Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-29
THE HOUSE OF THE
BLACK RING.
BY FRED LEWIS PATTEE.
Copyright, 1905, by Henry Holt & Coz

1t was as If she were afraid OF him. She
cast swift glance back and quickened
her pace. He was gaining on her. At the
summit she stopped abruptly and faced
him.
Well rest a minute here" she an
nounced decisively, perching herself on
rock
Tell me- Iona what the matter is.
why DO you always run from me? Tell
me, Iona" He came close to her and
looked up into her face.
There's comfortable seat there" She
pointed TO rock opposite hers. AS he
turned he noted that she was pale and
that there were flushed spots In her
cheeks.
You are not WELL Iona Tell me, what
Is it?' He did not take the seat. but
came near to her again
It's nothing" she said absently. She
was looking far out over the valley which
lay bathed in the evening light The sun
was Just on the horizon. The stiffness of
the Sabbath evening lay like a spell
From the far-away farm houses and roads
there arose no sound save the faint Pc
pe-pe-pe' of q woman calling her chickens
and the low monotone OF the run purrine-
with soft throat, like a kitten half-asleep
by its mother. A breath of the hot clover
fields. so faint as to be only half perceived
ioated up over the scrub-oaks and the
rocks.
Iona. 1 want to tell you"
See she broke In sharply. isn't it
peautIul! II Ike great hap. Isn't
valley
Yes; but Iona"
"A hap IN four colors: clover, corn wheat
| trees The trees make 1t crazy work. The
fences are stitches"
Sure enough-zlgzag. crazy stitches"
fes.' For a moment they looked out
silently over the valley
The twilight was beginning to fade the
picture. The great shadow of Roaring
IayA
Nance mountain. They were at the west
end of the valley. The sharp notch Of the
run was close to the right; just below them
amid the scrub oak tangle was the Heller
buildings of Allen Farthing. straight
line from them to Poppy Miller's would
pass close by the cabin.
do you know all the ridges and gaps?"
| she went on animatedIy. See. over there:
| that second ridge is the Alleghenies"
Yes"
The main range Over there"-she point
ed suddenly-'is Turkey Run That break
beyond 1t is Blair's, with old Grayble to
the left. That's the Bald Eagle, and right
| beyond II is the Juniata."
Can you see the Juniata from here?"
NO. but you can see the valley. See
| that green spot-that iong. narrow strip OF
| light green? See?' He was very close to
her now. Suddenly no turned and caught
| her hand In his.
Iona" he said passionately, II love
you"
mo. no. no, no. she gasped. YOU
| mustn't-you mustn't say that" She arose
! as ii frightened and tried 70 free her hand.
1 And why mustn't I-why mustn't 1,
| Iona" he pleaded holly.
| Listen to me-" She turned and looked
| him full in the eyes and instantly he Drop
| ped her hand. 81 mean just what l say.
You must promise not to come again. You
must promise never to come to the Run
| again. l forbid it,
| Forbid it?" he echoed blankly.
Il forbid it, she repeated with cold en-
| phasis You'll not come again. It's best
i, for you. Goodbye" With her eyes full
| upon him in a gaze that was hypnotic In
| its intensity. she sided slowly over the
/ edge of the ridge.
"RemembeT-you'H obey me-" she repeat
| ed holding up her hand warningiy RE-
| member" He felt himself poweriese to
move or even speak: he could only gaze at
| her sbsorbedly while she backed down the
rocks toward the gap. Then near jutting
\ spur of sandstone she wheeled suddenly
about and ran. On the instant he felt as II
| he had been released from a SPELL
| "Oh. Iona" he cried. II can't Stop.
| Iona" He leaped down over the rocks In
reckless haste.
| Just at the edge of the scrub oaks the
| girl stopped abruptly and faced him. They
had reached the axalea again; 1t famed al
! about her. framing her like picture.