Evening star., 1908-12-12

look OF haH-ScOrnrul amusement thae
was not pleasant
''Oh. yes. of course" she began-and
then there came bright electric glare be- ,
tween them, and a few seconds later
heavy thunder rolled down the mountain.
Miss Seymour's expression changed to one
Of alarm. You must go for the little fell
low at once" she said HE went through
to the road. and down beyond the bridge.
You ought to go and meet him" She
turned in the direction of the TIM. but he
stopped her.
Come through to the road" he said
1T will be hard going in the woods II
1t begins to rain"
She hesitated a moment, then obayed.
They did not speak again. as they fol-
lowed a sort of open way that at some
time might have been 4 path. leading to
the hotel road The flashes came faster
now, and the roll Of thunder was almost
continuous. Presently heavy drops Of
rain struck the leaves about them. The
woods became almost dark. A heavy
wind tossed the tree tops. They groped
through, stumbling over logs or in tangled
vines.
Presently the man. who was ahead.
stopped.
''Listen!' he said. ''I hear horses feet"
They could not see through. but they
heard a quick. light gallop just beyond
the bushes that lined the road.
That's the boy. 1 know the pony's-"
j roar of thunder drowned the rest Of the
sentence.
He had passed before they pushed into
the open way, and was turning the bend
that led to the little mountain Inn. They
got just a glimpse Of him In the strange,
weird dusk Of the tempest. and then sud-
denly. exactly in front Of them. 1t seemed,
there came a binding electric glare. fol-
lowed instantly by rending shock and q
Wild downpour Of rain. Half stunned. the
girl seized her companions arm Standing
thus, they caught the fierce snorting Of a
frightened horse, and a moment later the
pony came dashing past them in the
gloom. his saddle empty.
Just beyond the bend they found the lit
his shield under him-his slender lance
broken in two. It was rough and stony
there, and a trickle Of blood crossed his
pure white forehead and was lost In his
caught him up, but the girl put him aside.
Mo- she cried. mo! He is my little
knight-my brave Gaiahad-my ParaifaI
of the pure white soul! See, he wears my
color on his arm.''
She gathered the frail wisp Of body In |
her strong young arms and bent forward |
with rapid steps. breasting the rain. while |
the lightning fiared constantly, and the !
thunder rolled about them.
But you must let me take him." her |
shouted. lifting his voice above !
the tumult. You are not strong enough. /
We shall go faster!''
Yet she would not yield him. but only
clasped him closer to her breast, wailing
overwrought with long-pcnt
emotion and the wildness Of the tempest.
mo. no! You cannot take him awayi
He is my one true knight! He is not
yours or hers-he is mine! He called me
his ladye and he kissed me and rode away,
wearing my color on his sleeve.'
Again he would have taken him from
ner. But she turned aside, almost as one
"Oh. go away. You have been all to
blame-you and she. You sent him on a
FOOLS errand! No. no, it was 1. I sent
him! He wanted to stay with me! +
could have kept him at my side!'
But her strength failed presently. Her
companion caught her as she tottered with |
the load. and. bearing the burden in his |
own powerful arms, they made their way
through the tempest to the inn. Up a /
narrow stair they passed-the man with his |
burden ahead-the girl following silently |
close behind. Gently they laid him down
wounded and wet with rain-the little
hAi6Al VI tIAe HIdii. Ills lduce WAS DTOkSus ,
his shield and charger gone. Only a brave |
bit Of ribbon still shone on his drabbled
sleeve.
Then he who had borne him home went ;
riding swiftly toward the big hotel q |
mile beyond for a doctor. while behind at |
the inn two women-his mother and his |
fair ladye'-bent over the knights bed to !
catch the futter of his breath and tbs
feeble measure Of his brave, pure heart
The tempest had passed and the clouds
had rolled away. The sun resting on the
slope of Tahawus laid a parting glory
lipon the hills. Alone in corner OF tho
dim upper parlor at the inn, a girl with
4 patrician face with haf-unconscious
vision, watched the marvel Of the passing
day. The soft step behind her she did not
hear. Then an arm was laid over her
shoulder and she looked up into a mans
tear-wet eyes. He bent down and kissed
her Then he drew her to his heart.
.'Our little knight has won the Grail
he said.