Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-22

shall go. The Broadleys won't care about
me. and Cecily won't want me long"
Neeld could give real comfort only at the
price of indiscretion.
I'VE must wait and see how it all turns
out said he.
L hate people who say that" grumbled
Nina disconsolately. And do think that
the 1vers have grown extraordinarily
stupid-caught it from Bob Broadley, l sup
pose"
When injustice springs not from judg-
ment, but from temper. it is not worth
Iguing against. Neeld held his tongue
and they sat silent on the seat by the
river looking across to Merton, and hear
ing the voices of their friends through the
open windows of the long gallery.
Presently there came to them through
the stiffness of the night the sound of
wheels, not on the Blenmouth side, but up
the valley, on the Mngham and Filling
ford road. The sound ceased without the
appearance of any vehicle, but it had re-
minded Neeld of the progress of time.
1T must be getting late" he said. rising.
TN go and see if they think of starting
home. Did you hear wheels on the road
toward the Pool?"
Bob Broadley's cart coming for him. 1
sr aSo: don't think so. He's going back
to Fairholme with US. 1 heard him say
So
Nina was languidly Indifferent, and Mr..
Neeld trotted off into the house. Nina
sat on. frowning at the idea that in a
say gaodby; for the voices came no more
from The long gallery, and she heard the
guests laughing and chattering in the hall,
as they prepared for departure. Suddenly
she diScerned the figure of man COM
ing into sight across the river He walked
slowly, as it seemed stealthily, till he came
to the end of the footbridge. Then he
halted and looked up at the house. 1t was
gayly lighted After waiting moment
the man turned back and disappeared up
the road in the direction of Mingham.
Nina rose and strolled to the bridge. She
crossed it and looked up the road. She
could make out dimly the strangers re-
treating form.
She heard Cecily calling to her, and
ran back to the house. wonderful idea
had come into her head, born of a vague
familiar aspect that the bearing of the
man the road had for her, but she
laughed at it, telling herself that it was
and farewells it grew faint and was al
most forgotten. Yet she whispered to old
Neeld with a laugh:
Il saw a man on the road just now,
who looked rather like Harry. l couldn't
him properly, you know
Neeld started and looked at her with
obvious excitement. She repaid his stare
with one of equal intensity.
why, you don't think" she began
ii amazement.
Come. Neeld, we're waiting for you
cried liver from the wagonette, while Bob,
in irrepressble spirits, burst into song as
he gathered up the reins. He had deposed
the coachman and had JAMIE with him on
the box.
They drove off. waving their hands and
shouting good night. Nina ran little way
after them and saw Neeld turning his head
this way and that, as though he thought
there might be something to see. When
she returned she found Gainsborough say
ing good night to his daughter; at the Same
moment the lights in the long gallery were
put out. Cecily slipped her arm through
hers and they walked out again into the
arSp An ahS tIIta al ga mo q
noise of the wheels died away.
I've got through that all right" said
Cecily. with a laugh, drawing her friend
with her toward the bridge. Il suppose
/ shall be quite accustomed to 1t SOON
They went to the bridge and halted
in the middle of it, by common impulse,
1t seemed.
1.-THE sound of a river always says to
me that it all doesn't matter much" Ce-
city went on. leaning on the parapet. Il
believe that's been expressed more poeti-
cally."
It's great nonsense, however it's ex-
pressed" observed Nina, scornfully.
Il sometimes feel as if it was true"
Probably CeciIy thought that nobody-no
girl-no girl in love-had ever had the feel
ing before. delusive appearance of nov
city is one of the most dangerous weapons
of Cupid, But Nina was an experienced
woman-had been married, too!
Don't talk stuff, my dear" she cried
horrid little bridge?"
melancholy abstraction into the stream.
Cecly then faced down the valley Nina
looked up 1t; and at the moment the moon
showed a quarter of her face and illumi-
mated a streak Of the Fillingford road.
The man was there. He was there again.
The moonlight fell on his face. He smiled
at Nina, pointed hand toward Blentmouth
and smiled again. He seemed to mock the
ignorance of the vanished wagonette. Nina
made no sign. He laid his finger on his lips
and nodded slightly toward Cecily. The
clouds covered the moon again, and there
was no more on the Fillingford road than
a black blotch on the deep gray of the
night: even this vanished a moment after
And still Cecily gazed down into the Blent
Presently she turned around. II sup
pose we must go in she said grudgingly.
Its getting rather chilly. They were both
in low-cut frocks and had come out with
out any wraps. With the intuition Of a
born schemer Nina seized on the chance
'Oh. it's so lovely" she cried, with an
apparently overwhelming enthusiasm for
nature. TOO perfectly lovely! I'll run in