The Red Cloud chief., 1900-09-07
CHAPTER /.


rection.
Paul Enderby, barrister, walked
slowly along the embankment toward
the Westminster bridge.
1t was a bright night in May, and
such a night as one seldom sees in that
month, falsely. II POLITICALLY, pronounce
ed "the sweet o. the year" 1t is the
month when colds in the head are
most rife. when fair faces are blue
where they should be red, and red
where they should be white; when
poets try hard to get up enthusiasm
over gentle spring. and sneeze in
the middle OF a poetic aggression. But
this year she was really doing herself
justice.
1t was a lovely night-soft, warm,
and balmy, and a silvery moon hung
high in the blue heavens.
AS Paul Enderby ha~lf-absently turn
ed slowly to cross the bridge. he was
struck, prosaic barrister as he was,
with the beauty and silence around.
At l o'clock in the morning the traf-
fc of the great city Is over, and only
an occasional rattle of hanson wheels
broke the stiffness.
The river looked like the river OF
a dream-still and black, with its rows
of red lights cleaning all along its
banks, and high above all the moons
silvery light.
Almost on it's edge. as II seemed, the
mighty pile of Westminster doomed
duskily through the darkness. more
impressive In the spectral indistinct-
ness of night han in the glare of day
light.
Enderby stood for a moment looking
at 1t. He knew London well, both by
night and day: but somehow he had
never been struck by the sublimity
which night and darkness brought
upon the great world center as now.
The words rose to his lips. and half
unconsciously he murmured them:
Dear Lord, the very houses seem
And all that mighty heart is lying
still"
Almost before his lips had ceased
moving he was startled by a sound
behind him. In the strange stiffness
all round II was distinctly percep-
tible, the sound Of light flying foot
steps racing madly over the pavement
just behind him.
He turned Immediately. Then re
saw just turning the embankment cor
ner into the bridge the figure of a
woman, running onward with extra
ordinary activity.
Enderby paused, half out Of sheer
surprise, half out Of curiosity, The
figure few On till IL was close to him.
Then, by the light of a lamp almost
beside him, he saw her distinctly.
She was a young girl, perhaps not
more than fifteen or sixteen, and was
covered with a tweed cloak, which she
heiu round her shoulders tightly. Her
head was bare, and thick masses OF
brown hair--it seemed brown in the
dim light-streamed down her should
ers. Her face looked CHASTITY white in
the gaslight, her lips were parted, and
her breath came pantingly, almost
chokingly, through them. The fact
struck him as "a remarkable one, but
he had not time to speculate as to
whether 1t was beautiful or the re-
verse.
She was past him almost in a fash;
but as she paused she looked at him.
The glance ave Enderby a curious
sensation, as II some dying animal had
looked p~itingly and appealingly into
his face. Then she was past, and he
looked after her flying, figure.
There was no policeman or the
bridge at that moment, and he could
see the girl flying or without check.
Paul Enderby was, as has been said,
not prevent him feeling a strange in
terest and curiosity in the girl. He
had seen in a minute that there was
something OF refinement In the face of
which he had only caught "A glimpse.
Suddenly he saw the figure stumble,
trip and fall. He ran forward. Ele
he reached II she had risen: but she
staggered O little and uttered a faint
cry. Without more ado Enderby went
up to her and spoke.
you have hurt yourself, ! see. EN-
cuse me for addressing you; but is
there anything | can do? Could l get
a cab? You seemed In a hurry?'
She had uttered nc exclamation as
he spoke to her and glanced round
quickly, terror written on every line
Of her face. For a moment she did
not answer; perhaps she could not;
her lips were parted, and she seemed
gasping for breath. She had evidently
slipped off the curb. and that had
caused her fall. Enderby guessed that
she had hurt herself from the way in
which she stood, leaning her weight
on one foot. and evidently not able to
use the other.
As she made no reply, he spoke
again.
please let me help you II I can, May
see IL a cab Is to be got anywhere!'
mo. MOI" she answered, in a kind
~ 1aCn II-I oaABt taIa N aah. .