The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-12-25
CHAPTER KXxIII.
MY MASK

lifting my eyes between almost every
padGfu to snatch q glance at Enid
who was walking slowly UP and dowr
the bowling green Ia full sight. She
dareds.not approach. forwithin a dozer
yards55sof me another man was busy
one of.Sir Johns men, as grim and dry
an oldtfelloW as his master.
! turned the earth steadily, to all ap-
pearance a laborious, accompanying
drudge, while secretly Iareveled in al
the glory of the bright April day, and
felt the rich sweetness of my love-
presence as an added brightness to the
sunshine.
The warm air was lohded with the
haunting perfume of the. great orchard
near by, and the tendersnew leaves OF
the tall lines beside the green caugh,
the sunshine II filtered it delicately
upon her as h moved to and fro, her
self the fairest thing among all the
fresh beauties Of the spring. cannot
describe how cheerful and contented |
was as | made play With the clumsy
spade that afternoon; tits true times
were not Of the gayest, but L was
thankful for the luck we had enjoyed
so far, n trusted times9wouid better
It; meanwhile Enid was, stealing con-
tinual Chances at me, was thinking Of
me ever.
a trampls of heavy riding boots
sounded along the graveled path beside
- tiOussS. DclCEC 1 luIEGu my itedQ
[ knew who it was. / felt no surprise
to see Jack Postgate hurrying to place
himself beside Enid. That l ground
my teeth and uttered some wicked
wishes concerning him lido not deny,
and l did not resume my work until
the sight Of his father spying the place
over with keen, f~erresing glance bade
me beware.
I had seen their meeting before this
happened and had something to think
of as / delved. Enid had received him
with her usual civility. and Jack
seemed transported. He ~burgeoned, he
seemed to swell, he became all fire, al!
Rssidufty.
VIVA maggot has entered the FOOLS
head npw?' thought 1; The has at least
the port of a happy lover And at the
idea Q T how far Jack was from the ha-
ven where he would be. I smiled to
myselfss and forgave him upon the spot
his TEMPORARY advantage.
Sir Ooh Went back into the house,
and 4 saw Enid stepping in the di-
rection OF h path Jack had just fol-
lowed. He sprang forward and cut her
off, talking eagerly and earnestly, II
she turned or her heel and walked
rapidly toward the upper part of the
green, where a side door led into the
house. :
The bowling green vas q long strip
lying along the western face between
the house n the moat. two sides
1t was bounded by the walls, along the
third ran the water. ten feet deep, and
thirty feet vide. and only at the south
arn end was 1t open. 1t was this south
nrn path from which Enid had turned
away. and now she was making for the
private door which opened directly on
the turf.
[ rested my hands on my spade and
cxatched her swiftly moving figure. I
~ --..l 49,. r .sA 49,,
had no eyes for aught save those two.
ISsaw him catch her up as she .disap7.
peared behind a small clump of bushes.
She did not come into sight again for
an instant. and then / saw her start
orwar Struggling in the arms of Jack
Postgate. as he yainly attempted to
enfoid her 1.-THE. swaying figure in his
embrace and snatch kisses from her
lips.
I never ran SO fast in my life as I
flew over the garden and down the
boWIing-green at that moment.
lack Postgate, you villain, you
hound!.'' / screamed as I darted upon
him and seized him BY the throat Just
as Enid sprang aside. He had no time
to lay hand upon his weapons; he
fixed his clutch in my wrists, tearing
furiously to RIP way my grip. his eyes
and tongue loiling horribly. Collecting
my strength 1 flung him infuriousIy
from me. and at that instant received a
stunning blow on the head which rolled
me onthe turf.
This finely diversion in favor of nv
enemy was effected by nv fenow-gar-
dener who had followed me up and
aided his young master by a swinging
stroke 81 his spade handle. For some
I scarce knew where i was.
them cam TO my senses to find myself
i'm %situati which had been q reward
for a hundred such blows. For nv love
had flung herself upon the grass beside
me. and gathered me into her arms and
mn head upon her breast. She
was nttering sweet. frightened words
and holding me close to the ]softest,
kindest heart in all the world.
looked m into Der heautiful ewes
and smiled. and she drew a long.
thankful. uuiyering breath. Her hair
had become unbound. and its. dark.
perfuned night had fallen over me
shutting out all the world besides her
face
1--WE lost. she vhisnered.
.Nnx." + whisnered hack 1T win
cup;r, ti,e n,oat,,
.nThen dn.nn move she MOVED
.ti1l Won snring for fhe naranef We
are not two va rds fronn - and no nne
il verv near1
..y1y,s,t D. ,oia ra.re,,