The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-15

(Contfnued.) What a girl you are, Stephen! drag ging a fellow all the way up here. Couldn't you have fixed 1t down below somewhere if you wanted to see me?" l Strangely enough, as it seemed to her Stephen did not dislike his tone of mastery. There was something in 1t which satisfied her. The uncon- 1 scious recognition of his manhood, as opposed to her womanhood soothed her in a peaceful way. It was easy to yield to a-dominant man. She was never more womanly than when she answered him softly: }s
 Tt was rather unfair; but thought you would not mind coming so far. It is so cool and delightful here; and we can talk without being disturbed. |" Leonard was lying back in his chair flaming himself with his wide-brimmed straw hat. with outstretch ed legs wide apart and resting on the back of his heels. He replied with grudging conde- scension:
 ''Yes, it's cool enough after the hot tramp over the fields and through the wood. It s not so good as the house, though, in one way. a man can't get drink here, I say, Stephen, 1t wouldn't be half bad if there were a shanty put up here. There could be a trap laid on where a fellow could quench his thirst on day like this!'
 Before Stephens eyes fioated mo- mentary vision of a romantic chalet with wide veranda and big windows looking over the landscape; a. great wide stone hearth. quaint furniture made from the gnarled branches of trees; skins on the door; and the walls adorned with antlers, great horns. and various trophies of the chase. And amongst them Leonard. in a pictur- esque suit lo1ling back just as at present and smiling with a loving look in his eyes as she handed him a great blue-and- white Munich beer mug top ped with cool foam. There, was a soft mystery in her voice as she answered:
 Perhaps. Leonard. there will some day be such a place here!' He seemed to grumble as he replied:
 "I wish 1t was here now. Some day seems a long way ohl"
 4 This seemed a good opening for Stephen; for the fear of the situation was again beginning to assaii her, and she felt that if she did not enter on her task at once it's difficulty might overwhelm her She felt angry with herself that there was a change in her voice as she said:
 Some day may mean--can mean everything. Things needn't be a longer way of than we choose ourselves. some times"'
 "I say, that's a good one! Do you mean to say that because I am some day to own Brindehow can do as I like with 1t at once, whilst the govern or's all there. and a better life than I am any day. Unless you want me to shoot the old man by accident when we go out on the First" He laughed a short. unmeaning masculine laugh which jared somewhat on her. She did not, however. mean to be diverted from her main purpose in such a way, so she went on quickly:
 You know quite we'll, Leonard, that don't mean anything of the kind. But there was something l wanted to say to you. and I wished that we should be alone. Can you not guess what it is?"
 ''No, I'll be hanged if can" was his response. lazily given.
 Despite her resolution, she turned away her head she felt that she could not meet his eyes at this moment. It cut her with a sharp pain to notice when she turned again that he was not looking at her. He continued flaming himself with his hat as he gazed out at the view. She felt that the critical moment of her life had come; that 1t was now or never as to her fulfilling h ere settled intention. So with a rush she went on her way:
 Leonard, you and have been friends long time. You know my views on some points. and that think n woman should be as free to act as mant' She paused; words and ideas did not seem to flow with the readiness which she expected. She felt that her tone was didactic-like a schoolmis- tress featuring class. Leonarus ar rogant assurance completed the drag ging her back to earth which her own self-consciousness began:
 Drive on, old girl! I know you're a crank from Cranksville on some sub 1ects. Let us have 1t for all you're worth. I'm on the grass and listen ing"
 stephen paused. "A crank from Crank lIe!"--this after her nights of sleepless anxiety after the making of the resolution which had cost her so much. and which was now actually in process of realization. Was 1t all worth so much? why not abandon 1t all now? Abandon it! Abandon