The Irish standard., 1908-08-29

sank toward HIS shoulder; he was
aware of her breath. fragrant and
warm. upon his cheek. He
stopped abruptly. cold chills running
up and down his back; he gritted his
teeth: he shuddered perceptibly.
What is the matter?" she de.
manded, deeply concerned, but at
pains not to stir.
Maitland made a strange noise with
his tongue behind clenched teeth.
"Urrrrgh" he said distinctly.
She lifted her head. startled: relief
followed, intense and instantaneous.
I'm sorry" he muttered, humbly.
face aflame, "but you tickled."
"1'm-so-sorry! she gasped, VIC.
lently agitated. And laughed low,
almost silent, little laugh, as with
def fingers she tucked away the err
rant lock of hair.
Asst" Maitland told himself, fierce.
ly. striding forward.
In another moment they were on dry
land. The girl slipped from his arms
and faced him, eyes dancing, cheeks
crimson. lips a tense. quivering, scar
let line. He met this with q rueful
smile.
"But-thank you-but," she gasped,
explosively. 1T was SO funny"
Wounded dignity melted before her
laughter. For q time, there in tho
moonlight. under the scornful regard
OF the disabled motor cars twin head
lights, these two rocked and shrieked,
while the silent night flung back dis.
dainful echoes Of their mad laughter.
Perhaps the insane incongruity of
their performance first became ap.
parent to the girl; she. at all events,
was the first to control herself. Matt
land subsidized. rumbling. while she
dabbed at her eyes with a wisp of lace
and linen.
Forgive me-" she said, family, at
length; Il didn't mean to-"
How could you help 1t? Who'd OK.
pect hulking brute like myself to be
ticklish?"
You are awfully good" she coun.
tered more calmly.
Don't say that. I'm clumsy lout.
But" He held her gaze inquiringly.
But may l ask"
"Oh, OF course-certainly; am
was-bound for Greenpoint-on.tho-
Sound"
"Ten miles!" he Interrupted.
The corners Of her red lips dropped;
her brows puckered with dismay. In
stinctively she glanced toward tho
water-bound car.
! What am to do?" she cried. Ten
miles! l could never walk 1t.
never in the world! You see. 1 went
to town to-day to do little shopping.
AS we were coming home the chauf-
feur was arrested for careless driving.
He had bumped a delivery wagon over
1t wasn't really his fault. l telephoned
home for somebody to bail him out,
and my father said he would come in.
Then l dined. returned to the police
station and waited. Nobody came. I
couldn't stay there all night
'phoned to everybody knew, until my
money gave out; no one was in town.
At last, in desperation, l started home
alone"
Maitland nodded his comprehension.
Your father" he limited delicately.
Judge Wentworth" she explained,
hastily. We've taken the Grover place
at Greenpoint for the season."
Il see"-thoughtfully And this was
the girl who he had believed had been
in his rooms that evening, in his ab-
sence! Oh. clearly. that was impos-
sible. Her tone rang with truth.
She interrupted his train of thought
with a cry Of despair. "What will
they Think"
II dare say" he ventured hopefully,
II could hire team at some farm
house."
"But the delay! It's so late al.
ready"
Undeniably late; one o'clock at the
earliest. thought longer Maitland
hung in lack Of purpose. then without
a word Of explanation turned and again
began to wade out
What do you mean to do?" she
cried, surprised.
See what's the trouble" he called
back Il know bit about motors
| Perhaps"
"Then-but why"
She stopped: and Maitland forbore
to encourage her to round out her
question. 1t was no difficult matter to
supply the missing words Why had
he not thought of investigating the
motor before insisting that he must
carry her ashore?
The humiliating conviction forced
itself upon him that he was not figur-
ing to great advantage in this adven-
ture. Distinctly humiliating, sensa-
tion to one who ordinarily was by way
OF having fine conceit of himself.
1t requires certain amount of ego
tism to enable one to play the ex-
qIisite to ones personal satisfaction;
Maitland had enjoyed the possession
OF that certain amount; heretofore his
approval of self had been passably on.
tire. Now-he could not deny-the
boor had shown up through the polish
Of the beau.