Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-12-14

WHY do you wear that horrid black
patch over your eye?" she asked, d
trife riinidly. lie muttered a sharp
exclamation and clapped his hand to
his eye For the first time since the
beginning of their strange acquaint-
anceship Beverly observed downright
confusion in this debonair knight of
the wlds.
"It has-has slipped Off" he stam-
mered. with guilty grin. His merry
insolence was gone. his composure
with it. Beverly laughed with keen
enjoyment over the discontinue of the
shame faced vagabond.
"You can't fool me!' she exclaimed,
shaking her finger at him in the most
unconventional way. 1T was intend
ed to be disguise. There is abso-
Iutely nothing the matter with your
eye"
He was speechless for moment re-
covering himself Wisdom is conceiv-
ed in silence. and he knew this. Vaga-
bond or gentleman. he was clever
actor.
1.-The eye is weak. your highness, and
cover it in the daytime to protect it
from the sunlight" he said coolly.
THAT'S all very nice, but it looks to
be quite as good as the other. And
what is more. sir. you are not putting
the patch over the same eye that wore
it when | first saw you. 1t was the
left eye at sunset. Does the trouble
transfer after dark?"
He broke into an honest laugh and
hastily moved the black patch across
his nose to the left eye.
II was turned around in the dark
ness. that's all." he said serenely. ut
belongs over the left eye, and I am
deeply grateful to you for discovering
the error"
81 don't see any especial reason why
you should wear it after dark, do you?
There is no sunlight. I'm sure"
81 am dazzled. nevertheless" he re-
torted.
"Fiddlesticksv' she said This Is a
fave, not drawing room"
''In other words. am lout and not
a courtier," he smiled. "Weli. a lout
may look at princess. We have no
court etiquette in the hills. am sorry
to say"
THAT was very unkind, even though
you said 1t most becomingly," she pro-
tested. You have called this pail a
throne. Let us also imagine that you
are courtier."
You punish me most gently, your
highness. shall not forget my man
ners again, believe me-" He seemed
thoroughly subdued.
Then | shall expect you to remove
that horrid black thing. 1t is positive
ly villainous. You look much better
without it."
rs 1t an edict or compliment he
asked, with such deep gravity that she
flushed.
ut is neither" she answered. "You
don't have to take it off unless you
want to-
'In either event it is off. You were
right. 1t serves as a partial disguise.
l have many enemies and the black
patch is very good friend"
How perfectly lovely" cried Bev-
erly. Tell me all about ii. | adore
stories about feuds and all that"
Your husband is an American. He
should be able to keep you well enter
tained with Observation-Disclosures stories."
said he
my hus- What do you oh, yesr'
gasped Beverly. ITO be sure. didn't
hear you, guss. That WAS rather a
severe clap of thunder. wasn't it?"
rs that also command?"
what do you mean?"
There was no thunderclap, you
know"
"Oh, wasn't there?' helpIessly.
"Ihe storm is quite past. There is
still dash of rain in the air, and the
wind may be dying hard. but aside
from that think the noise is quite sub
ducd"
81 believe you are right. How sud
den 1t all was.r
There are several hours between
this and dawn, your hlghness, and you
should try to get little more sleep.
Your cushions are dry and
Very well, since you are so eager to
get rid Of began Beverly. and then
stopped, for it did not sound partic-
ularly regal 81 should have said. YOU
are very thoughtful. You will call me
If sleep late?"
I'VE shall start early. with your per
mission. 1t is forty miles to Ganlook.
and we must be half way there by
nightfall."
Must we spend another night like
thisF" cried Beverly dolefully.
Alas. | fear you must endure us an
other night, am afraid. however, we
shall not find quarters as comfortable
MS those OF tls Hawk and Raven"
Il didn't mean to be ungrateful and
-er-snippish." she said, wondering If
he knew the meaning of the word.
Mop he said politely, and she knew
he did not whereupon she felt. dis.
linctly humbled.
You know YOU speak such excellent
English" she said irrelevantly.
He bowed low. As no str9frhtanad