Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-09

den halt, he started back, looked again at
the lanterns, took turn and came upon
the dozen or more men bending over the
edge of the stream where the waters ran
most swiftly. But he did not join them.
Another sight attracted his eyes and pres
entity himself. This was the sight OF Ran
som crouched on the wet earth. staring
down at a slip of paper he held in his
hands a lantern set in the sand at his
feet sent Its feeble rays over his lace and
possibly over the paper; but he was no
longer reading it, he was simply so lost in
its sorrowful contents that all power of
movement had deserted him.
Harper approached to his side, but he did
not address him. Something stirred in his
own breast and kept him silent But there
was another person near who was not so
deferred. AS Harper stood watching Ran
SONS crouched, almost insensible, figure he
perceived a slight. dark form steal from
the shadows and lay hand on the stoop-
ing mans shoulder; then, as he failed to
move or give any token of feeling this
touch, he heard Anitra's voice say in ac-
cents almost musical:
You will get ill here; you are not used to
the cold and the night air. Come back to
the house; Georgian would wish II.
The name reused him and he looked up
Their eyes met. and strange gleam-a
shock, perhaps, of sympathetic feeling,
flashed upon either face. The lawyer saw
and instinctively retreated from out the Cir
Gle of light cast by the lantern; but the men
at the streams edge heard nothing The
eyes and one man was reaching for II.
Georgian" came in astonished repetition
from the bereaved mans lips.
She would wish it, persisted the other
with still deeper and more urgent meaning.
Then in a whisper SO penetrating that even
Mr. Harper caught its least infection
through all the thunder of the waterfall,
''She loved you"
All! the enchantment, the feminine per-
suasiveness, the heart-movng sincerity
which breathed through that simple phrase!
From lips so untutored, 1t seemed mar
velous. Ransom was not insensible to its
power, for he quivered under her hand and
his eyes took on look of wonder. But he
made no attempt to answer, even by sign.
He seemed content for that one instant just
to listen and to look.
The man hanging over the stream drew
back his arm. He had been deceived by a
bit of froth; some Of it chung yet to his fin
gers.
Come" entreated the girl, her face
emerging softly into the light, as she stoop-
ed lower over the lantern. Gomez she
had taken him by the hand and was draw
ing him gently upward.
With leap he was on his feet and had
thrown her off. Some memory had come to
make her entreaty hateful.
No he cried, mo! Here is my place
and here will 1 stay. You are a stranger to
me! You drove her to this act, and you
shall not cajole me into forgetting it"
he had spoken loudly; not so much be-
cause he remembered her affection, but be-
cause of the roar of the fall and his own
overwhelming passion. The result was
that the lawyer caught every word; pos
sfbly the workers at the water edge did
also; for some of them quickly turned
their heads. But she, though she stopped
short in the spot where he had pushed
her, gave no evidence of hearing his
words or even Of resenting his manner.
Wont you Gomez" she falteringly
pleaded. pointing toward the house with
it's twinkling lights. You are cold; you
are shuddering; they will do the search
ing who don't mind night or wet Follow
Anitra-Anitra, who is so sorry"
Mo-" he shouted. His tone, his look,
were almost those of mailman. He even
put out his hands toward her in repul-
sion. He seemed to cast her away This
gesture, if not his words. reached her I'M
derstanding The lawyer saw her sway,
fling back her young head with its
disheveled locks to the night, and fall
moaning pitifully to the ground. Here she
lay still, with the wet grass all about her
and the last lingering drops of rain beat
ing on her huddled form.
Mr. Harper started to raise her, for
Ransom stood petrified. But no sooner had
the lawyer made his presence known by
this impetuouS movement than Ransom
woke from his trance and, dartlng down,
lifted the girl in his arms and began
moving with her toward the house AS
he passed the lawyer he muttered between
set teeth:
shes caused me all my misery. But
she looks too much like Georgian for me
to see another man touch her. God Will
care for NV poor darlingS body.