The Huttig news., 1908-10-10

tfdl store anu poSiOHuCe. us SolulsdHt hotel. it's struggling line of dilapidated habiiations. all wrapped in silence pro- found and impenetrable Not even a dog howled. not a belated villager was In sight: and it was a moral certainty that the local livery service had closed down for the night.
 Nevertheless, Maitland, with a desperation bred of the prospective fve-mile tramp. spent some ten val uable minutes hsmmering upon the door of the house infested by the pro prietor of the livery stable. He sue ceedad only in waking the dog, and inasmuch as he was not on friendly terms with that animal. presently withdrew at discretion and set his face northwards upon the open road
 It stretched before him invitingly enough, ribbon winding silver-white between dark patches of pine and scrub-oak or fields lush with rustling corn and wheat. And. having oyer come his primary disgust, as the blood began to circulate more briskly in his veins Maitland became aware that he
  ercise. It could have been hardly otherwise. with night so sweet, with airs so bland and fragrant of the woods and fresh-turned earth. with so clear light to show him his way
 He stepped out briskly at first. swinging his stick and watching his shadow. squat, incredibly agitated ci iy1 hn nYf gradually and insensibly the peaceful influence of that still and lovely hour tempered his hearts impatienee; and he found himself walking at a pace more leisurely. After all, there was no hurry; he was unwearied, and Malt land Manor lay less than five miles distant.
 Thirty minutes passed; he had not covered third of the way. yet re- mained content By weIl-remembered landmarks, he knew he must be near ing the little stream called, by courtesy, Mayannis river: and, in due course, he stepped out upon the long wooden struc lure that spans that water. He was close upon the farther end when
  ever the nearest guard rail, down at the bed of the creek. And stopped in .ontinently. gaping.
 i Stationary in the middle of the de pression, hub-deep in the shallow wa ters was a motor ear; and 1t. beyond dispute, was identical with that which hsd occupied his thoughts on the ferry Il ,oY-11a hrtf fC him amazing enough, it was to dis cover upon the drivers seat the girl K gray.
 His brain benurubed beFond further capacity for astonishment, he accepted without demur this latest and most as founding of the chain of amazing CO incidences which had thus far enliv- ened the nights earlier hours; and stood rapt in silent contemplation sensible that the girl had been un- aware of his approach, deadened as his footsteps must have been by the blanket of dust that carpeted both road and bridge deep and thick.
 On her part she sat motionless. evi- dently lost in reverie, and momen- tarily, at least. unconscious of the em- barrassing predicament which was hers. So complete. indeed seemed her abstraction that Maitland caught him. self questioning the reality of her. And we'll might she have seemed to him a pale little wrath of the night the simmer of gray that she made against the simmer of light on the water-a shape almost trans parent, slight, and unsubstantial- seeming to contemplate, and as still as any mouse.
 Looking more attentively. it became evident that her veil was now raised This was the first time that he had seen her so. But her countenance re mained so deeply shadowed by the visor of mannish motoring cap that the most searching scrutiny gained no more than a dim and scantily satisfac. tory impression of alluring loveliness.
 Maitland turned noiselessly, rested elbows on the rail, and. staring, framed theory to account for Ter position, if not for her patience.
 On either hand the road, dividing, struck off at a tangent down the banks ane into the river bed. It was credible to presume that the girl had lost control of the machine temporari- ly and that it, taking the bit between it's teeth, had swung gayiy down the incline to is bath.
 Why she fingered there. however. was less patent The water. as has been in 'icated. was some inches below the toRneau; it did not seem reason able to assume that it should have in terfered with either running gear or motor.
 At this point in Maitland's medits- tions the gray girl appeared to have arrived at a decision. She straight ened up suddenly with little reso. lute nod of her head, lifting one small foot to her knee, and fumbled with the laces of her shoe.
 Maitland grasped her intention to abandon the machine with her deter imitation to wade. Clearly this would seem to demonstrate that there had been a breakdown, irreparable so far frail feminine hands were concerned.
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