Free press., 1906-11-24
CHAPTER XIII

dItIOn tor even an nOur, ana ScHSlu"Cly
shrinking from the observation she
imagined herself likely to attract out
of doors, she had, since the night OF
the tragedy, refused to venture beyond
the precincts of the house. 1t was IN
the garden she, therefore, took the exer-
else her mother considered necessary to
her girls health, and it frequently hap
pened that on such occasions she was
not alone, for from the back windows
of the neighboring house it was pos
sible for Ouinto Quave to catch sight
of her black-robed figure moving over
the grass or under the trees, and to
ioin her was no difficult task for one
who for years had enjoyed the uneere-
monious entree to her mothers house.
On this occasion he was walking be-
side her, a cricket cap on the back OF
his head, his hands thrust into the pock-
cts of his tweed jacket, brown shoes
upon his feet.
81 wanted mother to come out here
in the fresh, bracing air, but she thought
if too cold" Veronica was saying. Il
don't know what we should do if we
hadn't this dear, old quiet garden"
'I think it the jolliest garden in the
world. Ours is nothing to compare to
this" Ouinton replied, looking into her
pale face, long, like her mothers, and
with something of the same wistful ex-
preston in her gray eyes.
''Why?" she asked.
"Oh, don't know; perhaps it is be-
cause l remember it so long," he an
swere6, illogically.
''But you must remember your own
garden much longer"
''Of course; but it has never been so
pleasant as this What fun we used to
have here when | was boy and you
were a mere child
well, you were only in jackets and
big, linen collars, and on Sundays a tall
hat that used to make me laugh when
saw you going to church.
"And you had dolls and skipping
rope" Ill
laughing at the comical picture he pre-
sented to her minds eye, he joining IN
her laughter.
"Do you remember the day fell from
that tree when l was getting the ap-
pies from the top bough| Quinton
asked.
'And l burst out crying because I
thought you were killed"
"You liked me then," he said shyly.
'You must remember l was only
mere child" she answered, smilingly.
But you are not a mere child now,
Veronica, and-and@"
"Don't-don't," she said, in low, agi-
tated voice.
'Then l used to dream of doing the
most daring things in the world for
your sake. used to wish you were
drowning, that might save you, or that
you were being run away with by
wild horse that ! might rush out and
clutch at his bride with wrist of
steel, or that your house was burning,
that | might climb into window and
carry you out fainting in my arms.
That was because you read boys
penny-dreadful Stories" she replied, her
eyes looking away from his.
''Maybe the form of serving was sug-
gested by them, but the same desire IS
there still, you know. / would do any
thing for you."
Perhaps you have done much al
ready; it was you who saw that man,
the foreigner, on that dreadful night,
and you were the first to tell the in
spector," she said, shudderingly.
"You don't know how proud, how
happy it would make me If l could help
in tracking the scoundrel."
81 think l do, she remarked, timidiy.
'Veronica," he began, IN an impress
i've tone, do you ever think of me?
'I see you so often, how can L help
thinking of you?" she replied, with femi-
nine evasiveHess.
But you know what l mean" ne
said, his dark eyes fixed on her with
an earnestness, felt rather than per-
ceived. do you think of me when you
don't see me?"
Sometimes
"And-and-" the lad continued, the
emotion he felt almost choking him, do
You care for mee"
"You ask so many questions.
what matter? Answer this one and
I'll ask no more at present.
Yes" she replied, touched by ms
earnestness, Il care for you very much:
'You dor he cried out, as 1T this
admission caused him the greatest sur
prise. for by that strange contradiction
which governs all true lovers he would
depreciate himself in his own eyes IN
proportion to the force with which be
loved her You really care for me.
Who"
Don't say any more, Ouinton," she
pleaded, a happy confusion visible IN her
face.
"Only this; that no matter what hap
pens, / shall love you all the same
always the same" she said, dreamiiy
Always. And when the time comes
that can support myself, then"
Look" she exclaimed, interruptme
him; here is mother"
Quinton, raising his eyes. saw Olive
Dumbarton standing on the balcony out
side the drawing-room window, to
ward which Veronica was then running
"Come down, mother; come down and
saa fhA e,,oSet - the ofrl cried ont