Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-23

zappeared in last Sundays issue OF
81 The Daily Press.)
81 The brakeman's wolflike yelp-
81 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ringing in his
q ears when he awoke and stumbled
& down aisle and car steps just in the
nick of time. The train, whisking
round curve cloaked by belt OF
somber pines. left him quite alone in
the world. cast ruthlessly upon his
4 own resources.
An hour had elapsed: 1t was now
midnight: the moon rode high. cold
white disk against q background of
sapphire velvet, its pellucid rays re-
vealing with disheartening distinct
ness the inanimate and lightless road
side hamlet called GreenfieldS; its gen
eral store and postofiice. its soi-disant
hotel, its struggling line Of dilapidated
habit atoms. all wrapped in silence pro-
found and impcnctrable 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
desperation bred of the prospective
fivc-mile tramp. spent some ten val
liable minutes hammering upon the
door of the house infested by the pro-
prietor of the livery stable. He sue
ceeded only in waking the dog and
. inasmuch as he was not OF friendly
terms with that animal, presently
withdrew at discretion and set his face
northwards upon the open road.
1t stretched before him invitingly
enough, a ribbon winding silverwhite
between dark patches OF pine and
scrub-oak or fields lush with rustling
corn and wheat. And, having over
come his primary disgust, as the blood
began to circulate more briskly in his
veins, Maitland became aware that he
was actually enjoying the enforced ex-
ercise. 1t could have been hardly
otherwise, with a night so sweet. with
airs SO bland and fragrant Of the woods
and fresh-turned earth. with so clear
a light to show him his way.
He stepped ont briskly at first.
swinging his stick and watching his
shadow, a squat, incredibly agita:ed
silhouette in the golden dust. But
gradually and insensibly the peaceful
influence of that still and lovely hour
tempered his hearts impotence; and
he found himself walking at pace
more leisurely. After all. there was
no hurry: he was unwearied. and Matt
land Manor lay less than five miles
distant.
Thirty minutes passed. he had not
covered q third OF the way, yet re-
NAMED content. BY wellremembered
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-
ture that spans that water. He was
close upon the farther end when
upon hapchance impulse-he glanced
over the nearest guard rail. down at
the bed of the creek. And stopped In
continently, gaping.
Stationary in the middle Of the de-
preston. hub-deep in the shallow wa
tiers, was a motor car; and II. beyond
dispute. was identical with that which
had occupied his thoughts on the ferry
boat Less wonderful. perhaps. but to
him amazing enough. 1t was to dis
cover upon the drivers seat the girl
in gray.
His brain benumbed beyond further
capacity for establishment 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 IN
aware of his approach. deadened as
hts footsteps must have been by the
blanket of dust that carpeted both
road and bridge deep and thick.
On her part she sat motionless. evil
IDENTIFY lost in reverie. and nomen-
tarily. at least, unconscious Of the en-
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 uEsubstantiai-
seeming to contemplate, and as still
as any mouse.
Looking more atteutircly. /; became
evident that her veil was now raised.
This was the frs; time that he had
seen her so. Dut her coun:enance re-
NAMED so deeply Swallowed by the
visor Of a mannish motoring cap that
the most searching scrutiny gained no
more than . dim and scantily satisfac'
tory impression ~ alluring lovciinrss.
Maitland turned noiseicssly. rested
elbows on the rail. and. staring.
framed theory Go account for her
POSITION. ~ not for hcr patience.
On either hand the road. dividing.
struck OF az a tangent. down the
hale ana into the river bed ~ was