Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-14
BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER.
BY RANDALL PARRISH.
AUTHOR OF WHEN WILDERNESS WAS
Copyright. 1907. By A. O. Mcclurg / Coz

ceiving a pathetic pleading in her upturned
face. Suddenly there came to him a belief
that the girl was crying: he could feel the
slight tremor of her form against his own.
He glanced furtively at her, only to catch
the glitter Of a falling tear. To her evident
distress his heart made instant and sympa-
thetic response. With all respect influence
ing the action his hand closed warmly over
the smaller one on his sleeve.
Little GIRL" he said. forgetting the short
ness of their acquaintance in the deep feel
Ing Of the moment tell me what the trou-
BILE is"
ture for saying that. she blurted out with
out looking up. ut wasn't ladylike or nice,
but-but I simply couldn't help 1t, Lieut..
Brant."
You mean your sudden determination to
carry me home with your" he asked, re-
lieved to think this might prove the entire
difficulty. Don't let that worry you. \. ny,
I am simply rejoiced at being permitted to
go. Do you know I wanted to request the
privilege all the time we were dancing to-
gether. but you acted so differently from
when we were beneath the vines that I
actually lost my nerve"
She looked up and he caught a feeting
glimpse into her unveiled eyes.
II did not wish you to ask me-"
"What?" He stopped suddenly. ''Why.
then. did you make such an announcement
to Mrs. Herndon?"
"Oh. that was different" she explained
you to help me out but-but really wanted
to go home alone"
He swept his unbelieving eyes around
over the deserted night scene. not knowing
what answer to return I'd so strange an
avowal. WAS that what caused you to
appear so distant to me in the hail. SO
vastly different from what you had been
before?"
''Miss Nadia" he said. ct would be cow
ardly for me to attempt to dodge this issue
between US. Is 1t because you do not like
me?"
She looked up quickly the moonlight re-
veaiing her flushed face.
ooh, no, no! You must never think that
I told you l was girl Of moods; under
those vines had one mood. in the hall an
other. Cannot you understand
VERY little" he admitted, ''for am more
inclined to believe you are the possessor Of
q strong will than that you are swayed by
moods. Listen. II I thought that a mere
senseless mood had caused your peculiar
treatment of me tonight should feel justi-
fed in yielding to a mood ALSO. But I will
not lower you to that extent In my esttma-
ton. I prefer to believe that you are the
true-hearted. frankly spoken girl of the
as to your true nature which holds me loyal
to test. Miss Mazda. is 1t now your desire
that leave your
He stepped aside, relinquishing her arm.
where he left her.
"It-it hurts me-" she faltered, "for I
truly desire you to think in that way Of me,
and II don't know what IL best to do. II
I tell you why wished to come alone you
might misunderstand. and II refuse then
you will suspect wrong and 60 away de-
spfsing me-"
II sincerely wish you might repose suffi-
Client confidence In me "a q gentleman to
believe never betray q trust never pry
into q lady's secret
"Oh. do. Lieut.. Brant It Is not doubt
Of you at all. but am not sure. even with
in my own heart that I am doing just
what Ii right. Besides. 1t will be 30 difncult
to make you. almost q stranger, compre-
bend the peculiar conditions which infiu-
ence my action. Even now you suspect
that I am deceitful-a masked sham like
those others we discussed tonight: but
have never played part before never
skuiked In the dark. Tonight simply had
to do u"
Her voice was low and pleading. her eyes