The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-09-03

| Dulent Httlt sITehln, ana sue WAS lHl
patient to find how her sympathy wen
out 10 him. II made no difference VIII,
John Arrnitage was; his enemy was
| coward, and the horror of such men
ace to mans life appalled, her Sh,
passed mounted policeman, who rec
| ognized her and raised his hand II
salute. but the Idea of reporting thu
Arange affair In the strip of WOODLAND
occurred to her only to be dismissed
She felt that here was an ugly bust
ness that was not within the grasp oi
park patrolman, and. moreover, Johr
Armltage was entitled to pursue bis
own course In matters that touched
his life 40 closely The thought OF
him reassured her. He was no simple
boy to suffer such attacks to pass un
challenged. and so. dismlssing him. she
raised her head and saw him gallon
forth from bypath and rein his horse
beside her
"Mlss Claib0rnew
The suppressed feeling IN his tone
made the moment tense, and she saw
that his lips trembed II was a stua-
tlon that must have its quick relief, SO
she said instantly In a mockery Of his
own tone:
"Mr. Armitagew She laughed. ~
am almost caught In the dark The
Establishments OF spring have beguiled
me-"
He looked at her with quick scru
tiny. II did not seem possible that this
could be the girl who had called to
him In warning scarce Ave minutes be
fore. but he knew II had been she
He would have known her voice any
where In the world They rode silent
beside the creek, which was like a
laughing companion seeking to mock
them into cheerler mood At an
opening through the bills they saw the
western horizon agow In tints OF lem
on deeping into gold and purple. Save
for the riot OF the brook the world was
at peace. She met his eyes for an In,
stant, and their gravity and the firm
lines In which his lips were set showed
that the shock of his encounter had not
yet passed
You must think me strange per
son, Miss Claiborne II seems mex
plicable that mans life should be so
menaced In place like this II you
had not called to me-
''Please don't speak of thatl 1t was
80 terriblew
"But | must speak Of II. Once be-
fore the same attempt was made-that
night on the King Edward"
Yes; have not forgotten"
'And today have reason 10 believe
that the same man watched his chance,
for have ridden here every day since
came. and he must have kept track
Of me-"
But this is America. Mr.. Armitagew
THAT does not help me with you.
You have every reason to resent my
bringing you into such dangers. II Is
objectionable indefensibel"
She saw that he was greatly tron-
bled.
But you couldn't help NY being In
the park today | have often stopped
just there before. It's a favorite place
for meditations. II you know the
man
II know the man"
"Then the law will certainly protect
you, as yon know very well. He was
Q dreadful hooking person. The police
can undoubtedly find and lock him
up.'
She was seeking TO minimize the
matter, TO pass II OF as common
place affair Of every day They were
walking their horses. The groom fol
lowed stolldly behind
Armitage was silent. look OF great
perplesity on his face When he spoke
he was quite calm.
Miss Claiborne, ] must tell you that
this II an affair in which ] cant ask
help In the usual channels. You Will
pardon the II seem TO make a mys-
tery Of what should be ordinarily a
bit u business between myself and
the police. But 10 give publicity Ia
these attempts to inlure me just now
would be mistake. could have
caught that man there Ia tho wood
But | let him 20 for the reason for
the reason that | want the men back
of him to shaw themselves before |
act. Bu, II II Isn't pr-sumiDg"-
tie was quite himself again. His
voice was steady and deep with the
ease and assurance that she liked In
him She had marked today In bis
earnestness. more than at any other
time, d slight. an almost iudistingulsh-
able trace of another tongue ia bis