Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-05-15

In itself, yet unconventional alsa un'
reasonable enough to prove attractive
to them both. 81.
Probably she wouldn't come. Sne
had kept her fluffy skirts clear OF him
since cup day, which simply corropo,
rated his vague estimate Of her, HAD
she done the contrary his estimate
would have been the same, for uncon-
sciously, but naturally. he had pre-
Judged her. A girl who could capture
Ouarrier at full noontide and III the
face of oil Manhattan was girl equip
ped for anything she dared, though she
was probably too clever to dare TOO
much; q girl to be Interested Ill., 10
amuse and be amused by; girl TO De
reckoned with. His restlessness ana
his fever subdued by the Icy water, ne
stood drying bis hands. thinking cool
iy how close he had come TO Delng
seriously in love with this young GIRL
whose attitude was always a curious
temntation. whose smile was a charm
ing proyocation, whose youth ana
beauty were to him Il perpetual chai-
,anco He admitted to himself calmly
that he had never seen woman lie
cared as much for; that for the Driei
moment of his declaration he nau
known an utterly new emotion, which
inevitably must have become the love
lie had so quietly declared 1t to De.
He had never before felt as lie felt
then. cared as he cared them Any
thing had been possible for him Mt that
time-any degree OF love, any devotion
any generous renunciation Clear
sighted, master of himself, he saw love
before him and knew it when he saw
it-recognized 1t, was ready for 1t, Of
fered 1t, emboldened by her soft hands
so eloquent in his.
And in his arms he held 1t for an in
stant he thought, spite of the sudden
inertia, spite OF the according Of cold
lips and hands still colder, relaxed, In.
ert-held 1t until he doubted
Then she had become intelligent
again, with little laughter. little
malice, a becoming tint Of hesitation
and confusion All the sense. all the
arts, all the friendly sweetness OF a
woman thorough in training. schooled
Id self possession. clear enough to be
audacious and perverse without danger
to herself. to the man or to the main
chance.
He leisurely and mentally took the
measure of his own state of mind and
found all WELL all intact found hinr
self still master Of his affections and
probably clear minded enough to re-
main so under the circumstances.
BY instinct and experience normally
temperate, only what was abnormal
and inherited might work a mischief
In this man. His listlessness, his easy
acuuiescence, were but consequent up
on the self knowledge Of self control,
but mastery Of the master vice re-
CURED something different. He was
sick of sickness, and because in this
sickness will, mind and body are faint
ed. too, reason and logic lack charity,
and to the signals of danger his reply
had always beeA either overconfident
or weak. and it had been always the
same reply: mot yet. There Is time"
And now, this last week, 1t had come
upon him that the time was now. The
skirmish was already on, and 1t had
alarmed him suddenly to find that the
skirmish was already battle, and
rough one.
AS he stood there he heard voices on
the stairs. People had already begun
to retire, because late cards and point
shooting at dawn do not agree. And
point shooting picnic In snugly elab-
crate blinds was popular with women,
or was supposed to be.
Little by little the tumult died away.
He turned and looked grimly at his
bed: then, shutting off the lights, be
opened his door and went out into the
deserted corridor, where the elevator
shaft was dark and only the dim night
lights burned at angles In the passage
ways.
He had his rain coat and cap with
him, not being certain of what he
might be driven to, but for the present
he found the bay window overlooking
the swimming tank sufficient to begin
the vigil.
Secure from intrusion, as there We're
no bedrooms on that corridor, he toss
ed coat and cap into the window seat,
walked to and fro for awhile listening
to the rain, then sat down, his well
shaped head between his hands. and IN
silence he faced the enemy.
How long he had sat there he did
not know. When he raised his face,
all gray and drawn with the tension
of conflict, his eyes were not very
clear, nor did the figure standing there
In the dim light from the hall mean
anything for moment
"Mr. Siward pin an uncertain voice,
almost whisper.
He stood up mechanically, and she
saw his face.
"Are you Ill? What Is lit"
"Ill? No." He passed his hand over
his eyes. 81 fancy was close to the
edge of sleep" Some color came back
into his face. He stood smiling now,
the significance of her presence dawn
ing on him.
"Did you really Gomez" he asked.
'aThis isn't very lovely but impalpa-
BILE astral vision, is it?'
"Its horribly imprudent, isn't itY'
She murmured, still considering the
rather drawn and pallid face of the
man before her. 81 came out Of pure
curiosity, Mr.. Siward."
oh hnr moved