The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-20

tried one further protest. But the
others"
Don't speak of them." he interrupted,
they are a discordant note"
"And 1t isn't raining a Bit
"But 1t is going to-" he returned hap
PLY. 'It is going to rain volumes pres
emily. There!" as solitary drop struck
the umbrella. "They are safely shut
up in the studio and whe-O. by Jovel
Miss Lithgow. we have the luncheon"
The jubilaton in his tone was too much
for Patrice. To imagine Evelyn Maud
running away with the driver and the
lunch staggered the imagination. There
fore she simply crinkled up her eyes in
her most delightful manner and gave way
to laughter, to the unconcealed JOY OF
her companion.
You laugh exactly as I knew you
would" he told he. Sometimes watch
ing you, have seen your eyes break sud
denly into boisterous merriment-
This Is a lovely road said Patrice.
isn't it? Did you bring your sketch
book?"
Miss Lithgow shook her head and grew
slightly pinker.
''That was one of the days" he said
reminiscently, when your eyes
There is the bridge" said Patrice.
The dark opening was close before
them. minute later the horses hoofs
pounded on the wooden floor.
1 Mr.. Adamson threw down the reins and
took the umbrella from Patrice. Listen
to the rain on that roof" he exulted.
MAY I help you down? 1t Is always
proper to explore your desert island
the first thing"
st am the more willing" said Patrice.
because this particular part of your
| desert island leaks"
| "Our desert island" he corrected. He
/ sprang out and held up his arms. Now
in a tone of great satisfaction as she
alighted beside him. I'VE will go TO the
furtherest extremity and look"
! For SAIL" suggested Patrice
| mot at all!'' decidedly. I'VE have no
use for sail. l was going to say We
would look for lurking savages while we
| continue our discussion"
| The face she turned to him was more
! fowerlike than ever in the half light of
the bridge He paused moment before
/ going on
"You have forgotten again." he said.
! "It was a question of rank. We had just
| come to the point of falling IN love with
| a countess"
Patrice laughed lightly. THAT is not
J thing that interests either of u.s." she
| said.
| only Theoretically" he assented. Il
| am going to marry an American girl"
! "Ahl" said Lady Evelyn Maud. How
| Interestingly" Her voice was high and cool
and sweet. She fastened her steps trifie
and looked out through the rain at the
! winding gray road.
! DO you remember that day. be-
! gan Mr. Adamson. and from his tone one
! might we'll have thought that both tho
! American girl and his socialist ideals had
been forgotten. His eyes were on his
| companion.
| Patrice pointed to the road 1--WE are
4 RI N
isle" she said animatedly. How very
| nicew
F., Mr.. Adamson bit an exclamation OF dis
| gust in two. Then the vehicle came
| near enough so that the driver was recog-
| nizable he gave another exclamation, this
time of chagrined establishment, and, with
a hasty excuse about seeing to the horses.
| he plunged back into the darkness of the
| bridge.
Patrice surprised and dspleased. stood
where he had left her and the new ar
rival came to a stop beside her and pulled
off his hat. He was pinlS-faced. mid
dle-aged man, and when he spoke his
accent was Enthusiastically English.
| 81 beg pardon" he said. but as I
drove UP was quite sure saw an old
i acquaintance-Mr. Robert Eskdaile Ad-
| amson, son of Sir James Ali there he
! is!' the jovlaly inquisltive tone chang
F, ing to one OF satisfaction.
| Mr.. Adamson was returning: "HaIloo.
! Etheridge' he called, the tone patiently
aiming at cordially. "Are you doing the
| States?"
Patrice walked on to the end of the
bridge. The voice of the stranger fol-
| lowed.
at knew you the moment I saw you.
! Bob my boy" he explained triumphant
ly, Though / must say you've got quite
| American" He burst into n loud laugh,
| II saw your uncle, Lord Wrexham, be-
fore Isailed. He and Lady Anne were
Eth? Yes I'm getting back to Interdale
| for the noon train I'm due In Boston to-
| right What do you hear from Sir
James? Eth? 1t that so? fancied had
plenty of time" The wheels receded,
| the two men still talking. When Mr..
! Adamson returned from seeing the amia-
| BILE Etheridge off he found Miss Lith-
| cow looking at the mountains In a po-
/ sition that precluded any view of her
| face except a portion of one cheek and
| the ends of her eyelashes. She gave
! no evidence of having heard the step
behind her, and she did not alter her
| pose when he addressed her.
| ut is raining tremendously. isn't IT."
/ he observed.