The Washington herald., 1908-02-26

1t has been very mach Ike dream.
the girl was saying earnestly. ''of course,
had pictured IL all out TO myself, but
I never imagined IL would be anything
like this. II has been" she paused, as
If seeking a proper adjective, heavenly
she said at length with little reminis-
cent sigh. The only trouble is that it
ends all too soon. Day after tomorrow
we sail for home"
Lancaster looked at the pretty, eager
face beside him. and the pathos Of il
touched him He was trying to imagine
how the word heavenly could apply
TO the dull. colorless wanderings OF
these personally conducted tourists Re
glanced through the door into the next
ROOM There they were. gathered aDour
tired-looking guide. who was using ny
umbrella as a pointer while ne explained
nasaIIy: This. ladies and gentlemen. =
an excellent example OF Rembrandt's l@ter
work" They were a weary-looldng but
eager group. anxious evidently that
nothing should escape them. They lifted
their tired eyes 10 the picture indicated
by the umbrella and stared az il duly
while the droninE voice reeled of its
stereotyped phrases like some school-boy
reciting a Well-Iearned lesson
we must go back" said the girl, glanc-
ing uneasily at a tiny silver watch I'VE
are missing a lot"
You had better rest a while" Lancas-
ter counseled. We'll take il ell in by and
by. think know this gallery quite as
well as the guide does. I'll show you
vandyke that they will miss entirely
Wei take our time and go back to the
hotel leisurely,"
The girl looked az him narrowly
Then you've been here before?' she
asked
Lancaster nodded his assent.
I've been watching you since you join
ed US al Cologne" she said. Most OF
the time you've been very much bored I
concluded you had seen Il all before"
Lancaster said nothing he was Won
dcring II some sudden intuition had given
her an inkling Of the truth.
IF you had taught school in Iowa as
many terms as I have said she; IF
you had shaved and saved and looked
forward 10 this, perhaps you would en-
Joy Il as I do. But you've been awfully
kind since you've Joined Us. You've
shown me lots Of things I wouldn't have
missed for worlds. and that I'd never
have seen but for your thoughtfulnesS.
Oh, knew you must have Travelled this
country quite extensively"
She looked ar him with an intentness
that was rather dssconcerting.
Tell me" she said. why should you.
knowing all these things as you do, care
10 travel with us7"
Lancaster regarded her for a time in
thoughtful silence. Dared he tell her
the truth? He looked into her clear,
gray eyes and decided to risk II.
shall 1 tell you the real reason?'' he
asked.
why. yes, OF course she replied. with
a little note OF surprise in her voice
well. then" said Lancaster sturdy.
1T was because OF you"
The color deepened in her cheeks oh"
S Ae said, with sudden comprehension.
Her eyes fell: she was abstractedly pull
ing her gloves to cover her emberrass-
ment
You remember that evening at the
hotel in Cologne" Lascaster went on.
when you and I were partners at whist?
! Joined your party the next morning.
wanted TO be with you-just to be near
YOU"
II rather wish you hadn't told me-"
she said, uneasily.
Would you rather had hbbed polite
Typ he asked.
Mo-" she replied. slowly.
You See" Lancaster explained. I'D
been poking about the continent all by
my lonesome, and 70 tell the truth I'd
not been having a very hilarious time OF
II. And that night at Cologne he
paused.
Yes. that night at Cologne?" she
prompted
1T seemed he said very gravelx, "as
II you fitted into niche in my life that
had been made for you and that had al
ways been waiting for you
She was still nervously pulling her
gloves The personally conducted flock,
headed by the guide. swinging his UNI