Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-01

ably lost, the door had closed behind the I'M
fortunate Valentine, it had seemed natural enough,
and in a vague way comforting, for Smith to move
up chair for her, and them after he had gone out
into the other room and stopped the motor to drink
the glass of water he brought back with him All he
had said during this time was merely the conven-
tonal nothngs appropriate to the small services he
was doing for her. nothing at all by way either OF
went over to the open window and stood gazing
rather abstractedly out to sea.
Christabel was an unusually normal young woman,
if that is a pardonable paradox. She had healthy,
Well balanced mind and an admirably attuned sys-
tenn of nerves So the shock of her recent encounter
unprecedented though it was, passed away very
rapidlv Smiths manner of quietly Ignoring her
doubtedly contributed something to this result. At
all events before he had stood there by the window
three minutes the girl was herself again, regarding
the episode lust past with almost much detach-
ment as if she had not been an actor In It.
The thing that had hurt her most at the time had
been Smiths insnuation that IN keeping him there
under the silk cotton the night before she had
been acting merely urtherance of her father plan
of escape Now that she was cool again. this was what
pleaded most strongly in his defense Believing
that there violation OF tar play IN treating
her now active enemy
His having taken the revolver away from her began
to affect her strangely too now that she reflected on
the incident. She had thought when IN that tempest
of anger she had snatched it from the drawer and
pointed it at him, that she would certainly fire the
moment he made the slightest move to carry out his
threat There had been no element of bluff in her
pointing it at him But, on the other hand, she was
aware that there had been bravado in his crossing
the room and taking 1t away from her lie knew
her better than she knew herself that all. 1t
had not been courage his part,-oh that went
with it, of course,-but the predominating element
in his act had been almost uncanny insight into
her mind.
WIATCHING his back where it was silhouetted
w against the light from the window, she was
aware of lively curiosity to see his face Suddenly
she saw that his figure had stffened with keen at
tention He had ceased merely gazing out, and was
looking at something
The window where he stood did not command
view of the path fact, of any part of the island
1t looked straight out to sea.
A moment later he had caught up field glass
from the table beside him, and with impatient fingers
focused it. For the better part OF minute he held
it trained steadily on the horizon. Then, with a
sudden relaxation of his whole body he put it back
on the table again and turned away from the Win
dow.
When his eyes fell her. he started slightly, as
he had forgotten she was there lie was little pale,
she thought but except for that and the rather wry
smile on his lips, his face told her nothing.
What did you out there through the glass?"
she asked
well" said he, apparently ignoring her question,
Il might have let you send your message, Miss
Beaumont
Us it shp?" she asked.
She knew it must be, before he answered, and she
was aware curiously enough, that his contrmatory
nod did not give her unmixed sensation of pleas
YES" he said; Il am beaten. My fight didn't
last very long, did it? I've done what could and,
having had it to do am not sorry that did it. Be
yond the necessity for the fight and the way 1T has
turned out, there is only one thing that regret.
That is"
Wont you let me say something frst?" she
asked Its about last night. didn't know when
YOU came out under the trees to talk to that we
were going away before morning didn't know
what fathers plans were and didn't know that you
came out and spoke to me- it just to ask me if
/ was warm enough. and to tell not to stay out