The Washington herald., 1907-12-13

pine forest Of Portogarten. The timber
was mostly gone, sold by impoverished or
improyident landlords, and but little Of
the old dyke remained-long useless, rug
gedly built of old moor stone. broken
down in PAGES. but affording glimpses Of
the dusky solitudes which extended away
down the hill and beyond the mine that
Phil was hewing out Of these still beauti-
ful relicts OF promeval forest.
Behind the wood stretched a wash Of
cool green shade-and something glided
athwart it-not hy any means a green
thought. Vida first caught the CLINT as II
slid between two broken-down and crum-
bly, sections Of dyke.
Something that something that
bent low. something that took pains not
10 be seen. She searched for Phil, found
him. and then looked back
The to-and-fro OF the two men down on
the braeface swung farther along-away
out OF sight Of the busy foundation dig
gers. And parallel 10 them, foot for foot,
moved the tracking shadow behind the
dyke, Once Vida could see the man.
though dimly, from head 10 foot. IN the
dusk Of the wood shade he placed his
knee on low part of the dyke. The long
barrel OF gun moved Up 20 the shoul-
MISUNDERSTANDING as Il went. He APP
peared 10 be aiming at Phil. A little pun
OF white smoke hung against the trees.
There was no sound. But Vida ran 20 the
window and screamed aloud TO the sea
and the emptiness.
Nobody heard her. Of course. II was
too far for her voice to reach even a
tenth OF the distance Billy and Dick
were already busy AT their model light
house. Vida dressed hastily. threw a
-fnr Il ~ -. a.
the road up the "heughs" Stumbling.
rising again. bruising herself against
rocks. laiTinE IN morasses. her hair
streaming over her shoulders. she reached
the strip Of cleared ground utterly worn
out Phil-her Phil had been killed. She
she alone-had seen his lurking muir
derer
Yet when she stumbled on to the
smoother turf. and saw before her the
green links OF the clifr-edge, there were
the two men walking together. ard talk
Ing as II nothing had happened.
Instantly Phil ran 10 Vida. and. all
power leaving her, she fell exhausted into
his arms.
You are not-you are not" was all
she could say
James Kahn kept AZ "A discreet distance
from this interview. lie regarded the
birds-gannets and terms, piunging in the
sea- He could be a gentleman upon oc-
casion-for moment or two, that is
and 10 be seen OF men.
Then Vida, with shame in her voice and
her face rosy with anger. told her tale
She had been looking through-yes
through "A little telescope Billy ought
not 20 have such things, II was his fault
But she had seen some one fire at Phil
hn y. Il
the wood even now.
Nonsense" cried Phil. pleased never.
theless. Mr.. Kahn was with me all thf
time. There is some surface BLASTING
going on over yonder. We are opening
up new ground. Doubtless you heard
them. They have been at Il all the morn
ing. Nothing eise."
Then he turned to his visitor. who
strangely enough. seemed to regard tne
matter much more seriously
Missioner (Phu hesitated at the
word) has been frightened by the firing,
he said ''She ana I are engaged TO bs
married.
James Kahn took of his hat and ex.
panded himself in congratulations. as ht
knew very well how.
I suppose so" said Vida, reluctantly
with glance at her torn attire; 1t mus
be true. or I would not have been sucf
fooll Butt must ask you. for Tho
present. to say nothing about itr'
All" said James Kahn. thoughtfullv
certainly not. Miss Romer-you car
trust mel"
And both Of them. for quite different
reasons. knew that James Kahn could b,
trusted to say nothing about it.
Dr- ro.---.-.---,. -