Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-13
(Copyright--Thc Bobbs- Merrill Coz


tween dark patches of pine and SCRUB GA X
or fields lush with rustling corn anu
wheat. And, having overcome MS pr
mary disgust, as the blood began ~ u.
culate more briskly in his veins. Wal
land became aware that he was actuaiiy
| enjoying the enforced exercise IL couiu
have been hardly otherwise. with night
| SO sweet, with airs so bland ana 1raei am
| Of the woods and fresh-turned earth'
| with 80 clear q light to show him MS way.
| He stepped out briskly at first. swing
| ing his stick and watching his shaooW,
| a squat, incredibly agitated silhouette III
! the golden dust. But gradually ana IN
sensibly the peaceful influences or that
still and lovely hour tempered ms neat.
| Impotence, and he found himself waking
at pace more leisurely. After ali, thefe
! was no hurry: he was unwearled anu
Maitland Manor lay less than five miles
| distant.
| Thirty minutes passed: he had not COW
cred a third of the way. yet remained
content. By aforementioned LANDMARKS
he knew he must be nearing the ilttle
stream called. by courtesy. Myann1s river
and. In due course, he stepped out upon
that water. He was close upon the
farther end when-upon hapchance I'M
pulse-he glanced over the nearest guard
rail- down at the bed of the creek, and
stopped incontinently, gaping.
Stationary in the middle of the depreS-
sion. hub deep in the shallow waters,
was motor car. and it. beyond dispute.
was identical with that which had occu-
pied his thoughts on the ferry boat Less
wonderful, perhaps. but to him amazing
enough, it was to discover upon the
drivers seat the girl in gray.
His brain benumbed beyond further ca
pac:ty for establishment. he accepted
without demur this latest and most as
founding Of the chain of amazing CO.
medicines which had thus far enlivened
the nights earlier hours. and stood rapt
I'm silent contemplation. sensible that the
girl had been unaware of his approach.
deadened az his footsteps must have been
by the blanket of dust that carpeted both
road and bridge deep and thick.
On her part she sat motionless. evident
~ lost in reverie, and momentarily. at
least. unconscious of the embarrassing
predicament which was hers. So COM
plete. indeed, seemed her abstraction that
Maitland caught himself questioning the
reality Of her . . And well might she
have seemed to him pale little wrath
Of the night, the simmer of gray. that
she made against the simmer of light
on the Water-a shape almost transparent,
slight and notwithstanding to con-
template. and as still as any mouse.
Looking more attentively it became evil
dent that her veil was now raised. This
was the first time that he had seen her
so. But her countenance remained SO
deeply Swallowed by the visor of a man
nish motoring cap that the most search
ing scrutiny gained no more than dim
and scantily satisfactory impression Of
alluring loneliness.
Maitland turned nolselessly, rested ell
bows on the rail and. staring. framed a
theory to account for her position, If not
for her patience.
On either hand the road, dividing,
struck Off at q tangent, down the banks
and into the river bed. 1t was credible
to presume that the girl had lost control
of the machine temporarily and that it.
taking the bit between it's teeth, had
swung gaily down the incline to its bath.
Why she fingered there. however, was
less patent. The water. as has been in
dictated. was some inches below the tom
neau: 1t did not seem reasonable to as
sumo that it should have interfered with
either running gear or motor
At this point in Maftland'S meditatfons
the gray girl appeared to have arrived at
decision. She Strengthened up suddenly,
with little resolute nod of her head.
lifting one small foot to her knee. and
fumbled with the laces of her shoe.
Maitland grasped her intention to aban-
don the machine with her determination
to wade! Clearly this would seem to
demonstrate that there had been break
down. irreparable SO far as frail feminine
hands were concerned.
One shoe removed. it's fellow would fol-
low and then. . I" Out of sheer chivalry
the involuntary witness was moved to
| earnest protest.
"Don't!.' he cried, hastily. Il say,
don't wade!"
mration. Absolutely ignorant though
she had been of his proximity. the voice
from out Of the skies evidently alarmed
her not at all. Still bending over the
lifted foot. she turned her head slowly
and looked up, and OH" said small
voice. tinged with relief. And coolly
knotting the laces again, she sat up. II
didn't hear you. you know
Nor I see YOU" Maitland supple
mented. unblushingly. until moment
ago. I-er-can l be OF assiStance?
Cant you?"
"Idiotv' said Maitland, severely. both
to and of himself. Aloud: Il think
can"
Il hope So" doubtfully. It's very un-
fast. 1 suppose. and didn't see the slope
until too late. Now" opening her hands
in gesture ingenuously charming with
its suggestion of helplessness and de-
pendence. II don't know what can be the
matter with the machine"
I'm coming down" announced Matt
land. briefly. wait"
"Thank you. shall"
She. laughed, and Maitland could have
blushed for his inanity; happily he had
action to cloak his embarrassment. In a
twinkling he was at the waters edge.
pausing there to listen. with admirable
docility. to her plaintive objection: But
you'll get wet and-and ruin your things.
can't ask that of YOU"
He chuckled, by way of reply. slap
ping CALAMITY into the shadows and
courageously wading out to the side of
the car. Whereupon he was advised in
tones of futtered Indignation:
"You simply wouldn't listen to me!
And 1 warned you! Now you're soaking
wet and will certainly catch your death
Of cold. and-and what can / do? Truly.
I am sorry. ."
Here the young man lost track of her
remark. He was looking up into the
shadow of the motoring cap, discovering
things: for the shadow was set at naught
by the moon luster that, reflected from
the surface of the stream. invested with
a gentle and glamourous radiance the face
that bent above him. And he caught at
his breath sharply. direst fears con-
firmed-she was pretty, inded: perilously
pretty. The firm. resolute chin; the SEN
sitive. sweet line of scarlet lips; the
straight. little nose; the brows. delicate
ly arched; the large. alert, tawny eyes
with the dangerous sweet shadows be-
Meath: the CLINT as OF raw copper where
her hair caught the light-Maitland ap-
preciated them all far too well, and
clutched nervously the rail of the sea-,
| trying to steady himself. to re-collect his
routed wits and consider sensibly that il
all was due to the magic of the moon,
| belize: the witchery of this appar.tion
that looked down into his eyes so gravely.
(To be continued tomorrow