The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-12-01
CHAPTER XIII.

CHhP EK ALL
On bright, bracing afternoon in DC.
tober Veronica was walking backward
and forward upon the grass. Unwilling
to leave her mother in her present con-
dition for even an hour, and sensitively
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 II 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 Ouave 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 uncere-
mo-ious 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.
u wanted mother to come out here
in the fresh, bracing air, but she thought
it too cold" Veronica was saying. 1
don't know what we should do if we
hadn't this dear, old quiet garden.
q 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 mother s., and
with something of the same wistfui ex-
preston in her lay eyes.
why" she led.
ooh. | don't know perhaps it IS be-
cause l remember it so long," he an
swered, 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 we're only in jackets and
big. linen collars, and on Sundays tan
hat that used to make me laugh when
saw you going to church
"And you had dolls and Skipping
rope" 49,. -. .,;d
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 ! was getting the ap-
pies from the top bough" Qu'nton
asked.
"And l burst out crying because !
thought you were killed.
"You liked me then" he said shyiy.
"You must remember l was only
mere child" she answered, smilingly.
But you are not 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 tor
YOUR sake. l used to wish you were
drowning, that might save you, or that
YOU were being run away with by a
wild horse that I might rush out and
clutch at his bride with a wrist OF
steel, or that your house was burning.
that might climb into a window and
carry you out fainting in my arms.
That was because you read boy
penny dreadful stories," she replied, her
eyes looking away from his.
Maybe the form of serving was sug
gessed by them, but the same desire Is
there still, you know. l would do any
thing for you"
Perhaps you have done much al
ready; it was you who saw thzt man,
the foreigner, on that dreadful night,
and YOU were the first to tell the IN
spector," she said, shudderingly.
"You dont know how proud, how
happy it would make me if l could help
in tracking the scoundrel."
81 think do" she remarked, timidly.
Veronica" he began, in an impress
i've tone, do you ever think of me
Il see you so often, how can ! help
thinking Of your" she replied, with temi-
nine evasiveness.
But you know what mean," he
said. his dark eyes fixed on her WITH
an earnestness, felt rather than per-
eeived. 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 me?"
"You ask 30 many questions"
What matter? Answer this one snd
III ask no more at present
EYES," she replied, touched by his
earnestness, Il care for you very much. y
you dol" he cried out, as If 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 he
loved her. You really care for me
Who"
Don't say any more, Qyinton," she
pleaded, happy confusion visible in her
face
Only this; that no matter what hap
pens, l shall love YOU all the same"
always the same" she said, dreamily
always. And when the time comes
that l can support myself, then"