The Washington herald., 1907-11-13
CHAPTER XVI.

Cross QuestiOnS-CroOked Answers.
It is characteristic Of the two men that
their new relationship made no differ
ence 10 their rivalry with regard % Vida
Bryan. Regularly every Sunday the
broad shoulders OF the underground en-
gineer were 20 be seen towering above
the devout iu the Cameronian Kirk OF the
Hill As often as not also. Vic walked
home with her. especially when Dick
Finnau, detained by his position as ruling
elder. was unable TO leave the vestry at
once.
In the forenoon Phil Calmont whose
father was "a pillar of the Valley Kirk,
was. Of course, Handicapped 20 some ex-
tent. But as every alternate Sabbath
evening the Valley Kirk shut its door in
order 10 Join congregations with the Kirk
on the Hill. and vice versa, Phil was able
10 recoup himself literally But for
some reason best known 10 herself. ever
since the night Of the meeting in the cot
tage at the Glebe End Gate Vida had re-
moved the light Of her COuntenaace from
both Vie Morris ard Phil. not. perhaps,
to the same degree but still markedly
enough 20 make the latter young man
demand a reason.
And the reason she gave was certainly
They were walking slowly homeward-
that is. IN the direction Of Glebe End-hy
the short cut through the woods. The
tall trunks Of the Scots frs. warmed by
the westerly light which filtered through
cCUches Of dew. moisture. and the prom
Use OF the nights rain. were chrOmatical-
Is graded from a deep purple just above
the roots through deep red and orange. 10
"A golden yellow Immediately beneath the
glistening blue-gTeeu umbrellas Of the
crown. The trees rose very high. Very
little and lonely. as il seemed. Vida and
Phil walked beneath them.
But. because Of the souls within, the
fitting thoughts. the imperious needs and
vague longings. the quick play OF SYM
pathy. the glve-and-take Of speech; they
were the true things Of God. infinitely
greater than all trees. than all His other
wOrks-at least on this earth on which
/ they stood
And while Phil made his plant. Vida
walked proudly alongside. carefully
guarding a neutral ground of a good yard
wide between shoulder and shoulder
Il don't see. Vida" began Phil what
you can have against me You treat me
as if I were a dog"'
Vida shrugged her shoulders with her
habitual careless contempt
There are dogs and dogs!" she said.
Meaning" cried Phil with petulance.
that 1 am not one Of the favored. even
considered as a cur!''
You certainly do not need TO be made
Of " said Vida; you have had too much
of that already"
Not from your
mo. know better-from Rose Nunsby,
among others, If you want 10 know
She has told you-'
''Nothing-do you suppose / would ask
/ her? But I have eyes in my head. also
ears, And-and 1 am not sure but that
You ought to be very much ashamed OF
yourself. Mr.. Philip Calmont!'
Ashamed Of myself. Why, in all the
world?"
Phil was genuinely astonished now.
/ But Vida gave him no help. She only
nodded resolutely. 10 emphasize her po-
| sition
Pray. what have l done" pleaded
| Phil. Tell mel"
You have spent a considerable deal
OF time there during the last year OF
two she said. looking carefully away
/ in the opposite direction, "and now. al
of n sudden. you have not been neal
Rose for weeks. If I thought it was the
/ influence of--Of Vic AIorris-Mr. Morris
II should have something to say tc
him that would take the eternal smile
off his face"
But" faltered Phil Calmont, quite
overwhelmed by the unexpected accusa-
tion, II went to the Nunsbys' house only
to talk about
Il do not care what you went 70 tall
! about or what excuse you made K
yourself. The fact is that for months
years perhaps-you have gone there ev
cry day-every afternoon. I myself hay,
seen you crossing the fields. Why
Master Phil, I could have set my watcE
by you. so exact you were. Many
time I did not go over TO Roses Just be
cause I did not wish TO break in upog
your tete-a-tete"'