The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-01-26

add he broke into bitter laugh at his
folly; but the laugh died on his lips,
for there, in an angle of the lane,
framed by the bird-like leaves of q ma
pie, she stood gowned in white, her
hands full of overtlowing ferns and
blossoms. Her head was uncovered
and the hickering sunlight glinted in
her hair; between her lips was cluster
of blue myrtle flowers and the green
vine of the myrtle trailed from tho
bank beside her. Her brown eyes We're
wide with surprise and alarm.
IL am afraid startled you," said
the man, finding at last.
"No," she replied, the flowers falling
from her lips and sliding downward
to leave her hands empty; ''it was not
you"
"What was it, he asked, extending
his hand.
81 am very much frightened" Now
she smiled the old smile he knew and
loved. 1t brought faint dimples about
the corners of her lips, though her face
was thinner and more mature than
when he had last seen it.
Afraid in this peaceful nook? What
do you fear, Indians or snakes?'
"Cows,' she replied, laughing. See
them in the river there. That red one
in front looked straight at me. l am
sure she wants to hook me-"
"Hardly,' replied the man. 'since
she has no horns
"Well, she wanted to bite me then.
She looked very cross; my heart beats
yet"
She raised her hand to her bosom,
where the thin white meshes of lace
rose and fell. The faint pink of her
neck and arms cleaned through ten
derby.
| came here to get away from peo-
ple,' she said; 81 am so tired of them.
There is always noise and 4 crowd at
the inn."
at is unfortunate that you cannot
escape even here, unless you will do
me the honor not to rank me among
them. However, if you are as success
full in avoiding people as you have been
in eluding me, am sure you are not
greatly bored. l have tried for years
to find you"
A flush slowly ovcrspread her face.
unfortunately" she said coldly, "it is
woman's duty-sometimes cruel as
death and as relentlcss-to believe in
proofs
II have at last furnished the proof"
he said
eyes, it is mans prerooative to
prove all things; but must get away;
that COW is coming straight up the
bank. Is she not wicked-lookine?'
"On the contrary, she impresses me
as quite amiable; pet probably
coming toward you to show her appre-
citation of the kindness of human ma
ture. Do not misunderstood her as
you have me- Are you so weary from
walking that you wish to return to
the inn? 1t is still crowded, assure
you"
They moved on together. The cows
standing ud,lrr deep in the clear water,
raised their heads to gaze as they plac-
idly chewed their cuds. The one inno-
cent offender had fallen to browsing on
the banks, her bell tinklng merrily
with every mouthful.
"Just look at them" said the woman;
"they must be terribly greedy creatures
They fill their mouths and then stand
and chew, blinking their eyes as if half
asleep"
"They cannot harm you now that l
am with you," he said in a tone OF as
surance, pushing back blackberry
bush that threatened her face with its
prickly branch. "Suppose we stop
here under the beCches. | am sure we
cannot find more beautiful place. See
what a fine seat the roots spread for
you where | may recline in my proper
place at your feet"
He threw himself on the grass, and
bending over, beheld his face and hers
mrrored in the water.
"What do you see?'
"Only queer pug that has 70 head,
or is all head, and goes Jerking over the
water in every direction like a tiny gun
boat or tug"
81 see the face of an Indian maiden,"
he said. at is very beautiful, and
about her throat is a string of amber
beads. am glad she got them at last
she paid high price for them
"l our mind seems to dwell on In
dians,' said the woman. is it due to
the name of the river?'
"Partly. Have you ever heard the
legend of Lingamorc?'
No. What is it,
Il will read it to you" and he drew
from his pocket the paper he had
brought from the train.
''lt is a pure newspaper fabrication,
she said when he had finished. IL won-
der if the natives about here have ever !
heard it?''