The Holly chieftain., 1900-11-16
CHAPTER /.


The last speaker turned away, and
the hapsom drove OF in Q westerly di-'
rection.
Paul Enderby, barristef, walked
slowly along the ewbankment toward
the Westminster bridge. 49,.
It Was . bright. night In May. and
such night as one seldom sees ih that
month. falsely. II POLITICALLY, pronouric-
ed "the sweet O. the year It II the
month when colds in the hesd 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 sneexe In
the middle Of poetic aggression. But
this year she was really doing herself
justice. n.''E :
1t was a lovely night-soft, warm.
and balmy, and silvery moon hung
high in the blue heavens
As Paul Enderby half-ahsently turn
ed slowly to CROSS the bridge, he was
struck, prosaic .barrister as he was.
with the beauty and silence around.
At O'Clock In the morning the traf-
fic of the great city is over. and only
an occasional rattle OF hanson wheels
broke the stiffness.
The river looked like the river of
. 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 Its edge, as 1t seemud; the
mighty pile OF Westminster loomed
uuskily through the darkness. more
impressive In the spectral indistinct-
ness Of night than In the glare Of day
light. Ef .
Enderby stood for moment looking
at it. He knew London well, both by
night and day; but somehow he had
never been struck b. 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. tho very houses seem
asleep,
And all that mighty heart is lying
still"
Almost before his lips had ceased
moving he was startled by sound
behind him. In the strange stiffness
all round 1t was distinctly percep-
tible. the sound Of light flying foot
steps racing madly over the pavement
just behind him.
He turned Immediately. Then he
saw Just turning the embankment COR
ner into the bridge the figure Of 4
woman, running onward with extra
ordinary activity.
Enderby paused, half out Of sheer
surprise. half out of curiosity. The
figure new on till 1t was close to him.
Then, by the light Of lamp almost
beside him. he saw her distinctly.
She was young girl, perhaps not
more than fifteen or sixteen, and was
covered with a tweed cloak, which she
heia 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
err. Her face looked ghastly white in
the gaslight. her lips were parted, and
her breath came pantingly. almost
chokingly. ]. through them. The fact
struck him a. . remarkable one, but
he had not time TO speculate ~ to
whether 1t was beautiful or the re-.
verse.
She was past him almost In q flash;
but a. she paused she looked at him.
The glance gave Enderby curious
sensation, as II some dying animal had
looked pitingly and appealingly into
his face. Then she was past, and he
looked after her flying figure.
There was no policeman on the
bridge at that moment, and he could
see the girl flying on without check.
Paul Enderby was. as has been said,
a practical young man; but that did
not prevent him feeling s,strznEe In
terest and curioaity In the girl. He
had seen in ! minuts that there was
something Of refinement In the face OF
which he had only caught glimpse.
Suddenly he saw the figure stumble,
trip and fall. He ran forward. Ere
he reached 1t she had riSen; but she
stagKered little and uttered faint
cry. Without more ado Enderby went
UP to her and spoke.
You have hurt yourself, see. Ex-
cuse me for addressing you; but II
there anything can do? Could get
= cabf You seemed in : hurry"
She had uttered no exclamation Il
he spoke to her and glanced. round
quickly, terror written on every line
Of her face. For = moment she did
~ answsr; perhaps she could not;