The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-21

Boyle had criticised her costume on the
road. But Mr.. Ashford was at that time
entirely preoccupied with his men
around ledge of rock and bushes some
yards from sthe coach, yet not so far
away but that she could hear what the
sergeant was saying. "I'll swear there
was no dead Injin here when he came
yesterday! We searched the whole
place, by daylight, too. for any sign.
The Injin was killed in his tracks by
some one last night. It's like Dick
Boyle, lieutenant, to have done II, and
like him to have said nothin' 20 fright
on the young lady. He knows when to
keep his mouth shut-and when to open
i'll"
Miss Cantire sank back in her cor
ner as the officer turned and approach
ed the coach. The incident of the past
night flashed back upon her-Mr.
Boyle's long absence. his flushed face,
twisted necktie, and enforced cheerful
ness. She was shocked, amazed, discom-
fited-and admiring And this hero had
been sitting opposite to her, silent all
the rest Of the night!
did Mr.. Boyle say anything OF an
Indian attack last night?" asked Ash
ford. Did you hear anything"
"Only the wolves bowling" said Miss
Cantire. Mr.. Boyle was away twice -
She was strangely reticent-in compli-
mentary imitation of her missing hero.
There is a dead Indian here who
has been killed" began Ashford.
30, please don't say anything more,
Mr.. Ashford" interrupted the young
lady, but let us get away from this
horrid place at once. Do get the horses
in. I can't stand it."
But the horses were already har-
messed and mounted. postillion- wise by
" ~
start when Miss Cantire called Stop"
When Ashford presented himself at
the door the young lady was upon
her hands and knees, searching the
bottom of the coach. "Oh, dear, /
have lost something. / must have
dropped it on the road" she said.
breathlessly. with pink cheeks. You
must positively wait and let me go
back and find it. l won't be long.
You know there's no hurry"
Mr.. Ashford stared as Miss Cantire
skipped like a schoolgirl from the coach
and ran down the trail by which she
and Boyle had approached the coach
the night before. She had not gone
far before she came upon the withered
flower he had thrown away at her
command. "It must be about here"
she murmured. Suddenly she uttered
a cry of delight and picked up the bus
mess card that Boyle had shown her.
Then she looked furtively around her,
and. selecting a sprig of myrtle among
the cast-off flowers, concealed 1t in her
mantle and ran back, glowing, to her
coach. Thank you All right, I've
found it," she called to Ashford with
a dazzling smile and leaped inside.
The coach drove on, and Miss Can
tire. alone in it's recesses, drew the
myrtle from her mantle and folding II
carefully in her handkerchief, placed
it in her reticule. Then she drew out
the card, read it's dryly practical infor-
nation over and over again, examined
the soiled edges, brushed them daintily,
and held 1t for a moment with eyes
that saw not, motionless in her hand.
Then she raised IL slowly to her lips,
rolled it to a spiral, and loosening a
hook and eye, thrust 1t gently into her
BOSOM.
And Dick Boyle. gallopping away to
the distant station, did not know
that the first step toward a realization
of his foolish dream had been taken.
(THE END)