Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-04-03
"TdM to me, Mr.. 81


ward the mystery Of heredity.
"Do you mean, Mr.. Siward, that
heredity is an excuse for moral weak
ness?" she asked.
II don't know. Those inheriting
nothing of evil say it is no excuse"
ut is no excuse"
"You speak with authority" he said.
"With more than you are aware Of"
she murmured, not meaning to say it.
She stood up impulsively. her fresh
face turned to the distant house, her
rounded young figure poised in relief
against the sky.
Inherited or not, idleness, procras-
tination, are my besetting sins. Can't
you suggest the remedy, Mr.. Siward?"
"But they are only the thieves OF
Time, and we kill the poor old gentle
man."
"Leagued assassins," she repeated
pensively.
Her gown had caught on the cliff
briers. He knelt to release 1t. she
looking down, noting an ugly tear In
the fabric.
Payment for my iniquities-the first
installment," she said, still looking
down over his shoulder and watching
his efforts to release her. THANK you,
Mr.. Siward. / think we ought to
start, don't your"
He Strengthened up, smiling, await
Ing her further pleasure. Her pleasure
being capricious, she seated herself
again, saying: What I meant to say
was this: Evils that spring from he
redity are no excuse for misconduct in
people of our sort. Environment, not
heredity, counts. And it's our bust
ness, who have every chance In the
world, to make good"
He looked down, amused at the
piquant incongruity Of voice and YER
nacular.
"What time is itT she asked irrele-
vanity.
He glanced at his watch. She turn
ed her eyes toward the level sun, con-
scious and little conscience stricken
that it was too late for her to drive to
Black Fells Crossing unless she start
ed at once
1t grew stiller. The wind went down
with the sun.
Doubtless he had forgotten to tell
her the time. She had almost forgot
ten that she had asked him. With the
silence of sunset languor. the indo-
lence of content, crept over her. She
saw him close his watch with the abb
sentminded air which she already as
ISOLATED with him, and she let the
question 60 from sheer dissemination
for the effort Of repetition-let the pro-
jected drive go-acquiescent. content
that matters shape themselves without
any interference from her. The sense
Of ease, of physical well being, Invaded
her with an agreeable relaxation as
though tension somewhere had slack
ened.
The conversation drifted illogicalfy.
Sometimes he stirred her to amuse-
ment, even hushed laughter. Some
times she smilingly agreed with his
views. Sometimes she let them go
uncriticised or, intent on her own
ideas, shook her small head In amused
disapproval
The stiffness over all. the deepening
mellow light, the blessed Incidence OF
the young world and their few years
In it-youth-that was perhaps the key
to it all, after all.
Tomorrow" she unused aloud, knees
Graded In her clasped fingers-"tomor-
row they'll shoot, with great circum-
stance and fuss, few native wood
cock-there's no fight yet from the
north-a few grouse, fewer snipe,
stray duck or two. Others will drive
motor cars over bad roads. Others
will ride, sail, golf-anything to kill
the eternal enemy. You know the ma
jority of the people here or coming,
don't you?"
"Who are theyT
She began, ''The Leroy Mortimer"
ooh, yes"
"Lord Alderdene and Captain Youch-
er and the Page twins and MarhonT"
ayes"
"Rena Bonnesdel, the Tassel girl,
Agatha Caithness, Mrs. Vendenning-
all sorts, all SETS And. with an eff
fort, 'If I'm to drive I should like to-
to. know what time 1t Is"
He informed her. and she. too indo-
lent to pretend surprise and finding
reproach easier, told him that he had
no business to permit her to forget.
His smiling serenity under the re-
buke aroused In her slight resent
ment as though he had taken some
thing for granted.
Besides, she had grown uneasy. She
had wired Quarter, saying she would
meet him and drive him over. He had
replied at once, naming his train. He
was an exact man and expected
method and precision in others. She
didn't exactly know how it might af-
feet him If his reasonable demand was
unsatisfed. She did not know him
very well yet.
And, thinking Of him now, she again
made up her mind to give him the
answer which he now had every req
son to expect from her. This decision
appeared to lubricate her conscience.
1t ran. more smoothly now. emitting
| fewer creaks.
"You say that you know Mr.. Quar-
rier?" she began thoughtfully.
"Not WELL"
81 hope you will like him., Mr.. ST.
ward"
81 do not think he likes me, Miss
| I.andis. He has reasons not to-"