escape for a
1t was plain. indeed that she had not
fetched and carried for the famous Fer
guson Tor nothing. nor watched his meth
obs TO little purpose. Nor was this all
Mingled with this display OF precocious
skill there constantly appeared touch of
malice and mischievousness more natural
in a boy than in girl. and seldom found
even in boys where the gutter has not
served for school. And through this
again, as through the folds of a shifting
gauze. appeared now and then that which
gradually, as | listened, took more and
More hold on me-the woman.
Yet L suppose that there never was a
stranger loye-making I'm the world If love-
making that could be called. wherein one
at least of US had in his mind ten thoughts
love. and pulse attuned rather 10 the
slow and dreary drip of the caves about
us-and the monotonous yelp of a cur
chained among the stalls-than to the flut-
ter of desire.
And yet when, our plan agreed upon and
the details settled We turned homeward
and went together through the streets, /
&C uld not refrain from glancing at my
companion from time to time in doubt and
almost in incredulity. When the dream
refused TO melt. when / found her still NOV
ing at my elbow. her small shawled head
on level with my shoulder-when I say
l. found her so, not love. but a sense of
companionship. and feeling of gratula.
ton that l WAS no longer alone stole for
the frSt time into my mind and comfort.1
me. 1 had gone so many years through
theSe streets Solus ct coelehs that T nrickaa
my ears and pinched myself in sheer a.f71r5
:shment at finding another beside me and
other feet keeping time with mine. nor
knew whether TO be more confounded or
relieved to think that of all persons In
terests, her interests marched with mine.
tTo be continued)