Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-10

way, was still puzzling over the prob
lem OF Eunice.
"Were she the Sleeping Beauty in
the enchanted castle she couldn't be
more inaccessible" was the conclusion
to which he had come as, after seeing
the whole family, including Eunice, go
upstairs for the night, he had neces-
sarily postponed his quest to the NOR
row.
ut looks as though I should be driv-
en- to communicate with her through
correspondence even while here under
the same roof with her."
He was fairly wearied out with his
speculations about her. For the first
time he now found his disguise irk-
some, SO much would he have liked
freely to discuss the case with Miss
Ellery. Surely that philosophical young
m was not so abnormally self en-
crossed as not to be curious also
about Eunice. Perhaps If he gave her
and Daisy an opportunity they would
question him about the girl, thinking,
Of course, that he had known her long
and intimately. 1t would be q relief,
eve under the hampering condition
OF his assumed character. to talk her
over with some one How had her
extraordinary talk Of the night before
struck Miss Ellery anyway?
He had reached this point in his
meditations when he was reused by
the sound Of a step behind him. AL
the family had gone to bed, so it must
be the young ladies'. They We're COM
ing to join him on the terrace.
"a mere farmland Is, after all, a
man." he shrugged.
But this evening he felt an unusual
readiness to welcome .hair society.
IF l can't investigate Eunice my
self, at least I can now get at the
impression she has made on Others"
He tossed away the cigar he was
smoking. 1t was Of the brand smok-
ed by Miss Ellery's father and quite
too choice to be found in the possession
Of a farmland He hoped she wouldn't
notice the aroma.
He turned around and looked up.
There before him, slim and pale in
the starlight, stood Eunice, In the un-
expectedness of her appearing sug-
costing to his startled fancy a vision
of a Fra Angelica angel.
His establishment left no room ven
for a passing regret for the excellent
cigar SO unnecessarily sacrificed.
There was a mingled timidity and
dignity in her manner that brought him
to his feet with an instructive chivalry.
Twill you sit down with me| he
asked in a tone of uncertainty, for he
could not guess just why she had ONE
She had always appeared to shun and
even to be afraid Of him. There was
just now a panied sensitiveness in her
fine face that revealed the struggle
she was having with herself in APP
preaching him like this.
but you would rather not be in
truded upon-even by me?' she asked
wistfully, her voice low and trembling.
81 mean," she hastily explained, II
don't count, of course, but perhaps you
would rather be entirely alone"
She had spoken so unhesitatingly
last night to Miss Ellery. Why should
she falter like this. in such agony Of
embarrassment, when speaking to him?
True, she had talked to Georgiana I'M
der stress Of a sudden strong impulse
she had been caught unawares, as it
were-that had been manifest enough.
Still, in spite of his own lifelong bat
klo With chu,,oco ho : couldn't n1IifQ
understand why any girl under the sun
should be bashful with him. Certain
ly his experience with bashful girls
had been limited-or, rather, nil.
ever since last night" he said to
her, 81 have been looking for an ap-
portunity to talk with you"
He saw the color flood her cheeks
and her bosom rise and fall in a long,
deep breath.
"You have wanted to talk with me?"
she breathed.
Its the only thing l have wanted
ever since last night"
"Since last night"
Eyes, since last Alphabetically"
"Is it," she asked. that you are con-
cerned in this controversy about Miss
Ellery's frock?"
"No"-he repressed a smile-"it Is not
about Miss Ellery's frock I wanted to
talk to YOU"
It was evident that the episode of the
frock had been, to her mind, the only
notable n Of the previous evening.
"Let us sit down." he repeated.
Her face lighted up as she Obeyed
him with a bHghtn..ss that transform
ed it. He marveled why she should In
one moment shrink from him and falter
in painful shyness and the next be
radiant with pleasure. To him the
reason for the transformation was not
apparent.
What made you say you don't
count?' he began as he seated himself
beside her.
"You said so-that evening-by the
fence"
when l said you didn't annoy me!
But l didn't mean that!!'
What did .-au mean them? The
question seem spring from he1
without her voii,,ul.
What had he meant. indeed?
81 suppose" be speculated. II meant
that you interest me too much to an
noy me-"
"And the young ladies-you avoid
them because they don't Interest you!
Was there n note Of eagerness in her
wistful voice? And to think that she
chonld .-ol,ntaor To ask him nuastions