Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-01
CHAPTER xxv1-Continued.


but somehow they both felt the need Of
being away from anything which could
tie them to the reality Of their lot. AL
most Immediately they passed through a
gate, and. cantering down short lane,
reached the high road.
They were as beautiful as a young cou-
pie out of a penny novelette,. and the
sensation of riding away together. any
where. nowhere. filled them with ro-
mantle exhilaration. Anthony's horse
manship had completely redeemed him as
a sportsman in the eyes Of the philistines
staying at the abbey.
II hope you will win your election"
Shall you help me?''
II don't know anything about politics"
$50 much the better-you can't make
any mistakes"
DO you know that everybody here has
guessed that there is some mystery about
your
At this moment answer was impossible.
for Anthony opened a gate which led into
a prodigiously long field. and as the gate
swung behind them he set his horse at a
gallop. and the wine Of the most glorious
exercise in the world entered into their
blood and they gave themselves up to its
intoxication. When they drew rein they
were at the foot Of a high grass hill. of
which. however, the slope was very
gradual.
What is the favorite suess?' asked
Anthony. as their horses walked easily
"Oh, 1 don't know that anybody has
made a definite guess. Perhaps people
feel that 1t wouldn't be quite nice OF
them. Still. don't think they are right.
She was too much in love not to be
afraid Of making him angry. but Anthony
knew perfectly well what she meant, and
answered lightly:
You mean that you don't think the
explanation accounts for the phe-
nomena?"
81 don't know what phenomena means
land I shouldn't think it very nice Of
any girl Of my age who did.
well, you mean that you don't think
that the explanation accounts for the
strange things that are happening
Yes
And you are feverish with curiosity?"
Il should like to know the truth" said
Sybii. with childish pleading in her voice.
Anthony looked at her longingly. and
thrill ran through his nerves. His long.
gray eyes grew almost moist as he muir
INJURED pathetically:
You little dear!
81 should never tell anybody"
"Then there wouldn't be the least en-
joyment in your knowing. Tell me. have
you made q guess?
'I've made hundred. If it's any sat
isfaction to you. 1 wake up early in the
morning to think about it,
with no results?"
well, my explanations all break down.
At first thought that you were the real
Lord Cammarleigh. and that Uncle Percy
knew all about it,"
IF were the real Lord Cammarleigh
the whole world would know all about it..
Shall we gallop?"
They were now crossing a large stretch
Of common upland. Above them the Sep
TENDER sun was already beginning to cool
its fires. Beneath them the broom made
one yellow carpet. There was almost a
touch of autumn in the air. Nature
around them was less green than she
had been. She wore a jaded, sunburnt
tone, as IL she were somewhat weary of
her summering and were thinking visit
fully OF the long. deep sleep of winter.
Anthony had an almost mystic intui-
ton about life, and he knew that these
hours were golden. that they were the
exquisite alchemy by which he should
test Sybil in the years to come. and that
the memory of them. with nature like
his. would keep her ever before him as a
prize, something to be desired. even long
cuse to safety. 1t was all wonderfully
strange: dreamiand did not hold q more
extraordinary fate than his had been. and
yet his very genius babe him beware
and to remember that chances such as
his do not repeat themselves. and that
though responsibility Is dull and is much
scorned by the superior folk who have it
not, yet it Is sure.
Leaving the common land. and still
climbing they reached the highest emil
horses heads to look over a gate from
whence they could see the entire way by
which they had assembled. Far below.
looking like little gray toy. was the
abbey. A distant shot rang out in the
clear. still air.
Look said Sybil, pointing with her
whip to the miles and miles of fairyland
below them. what a long way We have
come and how quickly"
Yes" answered Anthony. enigmatic-
ally. "a long way-and how quickly
She looked at him sharply, and then
said, quietly:
II know what you mean"
That ride together had shown her how
perfectly they were mated. and when she
thought of Frant she was dismayed.
Anthony saw that the time had come
to play trumps. He laid his hand on hers
and said. very seriously:
ION what conditions would you marry
me?"
She looked at him. startled. and then
tried to laugh.
You forget
II forget nothing" he said, growing
more serious. II see my life ahead, and
l have sufficient of the feminine in me
to play the respectable part II 1t comes
L
osophy of the situation and accept you
as an equal"
She looked at him haughtily.
"Oh, you know what I mean. I am
older than you are, and besides, / have
had more schooling than you will ever
bave-I allude, Of course, to material ad-
versity."
She did not answer, so he said again:
"On what conditions will you marry
me? VIII you take about seven thou
sand year, a seat In the house of COM
cons, accompanied by-weli. you know
how much cleverness. and the man you
love, in exchange for few out-of-date
strawberry leaves and great place that
looks like a convalescent home?" Still
she did not answer, and he murmured,
feelingly: "Sybil!'
me all the way up here and then to tempt
me like this!''
Their horses were close together. He
put his arms round her with an enchant-
ment which she felt to be decisive.
Don't be afraid" he said. Il will save
you yet And he laughed.
His laugh piqued her. She wanted him
to go on talking in that curious. unusual
way. which seemed somehow to build a
world.
Besides. he said. Il offer you a king
dom-for everybody reigns in their own
kingdom of love. That sounds like cheap
meiodrama, doesn't it?''
"No-why?" said Sybil. hastily. As a
woman she did not think 1t cheap melo-
drama at all.
wei. I've told you what my prospects
are in the most respectable way"
You see. I'm too young to judge"
said Sybil. recovering herself somewhat.
Anthony appreciated the Joke and