The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-29

of the other I.dies knew her. She was
staying at the ''Moonstone" for the hunt
ing, accompanied by maid. couple Of
grooms and six horses. The hotel sopie
called her the Baroness" Billy Always
spoke of her as that pretty iaiy;" but
then it is possible that admiration 10. her
daring craftsmanship co.ored Bly,
views.
On this particular afternoon Billy and
the unknown lady found themselves at
the same gate. in the gathering gloom OF
a November afternoon six good miles
from home She was trying to lift re-
fractory latch with her hunting crop when
Billy rode up on. the shaggy sheIt.e. dis
mounted. cap in hand, and opened the
gate for her.
We seem to have lost the others, you
and L. Shall we jog home together" sac
asked, as Billy, having carefuuy fastened
the gate. followed her down the rutty
lane. I'm not very sure where we are;
but l suppose this lane leads. somewhere"
she continued.
Il know the way" answered the little
boy, cheerfuly. Il shall be very gal OF
your company. Jackson-that's our man
famed the cob early in the day and hal
to go home. and it's lonely riding by one
self"
Il am often lonely" said the lady. more
to herself than to Billy.
Are you? So am /. I'm the only one,
you see; but I'm going TO school at Eai-
ter. then l shan't be lonely any more"
Are you glad to be going to school?"
''Oh. yes! l shall like being with the
other chaps awfully; but, of course. 1
shall miss my people and the
dogs and the pony
Your people don't hunt, do they?''
mo; we've only the cob and my pony.
Mother doesn't hunt she's too nervous:
and father doesn't care for it. Mother
drives to the near meets sometimes, but
when it's long way she likes Jackson to
come with me for the day. Not that he's
any mortal USE added Billy, with glee-
full chuckle. Hes a potterer''
Il wonder" the lady began, then stop
| ped suddenly. Billy turned his rosy face
| toward her, but she did not speak The
( child because he knew one woman so well
| OWNED that this woman was tired and sad
So he. too, was silent. The horses hoofs
| went thud, swish, thud, swish, through the
| foot-deep decaying beech leaves. A deli
| cate silver mist gathered round the roots
| Of the great trees. Like the bridal veil Of
a rosy girl, 1t spread itself over tins
1
into the grass-carpeted main avenue of tn,
earl's famous park. and Billy shifted de-
lightedly at what he called the good smell
| OF Christmas Happy Bill, to whom III,
| death of summer brought no sad thoughts
I'm afraid you're very tired" he said
suddenly, in his kind, boyish voice
Would you like to stop bit?"
The lady started. Not indeed, that she
had forgotten Billy; she was in a sub-con
| scious way basking in the warmth that ra
dates from all simple and kindly people
| Her rebellious mood of the last weeks hat
passed. That mood in which she loved tC
assert her fascination for men, mentally
| swapping her fingers in the faces of hel
| sister women SO ready to think evil of her
| Certain kinds OF men come to heel easily
and she felt her triumph to be but pool
one. This half hours companionship of
friendly little boy had altered everything
| she no longer felt herself to be the spor
OF circumstances, but her heart ached ant
her voice was weariful as she said: mo
| We won't stop. | am tired. but we are onl.
about three miles from home. You liv'
just outside the town, don't your
Yes; at that tall. gray gabled house
| where the crossroads meet
Il have seen you go into the drive. d.
you do lessons-who teaches you?"
Partly mother-partly dad. / am no
clever at lessons" Billy flushed as h,
| spoke; he was fully aware that his small
| love for books was something OF a re-
proach. People expect so much from tbs
| child of clever parents. He did not know
that his strongly developed sporting in
stincts were the pride of his bookish faith
| er's heart. nor how cheerfully that father
| had foregone many rare edition thai
! Billy might ride to hounds. "A modest
lad, a good lad: let him play about il
| Billy's father would relate with glee how
successfully Billy had vetoed one topi,
| of conversation. On an evening. not 81
| very long ago, Billy had put his head
| round the drawing room door, demanding
| rs dad going to talk about The DarE
| Lady of the Sonnets? cause if he is, In
not coming in. I've had enough of hear
| ing about her
So dad vowed he would talk of her NJ
more. and discussed the habits of Pus
with a learning that astonished and charm
ed Billy beyond telling.
The much-yeXed question of Mary Fit
tons identity with The Dark Lady of thu
Sonnets" had ragged with violence in Billy
house. His father had written many arti
Giles upon the subject. Articles appearin.
in those fat, uninteresting magazines whicl
Uttered drawing room and study in who's
closely printed pages Billy sought in yail
fer pictures and conversations"
Curiousiy enough, as they rode home il
the gathering eyentide. the thought jump
ed into Billy's head that the dark lady o
the sonnets must have been exactly lik
the Baroness. With the inconsequen
aptness OF childhood he proceeded to quot
aloud lines learned to please his father:
Fer sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds
Lilies that tester smell far worse than weeds.
The lady pulled up short. and, turning
in her saddle. asked, with Il catch in he
voice, Why do you say that? What is it
Where is it FROM
oh. it's those sonnets, you know-I'v
learned lots of EN- to please my dad"
But what made you quote that jus
them" persisted the baroness her eye
dark and tragic with some nameless fear
What made you quote it then. Were yo
thinking of me?''
Billy blushed and took of his cap tina
he might rumple his hair. thing ne al
ways did when perplexed.
Il was thinking of you" he said at last
yet that has nothing to do with you. Thi
has. though and blushing more than ev
er. Billy repeated:
Thine eyes l love, and they, as plying me-
Knowing thy heart, torment with disdain,
Have put on bllcR, and loving mOurners be
Looking with pretty ruth upon my pain;
And truly not the morning sun OF heaven
| Better becomes the gray cheeks OF the East
Nor that full star that ushers in the even,
Than those two mourning eyes become thy fac
Billy stopped GREATNESS, but confiden
that he had said the right thing this time
1T is very pretty" said the lady, wit
sigh-"but the other is true What
queer little boy you are to repeat poetr
like that, How old are you?''
Il shall be nine at Easter. Then | go L
school. Where are you going when tn
hunting is over? 1t ends early here; W