Evening star., 1907-07-28

in Scotland, where as a young bride the IL
lusions of her virgin mind and heart had
been shattered by Henry.
She turned away from its Haunting beauty
with shudder. No memories of the past
had been hers during the night; why should
she allow the old pain and heartache to
come back? She alone in the great house
had given herself up to delicious reveries
that tempted her; every thought Of Henry,
her father and the ties that bound her
she ignored. She never questioned what
had changed her since she had left Henry,
outraged at his vile suspicious Why probe
into the cause of her happiness? Enough
that she could rejoice, silently, If need be,
without reason ackno owledged even to her
self for her joy. But the dawn brought
with it only feverish longing to reach the
cool Of the hillside. and now the blooming
riot Of purple tones had struck at her like
a menacng ghost. She plunged into
thicket. and, sinking kneedeep in its luxuri-
ant growth. made her way across a yellow
meadow. Finally she reached the copse
OF trees through which she could see the
Elizabethan gables Of the back of the
house.
Oh. the beauty OF the unstaned day!
Like every weary wayfarer exploring for
the first time since childhood the fresh vir-
gin countryside. her soul cried aloud It's
appreciation Of this beauty Of soft green,
wet glistening flowers, crystal clear air, and
what is utterly unknown save to the fire.
quenters Of the first hours Of dawn in
forests and glades, the ecstatic perfume Of
their kingdom, the flower garden, came
these ripples of scented air, heavy with
the breath OF honeysuckle, rose, phlox and
he,iotrope.
Fairies Corner. AS she reached the mar
row aperture. and its wet earthly smell
drowned the sweet, sensuous odors Of the
garden blossoms, she esped the sleeping
figure on the old bench. At the unex-
pected discovery she gave an involuntary
exclamation. Jim was lying on his back,
with his head on his arm, all the wet stain
of the night passed in the garden showing
on his unchanged evening clothes, while
the unkempt hair gave a curious boyishnesS
to his face.
Diana waited for him to move, but her
surprised ejaculation had failed to awaken
him. How big and wonderful he was. The
thick iashes swept his brown face with Its
dull touch of red showing under the olive
skin. AS she bent over him and was about
to touch his hand to arouse him he opened
his eyes.
He had been dreaming that he was In the
hospital In the Hills after the fight, and in
his delirium he was buck at the Fairies
Corner with Diana-and there she stood
looking at him. but his eyes seemed unable
to grasp the reality of the moment.
Jim, Jim," she said.
1t was no dream. With a rush of men,
ory It all came back to him. He quickly
rose to his feet and came toward her, i'm
webs of sunlight were making glinting
spaces against the gray y-and-green inclos-
ure; q movement peSan IN the tree tops
that brought back the childish reminiscence
of the rustling fairy wings. He forgot ev-
erything. He only knew that she stood
there like an essence of delight to ease his
aching being The still wonder of the even-
ing before again shining in her lumi-
nous face.
He lifted her hands to his shoulders and
held hem fast there. To her awakening
womanhood he seemed like young god OF
nature, who had bathed in the primeval
springs and had arisen gorihed and over
WhelminR in his forcefulness. They stood
speechless their gaze fastened each on the
others face while the moments slipped
away How long they stood there neither
realized: the burning intensity of the mo-
ments told them more than any words
could have conveyed. Both now knew the
truth-it downed them with its untlinching
eyes; they knew hat they were peering
close into the core of life. that they had
Game. Strong and incessant as the beat OF
, the swaying tree tops, the bitter knowledge
was forced upon them that they could no
! longer even to themselves. play part,
Their months of unconscious self-deception
| had that night been slain; each knew that
| love triumphant had come into his own.
From the camp in the park beyond came
! the sound of the bugle calling the men to
| their early morning duties. 1t reused Jim
| and Diana to the consciousness OF the
! workaday world. Diana was the first to
| move: she slipped her hands away from his
| shoulders. while she still had the strength
to do SO. Jim silently started toward her
his eyes showing the surrender of his love
| She could read all that they asked her
name broke from his lips in tender reitera-
| ton.
| "Di, dear-dear Dill"
But this time the outstretched hands
| waved him back