The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-20
wells own pass. SO have no fear. In

case Of need the army or any part Of
It must stand ready to aid you If you
call upon it. Old John will ride be-
hind and look after you. Although the
pass mentions two only, it is so sweep
Ing that they will doubtless take it to
include servant. Any subordinate
will hesitate before he delays one
thought. A days rest will do no harm
to the horse"
II thank you," the girl said some
what primly as she turned away.
Then, pausing and hesitating a mo-
ment, she continued, with face half
averted, my brother and are twins,
and perhaps the more devoted to each
other on that account. I would do
anything for him. 1 wish to stay and
see the nurse installed
Il thoroughly understand the situa-
ton, and 1 wish l were able to tell
you how completely 1 sympathize with
you. Although know your brother
so short time, 1 am only too glad to
be of the slightest assistance to him."
This gracious avowal did not appear
to have the effect it merited. Some
trace of frOwn marred the smooth
ness of the girls brow, and her lips
became compressed. If stranger Is
to be robbed and thwarted it is embar-
RAISING to hear friendly protestations
from him, especially when there is no
doubt about their truth
Il thank you," she murmured again
and left him abruptly.
It was very early next morning when
Armstrong stood by his black horse in
the lane under the trees, waiting for
his fair charge, who seemed to exercise
the privilege of her sex in being late.
Old John was already mounted on an
animal that, besides carrying him, was
pack horse for the luggage required by
the young lady on her travels. When
the girl appeared Armstrong stepped
forward to offer his assistance, but he
was a fraction Of a second too late, for,
ignoring him, she was in her saddle
and away before he could utter a word.
He admired the light ease with which
she accomplished this act and saw at
once she was a practical hOrsewOman.
on as good terms with her steed as he
was with his own. She rode down the
lane to the main road, then turned
south, never looking again toward the
home she was leaving-hurrying in
deed, as if it were her purpose to get
out of sight as soon as possible.
After an hour of this Armstrong be-
gan to wonder where he was going.
Nothing had been said to him regard
ing the route to be taken, and the girl
went on as confidently. never turning
her head, as if she and not he were
to be the leader Of the expeditions He
laughed quietly at this. Then, gathering
rein. Bruce, requiring no other hint,
stepped out and overlook the horse in
front. ...-
"Have you any plan marked out with
reference to the roads we may take or
the towns we are to pass through Or
avoid?" he asked
Eyes. We will reach York tonight,
then follow the London road as farras
Stamford. After that we branch sonth-
west through Northampton to Oxford"
1T is all settled then" he said, smil-
ing.
Il know the way well, and you told
me you were q stranger. l have pass
ed between York and London four
times" she answered seriously, and
with a chilling tone of finality which
seemed to indicate that further discus
sion was unnecessary. The infection
may have been too subtle to impress
itself upon the young man. for he con-
tinued with obvious geniality:
you have wandered far af1eld for
one so young"
To this remark the girl made no re-
ply. Her eyes were fixed on the road
ahead, and Armstrong, being at loss
to continue a one sided conversation,
found nothing further to say. He was
vaguely conscious Of the constraint
that had come between them, for she
had talked with him freely enough
the day before, but he could not ac-
count for the change. He had always
been accustomed to the free spoken
AUhAOA VI AhOh anu huCW lltIlc
Of the vagaries of the other sex, whom
he had ever regarded as the more talk
alive. And so through Yorkshire the
silent progress continued
This is not unlike some parts of Scot
land" he said at last, in an ill fated
attempt to revive a conversation which
he did not recognize as dead and be-
yond his power to resuscitate. The
girl refined in her horse, and Bruce
stopped through sympathy, old John
hating. that the respectful distance TO
but stinging sense of his own per-
fidiousness held him silent. RemOrse
was already biting worse than the
wound in his SIDE The stranger turn
ed for moment at the door, waved
his hand and called to him to be Of
good cheer. A sob broke from the lads
throat, and weakly he cursed the
exigencies Of war.
(To be Continued.)
PROFESSOR CLOSE TO NATURE.