The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-02-12
THE AWAKENING.
BY BARRY PRESTON.


scrambled from her seat ana man
aged to lead the young men away.
h. Dunmore removed his cap and
looked smilingly at the girl, whose
face displayed the faintest trace Of
annoyance.
b. Forgive my intrusion" said Dun
more, in apology, "but I've heard you
are leaving us tomorrow. l wanted
just one last word. You'll grant ne
that, won't you?"
p. II suppose 1 must" she said rath-
er ungraciously.
~ Dunmores bronzed face suddenly
became grave. He leaned toward
her, and something in his eye made
her frown deepen. Il want to ask
you once more to reconsider" ne
began.
at is quite impossible, Mr.. Dun
more" she said, coldly.
"Why?" he asked. Am l so ter
ribly ineligible?"
"Your life at present is very full, !"
she said. There is no room in it
for-for a wife" The color came
into her cheeks at the last word.
do you think these things really
count with me?" ne asked quickly,
"these horses and this polo and all
the rest of it?"
. perhaps for the moment you think
they don't" she said. Put they do.
They have a hold on you that no
woman ever could hope to rival. She
would be side issue"
"You don't really mean that?" said
he.
81 do" she averred.
The whistle sounded from the
field.
"The only thing that really counts
in all the world is you," said Dun
more. II can't seem to make you
believe it, but it's Gods truth"
He rode out into the field, leaving
the girl strangely i'll at ease. AS the
game began, Mrs. Porter returned
and climbed into the trap. With her
came the omnipresent group of satel-
lites.
Gertrude, do hope" she began
in a whispered aside to the girl, but
Miss Remsen was talking to the
young men with vivacity that, to
Mrs. Porter, seemed o trife forced.
q All during the game the girls eyes
were seldom on the field. Although
the play was fast and furious and
she was known to be a devotee of
polo, she seemed to prefer the plati-
tudes OF the men grouped about the
trap to the excitement of the play.
g Only once did she follow the game,
and that was when man beside
them said excitedly, "Just look at old
Tommy Dunmorel He's doing his
best to break his precious neck!"
Is Mrs. Porter glanced at her nelce
suspiciously.
=, "My dear" she began protesting
ly, but with shrug of her shoulders
Miss Remsen resumed her gay chat
ter.
r A moment later she heard a little
murmur of horror. Mrs. Porter half
rose from her seat and caught her
breath sharply. THE girl turned her
eyes toward the field.
= Near one goal group Of riders
was drawing apart, and on the
ground lay man beneath his pony.
-Four men ran into the field, drew
the fallen man from beneath the pony
and bore him to the clubhouse. The
1ol 70 tc
led limping away. A substitute gal
loped onto the field, and the game
went on.
When the momentary excitement
had subslded Mrs. Porter turned tc
her neice. The girls white face
shocked he-.
b Gertrude, dear, what is matter?'
she asked.
"Please take me home.p said Mis-:
Remsen in an o:d, quavering voice.
II One OF the young men took the
cob by the head and guided then
through the tanglo Of carriages. Ther
silently they drove across the clut
grounds to the read. Mrs. Porter
OCin5 WAoO Al AiCl icy dlG SCuCA GllOE
said nothing.
+ When they were nearly home, thu
girl suddenly burst into a storm o
tears.
"Oh, auntie," she said, "1 didn'
know until I saw him lying there al
white ana bloody! Please drive Il
the clubhouse
Mrs. Porter waited in the big hal
while physician led Gertrude up tn
stairs to sunny room overlooking
the grounds. Ther, after he ba'
opened the door and bowed her in
he discreetly withdrew.
On couch By the win6ov lay Dun
more, his head swathcd bandages
and one arm rigid in uns sinly splints
With the opening OF the door ii
raised himself Oh his sound arm, an
beheld the girl standing thcre. lilz
frightened bird poised for flight.
"Nhy, hello.r he called gaily
sTh's is cecd CT .ou to come