Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-07-31

Of things"
"Iniunctions and other matters" OBJ.
served Quarter,
as anybody going to lose any money
in it,"
"Who. for eXampieT'
"Why-.you, for example" she said.
laughing,
IL don't expect to-"
"Then 1t is going to turn out all
right? And Mr.. Plank and Kemp Fer.
rail- and the major and-the other peo-
pie interested are not going to be al
most ruined by the Intercounty peo-
plef'
do you think man like Plank Is
likely to he ruined. as you say. by
Amaigamated Electric"
"No. But Kemp and the MAJOR
al think the major is out of danger"
replied Quarter, looking at her with
the new. sullen narrowing of his eyes.
81 am glad of that. Is Kemp-and
the others!"
"Ferran could stand it if matters so
wrong What others:
"Why-the other owners and stock
holders
what others? Who do you mean|
"Alr. Siward, for example" she said
in an even voice. leaning over to pat
her horses neck with her gloved hand.
"Mr. Siward must take the chances
we al take" Observed Quarter.
But. Howard, 1t would really mean
| ruin for him If matters went badly.
Wouldn't it,
sT am not familiar with the details
of Mr.. Siward's Investments"
"Nor am l." she said slowly.
She spoke about other things. He
| responded in his impressive manner.
Presently she turned her horse. and
Quarter wheeled his, facing warm,
fine rain slanting thickly from the
south.
His silky Vandyke beard was all wet
with the moisture. She noticed 1t. ana
unbidden arose the vision of the gun
room at Shotover Quarters sort
beard wet with rain, the phantoms OF
people passing and repassing, Siwards
straight figure swinging past, silhou-
cited against the glare Of light from the
billiard room. And here she made an
effort to efface the vision. shutting her
eyes as she rode there In the rain, but
| clearly against the closed lids she saw
the phantoms passing - speeters or
dead hours, the wrath of an old hap
piness masked with youth and wear
ing Siward's features!
She saw herself beside him among
the cushions; tasted again the rose
petals that her lips had stripped from
the blossoms; saw once more the
dawn of something in his steady eyes;
| felt his arm about her. his breath
Her horse, suddenly spurred, bound
ed forward through the rain, and she
rode breathless, with her lips half part
ed, as if afraid, turning her head to
look behind-as though she could out
ride the phantom clinging to her STIR
rup, masked like youth, wearing the
shadowy eyes of love!
An hour later, fresh from her bath.
luxurious in loose and filmy lace, her
small white feet shod with silk, she
lunched alone, Graded among the cush-
ions of her couch.
Twice she strolled through the rooms
leisurely. summoned by her maid to
the telephone, the first time to chat
with Grace Ferrall, who, it appeared,
was victim of dissipation, being still
abed, and out of humor with the rainy
world; the second time to answer in
the negative Marion's suggestion that
she motor to Lakewood with her for
the weeks end before they closed their
house.
Sauntering back again, she slipped
her milk and vichy, tasted the straw
berries, tasted a big black grape, dis
carded both and lay back among the
cushions, her naked arms clasped be-
hind her head, and, dropping one knee
over the other, stared at the ceiling.
The room was very still and dim, but
the clamor in her brain unnerved her,
and she sat up among the cushions,
looking vacantly about her with the
blue, confused eyes, the direct, unsee-
ing gaze of child reused by half
heard call.
The call-low, imperative, sustained
continued softly persistent against
her windows, the summons of the
young years, rain.
She went to the window and stood
among the filmy curtains, looking ou'
into the mist. A springlike aroma pen
etrated the room. She opened the
window little way, and the sweet
virile odor enveoped her.
A thousand longings rose within her
Unnumbered wistful questions stirred
her, signing. unanswered. Every breath
was drawing her backward, nearer
nearer to the source Of memory. All
the cliff chapel in the rain! The word:
of a text riumbed deafy-.the yearly
service for those who died at sea. AnC
she, seated there in the chapel dusl
thinking of him who sat beside hel
and how he feared heavier, stealth
Ter, more secret tide crawling, purrint
about his feet!
Always, always at the end of every
thing, he! Always, reckoning step by
step, backward through time, he, thu
source, the inception, the meaning o.
all.
Unmoored at last, her spirit swaying
enveloped in memories Of him, sht
gave herself to the food, overwhelmet