The Washington herald., 1907-12-22

haestaH with girl hauling at string
Of bunting which seemed almost part OF
the outfit.
The young man came up behind the girl
with his soft, elastic tread. the catlil1e
f, walk OF big men.
Halo. Miss-ah. Vida. I beg your par
/ don-I can't get over the new name-let
me help you! l suppose you are COM
municating with Dick and Mr.. Bryan on
the lghthouse-which means that you are
alone,"
II was not often that Vida blushed 1t
was, perhaps. the first time that such a
thing dn the memory OF the EDITOR is
recorded in this history. But at any rate
she now blushed for all the other times
Red as a rose was she"-red, indeed
Crimsont
From the first Vic regarded her with
anxious eyes. He was not blind. He
could see the wonderful beauty of the
girl, and how some secret happiness had
| caused her 70 open out into a flower,
which bade fair 10 fulfill the budding
promise of her youth
But what he said was certainly very
curious.
Poor JANET"
That was all. To the ordinary mind the
exclamation conveyed but one thing
that he had come back with a mind in
a strait betwixt two, and that the very
first sight Of Vida in the flesh had
banished the memory OF Janet FOwler's
letters. They had seemed treasures TO
him in far away Spain. as he listened 10
the shout Of the sailors rising up from
the Nervion quays. or the tinkle OF the
mandolins which. in summer, are never
silent in the sheltered patiOs Of Huelva.
All that, however, had been as a dream OF
the night. The day-star had arisen. Poor
Janet indeed,
But Il was not for the world 10 know
Vic Morris. No ordinary rules Of conduct
bound him
And as for the Specification OF the in
voluntary exc!amation-that is stlll TO
seek.
They stood mutely regarding one an
other, Vida and Vic-each with a secret
in their hearts. But the mans gaze was
calm and untroubled. He meant to carry
through his programme TO the letter. He
was convinced Of its righteousness. Of its
necessity. Therefore, being the man he
was, nothing could move him from his
intent.
The girl. on the other hand, blushed
and blushed-above all things conscious
'of the import of that chain Of coiored
flags above her Vic had fixed the knot
not so much that he did not know how.
as because he was looking at the girl
before him
You are all alone?" he asked. simply
and without the least shame THAT is
good. / want TO speak TO YOU
My father is sitting upstairs in his
room.' she answered; he is getting bet
ter. but cannot move yet-Air. Romer,
mean, I suppose you have not heard
Vic nodded. Yes, he had heard. Ger
tainly, Miss Romer," he hurried on.
But the other two are at the light
house-then I can speak with you. I
have much 70 say. I left Kirktown
rather in a hurry You may have noticed
Since then I have had time to reflect
bitterly-lons And now 1 have come to
ask you 10 forgive me-"
Vida looked at him. paling slowly 20
the whiteness Of unbleached linen. which
Is as far as her complexion would carry
her in that direction.
Forgive you?" she murmured dread
ing what was coming. Il do not UNDER
standU"
Certainly" said Vic Norris. firmly: Il
acted both wrongly and hastily I have
come 20 say so. l have reflected tell
you, and here 7 am-determined 70 do
right"
They We're I'm the exact spot where
weil-where Phil and she were accus-
toned TO ''redd out their quarrels and
the rest Whatever Vic Morris had 10
say to her. Vida could not hear to hear
it under that rowan tree at the corner
Of the house. That was Pills and hers.
It's leaves seemed to whisper of many
things-worse than the flags
'Will you come indoors-into the par
lor?'' she said. Then 1 shall be able to
thank yOU-for-for saving my life,"
Saving your lifer' cried Vic. with
great astonishment; yes, 50 I did. But
it wasn't that
This made the girl wonder yet more
what the mighty secret could be which
could make such an act as that of Vic
Morris in No . pit seem but a little.
easily forgotten thing
They entered the little parlor. gay as
usual with fresh flowers. Phil sent them
down TO her every morning or brought a
bunch each evening. He plundered Rose
Nunsby's garden on purpose. The furni-
ture was old but solid, and Vida had so
polished il that under her hands II had
attained the soft gloss Of old mahogany
one Of the most beautiful tints in the
world. The window was open. and Vida.
indicating chair for Vic Morris. sat
herself down by the window. within sight
Of the fluttering fags-which in the code
of love contained a final message for
Phil. perched on the heights Of his cliff
mile away.
Vic Morris was a resolved man, and
rather O0livious OF impressions other
than those which affected his immediate
purpose He could not feel moods and
lenses Ike Phil-especially feminine ones.
He knew if a crowd of workmen were
plotting mischief, and had his own way
Of dealing with such. But a girl-well
her thoughts did not affect his very di-
rectly. IT seemed hardly worth while.
So il was hidden from him that now
Vida was possessed by n strong preoc-
cupation
Miss Br-Romer." began Vic. speak |
ing sharply and rather Unexpectedly. so !
sudden indeed that he made Vida lump
L have behaved very badly to you. You |
had right to expect other things of |
met
How so?' said Vida. Il was quite
unconscious of anything Of the sort"
of course, l knew you would say So" |
he continued; that is what is called right |
ana womanly. But I have my own stand 4
ards, and 1 know that 1 have behaved |
i'll 10 you
'''o behave Ill is, suppose, to save a 1
pers 1n's life at the risk of ones own" /
Vida was resolved 10 take it smilingiy.
1t IS, reiterated Vic firmly: 1T is /
when man runs away without perform !
ing his responsibilities
Vida became more and more amazed. /
She could not make out what the man
was driving at And the shame of that /
huttering signal which she had meant \
merely 10 hoist and then to lower. made 4
her blush anew. Yes. even when she could /
not see it, she felt it like a shameful |
sunshine all down her back