Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-04

| head to heel. Her eyes were blue not
| large, but full of light her hair, which
! tossed around her face in soft fluff, was
! ash-blonde. Brown was the last color, theo-
/ retically, which she should have worn, but
| it suited her. The ash and brown, the two
neutral tints, served to bring out the blue
| fire of her eyes and the intense red of her
| lips. However, her beauty lay not so much
! in her regular features as in the wonderful
| fame-lfke quality which animated them
| and which they assumed when she spoke or
listened. In repose her face as neutral
| as a rock or dead leaf It was neither beau
| tiful nor otherwise When it was animated
1t was as If the rock gave out silver lights
! or mica and rosy crystal under strong light
ana as II the dead leaf leapt Into fame
James thought her much prettier than any
OF his sisters or their friends but he was
led quite unknowingly into this opinion be-
cause OF his own position as her protector
Ihat made him realize his own male gor-
geousness and strength, and he really saw
the girl with such complacency instead of
himself.
They walked along, and all at once he
stopped short. Something occurred to him.
which, strange to say, had not occurred be-
rore. He was not in the least cowardly He
was brave almost to foolhardiness All at
follow the man.
Good Lord said he, and stopped
What Is the matterg' asked the girl
Why, 1 must follow that man He is a
suspicious character. He ought not to be
left at large
Il suppose you don't care If you leave me
alone SAID the girl accusingly
James stared at her doubtfully There wa g
that view of the situation
II am going to see my friend Annie Lip
ton, who lives IN Westover There is half
mile OF lonely road before I get there That
man, for all ! know. may be keeping sight
or US In the woods over there. While you
are going back to chase him. he may come
UP with me. Well, run along If you want to
l am not afraid" But the girls lips quiy-
cred, and she paled again.
James glanced at the stretch OF road
ahead. There was not a house In sight
Woods were on one side, on the other was
a rolling expanse of meadowland covered
with dried last years grass, like coarse
| oakum-coIored hair
II think had better keep on with YOU.
James said.
You can do exactly you choose" the
| girl replied defiantly but TREMENDOUSLY 81
am not in the least dependent upon men to
escort me. l wander miles around by my
self. This Is the first time I have seemed to
be In the slightest danger, dare say there
behind like a cat, and
HE didn't say anythingT'
mo, he didn't speak He only tried to
make me turn my head so he could see my
| face. and directly it seemed to me that /
must die rather than let him. He was try
Ing to make me turn my head. I think
| maybe he was an insane man."
Il will go on with YOU" said James
They walked on for the half mile of
which the girl had spoken. A sudden shy
ness seemed to have come over both or
them. Then they began to come In sight of
houses. Il am not afraid now" said the
girl, but do think you are very foolish
II you go back alone and try to hunt that
man. Ten chances to one he is armed. and
you haven't thing to defend yourself with
except that medicine case .
II have my fists" replied James indig-
nantly
Fists don't count much against a re-
-
well. I am going to try" said James
with emphasis.
Goodbye then. You are treating me
shamefully, though
James stared at her in amazement She
was actually weeping. tears were rolling
over her cheeks.
What do you mean2" said he Don't
feel SO badly"
t'Yous can't be very quicf-witted not to
see. If you should meet that man, and get
killed. should really be the one who
killed you and not the man.
Why. no, you would not"
The girl stamped her foot Eyes. should
too said she half sobbing. You would
Dot have been killed except for me. You
know you would not"
She spoke as IL she actually saw the
young man dead before her, and was in
dfgnant because of It, and he burst into a
peal of laughter
| Laugh IL you want to- said shc. TT
does not seem to me any laughing matter
to go and get yourself killed by me- and
my having that on my mind my wsiole life
think should go mad" Her voice shook.
an expression or horror came into her blue
eyes.
James laughed again very we'll, then,
he said, 10 oblige YOU I won't get killed.
He in fact. began to consider that the
day was waning and what piIdgoose
chase ii would probably be for him to, at
tempt TO follow the man. So again they
walked on until they reached the main
| street Of Westover.
small UiIfara
! smaller than Gresham. They passed three