Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23

to move with more precaution and studied
more to hide his approach than to give any
warning of it.
The close ranks of the elderberry bushes
lining the fences on the final hill top lent
themselves to the concealment he now
sought. AS soon as he was sure of her
having left the road he drew up close 10
these bushes and walked under them till he
was almost at the gate. Then he allowed
himself to peer through their close branches
and received an unexpected shock at see
ing her figure standing very near him,
posed in an uncertainty which, for some
reason, he had not expected but when re
stored him to himself, though why he mad
not the courage, the time, nor the lncllha-
ton TO ask.
She was babbling in a low tone to her
self. an open sesame to her mind, which
Ransom hailed with a sense OF awe. "
only he might distinguish the words! But
this was difficult; not only was her head
turned partly away but she spoke In a
murmur which was far from distinct. Yet
yes that one sentence was plain enough.
She had muttered musingly. anXiously, ana
with q searching look among the graves:
1T was on this side. l know it was on
this side"
Watching her closely lest some chance
glance Of hers should stray his way, he
listened still more intently and was pres
emily rewarded by catching another sem
tence
"A single grave all by itself. / fell over
it and my mother scolded me, saying 1t
was my fathers. There was O bush near
It, A bush with white flowers on 1t.
tried to pick some"
Ransom's heart was growing lighter and
lighter. She did not even know that there
had been placed over that grave a monu-
ment with her name on 1t and that of the
mother who had scolded her for tripping
over her fathers sod. Only Anitra could
be so ignorant or expect to find a grave
by means of a bush blooming with flowers
fifteen years ago. AS she went wandering
on, peering to right and left, he thought of
Hazen and his doubts, and wished that
he were here beside him to mark her per-
plexity.
When quite satisfied that she would never
find what she sought without help, Ran
som stepped from his hiding place and
Joined her among the grassy hillocks The
start of pleasure she gave and her almost
childish look of relief warmed his heart.
and it was with a smile he waited for her
to speak.
My fathers gravel she explained 81
was looking for my fathers grave. I re-
member my mother taking me to 1t when
L was little. There was bush close by it
oh! see what you think. The bush
would be big now-I forgot that: And
something else! You are thinking of some
thing else. Oh, 1 know, l know. He
wouldn't be lying alone any more. My
mother must have died, or sister would
have taken me to her. There ought to be
two graves"
He nodded, and taking her by the hand,
led her to the family monument. She
d
laid her finger on one of the inscriptions.
My fathers manner" she asked.
He nodded.
She hung her head thoughtfully for a
moment. then slipping to the other side
of the stone laid her hand on another.
MY mother's?'
Again he signified yes.
And this? Is this sisters name? No,
she's not buried yet. 1 had brother. Is
| il his?''
Ransom bowed. How tell her that 1t was
a false inscription and that the man whose
death It commemorated was not only alive
but had only a little while before spoken
| TO her
Il didn't like my brother He was cruel
and liked TO hurt people. I'm glad he's
dead"
Ransom drew her away. Her frankness
was that OF child, but it produced an
uncomfortable feeling. He didn't like this
| brother either, and in this thoughtless esti-
| mate of hers he seemed to read a warning
| to which his own nature intuitively re-
| sponded.
| Gomez he motioned, leading the way
| out.
| She followed with a smile, and together
| they entered the highway. AS they did so,
| Ransom caught sight of a man speeding
down the hill before them on bicycle He
| had not come from the upper road, or they
would have seen him as he flew past the
gateway. Where had he come from, then!
From the peep-hoIe where Ransom himself
had stood a few minutes before. No other
conclusion was possible, and Ransom felt