The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-08-23

as late as you've a mind to, old man.
For commuter it's n relief, can tell
you. from our ordinary o'clock rush
ed affairs"
The next morning. however, Ken
nard was up betimes The rain of the
night before had vanished, save for
the last light Skinner of silver on the
grass and under the almond bushes
adro0p with their, slender pink
branches. And such a morning - all
scintillating with olive green and gold
sunshine.
kennard stole on tiptoe from his
close apartment. which seemed to
breed all the fever driven extraya-
gances of an overeXcited world into
the freshness Of the May air. The gar
den, like the house, was obSequiously
awaiting Il signal to wake The flow
ers seemed still motionlesS. holding in
their perfume that breath might not
disturb the SlecpcrS whom the reSplen-
dent rising sun itself could not attract.
But beyond the garden. through a
hedge of trees where the honeyed
trickle of song came from the threats
of wild birds, a path led to wide awake
fields and meadows.
Fowls were growing, cackling, COB
bling, gabbling, in matutinal eXuber-
ance; calves were bounding outside
the milking pen, hungrily bleating at
the sight of the usurpatiOn of their
rights within; in the pastures the sheep
We're grazing industriOusly.
To Kennard as he walked along
there seemed to be a vague. eXpectant
quality i'll the morning. AS if, he said
to himself, the very freshness and
grace Of it all were preparing the way
for something splendidly alive AID
debonair.
His path suddenly merged into Il lit
tie bypath, largely screened by thick
cts. At the end was Il dilapidatcd
summer house, fastened between three
trees on bank Overhanging a CUR
Cling stream. A girlish figure was
leaning over the rickety railing appar-
emily looking at the pebbly, variegatel
mosaic of the streams bottom. She
had thrown off her hat, and her chin
was resting III the cup Of her two
hands. He could see nothing of her
profile because Of the mass of dark
hair COiled over the back of her head.
Not wishing to intrude or disturb
the girls evident reverie. Keunard
would have retreated, but at that IL.
slant, hearing tWig snap under his
feet, size turned.
She felt his immediate recognition
and calmly faced him.
Il reckon you are Il bit surprised"
she admitted quietly. Well, it's the
simplest sort Of Il story. The old
estate Down there yielded nothing, and
for three years now I've been earning
my own living. At present l am Mrs,
ArCher's companion"
For three years, Gwendolen"
Yes. You've been in England most
of that time, haven't y0uf And you've
written several mighty successful
books. oh. I haven't lost complete
track Of my old friends, you see -
There was still that inimitable fash
of raillery in the beautiful eyes, Ken
nard noticed. And still that dear
blessed little smile.
AS GWendolen's glance met the quick
flame that spread across the mans
opaque pupils all the playfulness went
out of her own, and the spirit of thrust
and parry went out Of her soul. An
other spirit, guarded against, often
crushed out, leaped in again.
"YOu-yOu are still the same old Bob
aren't you:' said She with adorable
incoherence But Kenn0rd was very
grave. lie was looking now where the
girl had been looking befOre-at the
mosaic bottom of the clear water
yesterday, Gwendolen," he said, 81
saw some women buying violets. Ever
since I've been haunted by the eyes OF
a girl l once knew, girl whom I've
tried, oh, so vainly, to forget Do yor
remember, dear
She made little impulsive, forward
movement, as if to stop his words. He
seeing it, held out both his hands.
And then they-well, all at once she
huGN lIitl lIlt uutStlOll ue ndt IuI L,
| her down in Mississippi when the
| hooking birds were singing hadn
been mere poetic sentiment any
more than his thought of hes eyes ha(
been, and he, for his part, illuminat
| ingly realized that the answer she hat
| given him that moonlight night hadn'
| been an ultimatum.
| The morning air was giving Gwendo
| len Moore the repose and refreshmen
denied by Il sleepless night, but witha
she looked pale and little tired.
"Well have to change all that s0r
of thing, sweetheart" Kennard wa
saying an hour later as they sauntereC
happily toward the house. And YOU
We're not at dinner last night-yol
were i'll. Was that
"Your telegram, SIR" she broke il
with mock severity, while the dimple
went rioting Look, there are MI
and Mrs. Archer coming down the gar
den to meet us"
why, Mr.. Kennard, you know Mis-
Moore?' cried Mrs. Archer foolishly.
We'll, rather. And Dan" erie,
Kennard, turning boyishly upon tina
astounded individual, you were
brick to bring me out here to spent
Sunday. You We're an angel in dis
guse-that's what you were"