, 1908-03-05


"Oh, certainly Won't WI, .,,o-
met"
Thank you. mol"
she took the damp bit Of rubber
wei overshoe. ever II small and hal
lowed by associations. isn't pretty-as
Venus might have received a soft.
Shell crab from the hand of a fresh
young norman. I was between her
and the steps to which her eyes turned
longingly.
o course, II you won't accept my
apology | can't do anything about Il:
but l hope you understand that I'm
sincere and humble, and anxious to be
forgiven"
You seem to be making q rood deal
OF q small matter"
"1 wasn't referring to he overshosI"
I said.
She did not relent.
eff you'll only 60 away"
She rested n hand against the
corner OF h boat house, while she
affixed the overshoe to her loot. She
wore, ] noticed, brown gloves with
cuffs.
Soh L 81 away! lou CnllQr0n
are always leaving things about for
me to pick up. I'm perfectly worn out
carrying some girls beads about with
me: and 1 spoiled q good glove on
your overshoe."
I'll relieve o Of the beads, II you
please"
She thrust her hands into the pock-
cts Of her coat and shook the tam-o'-
shanter slightly, to establish 1t in a
more comfortable spot on her head.
The beads had been in my corduroy
a since l found them. 1 drew them
out and gave hem to her.
THANK you; thank you very much"
course they are yours. Miss"
She thrust them into her pocket.
"Of course they're mine" she said
Indignantly. and turned to go.
We'll waive proof Of property and
that sort of thing. I'm sorry not to
establish a mor %neighborly feeling
with st. Agatha's. The stone wall
may seem formidable, but it's not of
my building. | must open the gate.
That walls a trifle steep for climbing"
| was amusing myself with the idea
that my identity was a dark mystery
to her. had read English novels in
which the young lord of the manor is
always mistaken for the game-keeper's
o by the pretty daughter of the
curate who has come home from school
to be the bellies Of the county. Blu my
lady of the red tam-o.shanter was not
a creature of illusions.
at serves a very good purpose-the
wall, | mean-Mr. Glenarm."
She was walking down the steps and
l followed, pleased to hear M name
from her lips. am not a man to suf-
fer a lost school girl to cross my lands
unattended in a snow storm; and the
piazza Of a boat house is not, | submit,
a pleasant loafing place on a winter
day. She marched before me, her
hands in her pockets liked her par
t~icularly that way-~ith an easy swing
and a light and certain step. Her re-
mark about the wall did not encourage
further conversation and l fell back
upon the poets.
"Stone walls do not . prison make.
Nor iron bars a cage"
I quoted.
81 have heard tliat-before!" she
said, half turned her face and laughed
a. she fastened IN.
Her brilliant cheeks were a delight
to the eye, The snow swirled about
her, whitening the crown of her red
cap and chung to her shoulders. Have
you ever seen snow crystals CLEAN,
break, dissolve in fair, soft storm
blown hay? Do you know how a man
will pledge his soul that a particular
flake will never fade, never cease to
rest upon a certain flying strand over
a girlish temple? And he loses-his
heart and wager-in a breath! II you
, fail to understand these things. and
are furthermore unfamiliar with the
fact that the color in the cheeks Of
a girl who walks abroad In a driving
snow storm marks the favor Of heaven
itself, then l waste time. and you will
| do well to rap at the door Of another
inn.
"T'd rather missed you" l said; and
really, l should have been over to
apologize II 1 hadn't been afraid"
Sister Theresa 10 rather fierce"
she declared. And we're not allowed
to receive gentlemen callers-it says
so In the catalogue"
80 l imagined. I trust Sister The
resa is improving"
Yes, thank you"
And Miss Devereux-she 10 quite
well, I hope"
She turned her head my way as
though to listen more carefully, and
her step slackened for a moment;
then she hurried blithsly forward.
"oh, she's always we'll. l believe"
"You know her. Of course"
"Ratheri She teaches music
$50 Miss Deyereux IL the music