The Washington herald., 1908-03-02
CHAPTER Ill


/ In the duh. hazy London sunset. Fop-
stone road, which leads from Earrs
/ Court road into Nevern Square. was quite
/ deserted.
! There Is silence and rnonotony IN the
eminen5ly respectable thorogghfares in
that particular district that 10 their resi-
dents, IS often very depressing. Trafc
there IS none save q stray hanson or a
tradesman's cart az long intervals. while
street organs, and even the muffin men
I avoid them. because. unlike the poorer
districts. they md no stray coppers and
no customers.
On the same evening as the events re-
corded in the previous chapters. about 6
O'Clock. Just as the red. duslxy after
glow was deepening into twilight. Charlie
Rolfe emerged from Earls Court station
walked along to the corner OF Fopstone
road. and. halting. looked eagerly down il
But there was not a soul Indeed. there
was no sound beyond that OF a distant
cab whistle somewhere In Nevern Square.
For about FIVE minutes he waited.
glancing impatientiy at hts watch. and
then. turning upon his heel. stroIIed along
IN The direction Of the square
a few moments later however there
hurried up behind him a sweet-faced.
smartly dressed girl. who. as he turned
to meet ber laughed merriIy, saying:
Il do hope. Charlie ! haven't kept you
waiting: but I've had such trouble to get
out. Dad asked me 10 write some private
letters in English for him; really believe
he suspects something. We meet too
often
No. darling" answered Rolfe. raising
his hat and taking her small glUved hand
I'VE don't meet frequently enough for
me- And / think that your father is en-
trely unsuspicious. 7 was with him last
night. and he did not strike me as pos
sessing any knowledge Of these secret
meetings OF ours
Yes, but you know how dangerous It
is.'' replied the pretty girl. giancing
round Somebody might pass, recognize
me. and tell dad"
And what then. desrest?' he laughed.
Why. your fears are utterly ground
less
Il know, but"
But whatT'
We'll. Cad would be annoyed-that's
all-annoyed with both OF US"
He must already have seen. darling.
Charlie Rolfe. moving slowly along at
her side.
Hers was. indeed, ! face that would at
tract attention anywheSS, oval. delicately
molded. slightly flushed by the momentary
excitement lof meeting her lover. Her
hair vas well dressed. her narrow-waiste5
figure still girlish; her dress, pale bis
cuit-coloTed cloth, which. IN its refined
simplicity. suited well the graceful con-
tour of the slender form and cOntrasted
admirably with the soft white skin: the
dark hair, stray coquettish little wisb
Of which fell across her brow beneath
her neat black hat. and the dark brown
eyes. so large. luminous, and expressive.
Her gaze met his. Every sensitive feat
ure, every quiet. graceful movement told
plair:ly of her culture and refinement.
while on her face there rested an inde-
scribable charm. a look Of shy, sweet
humility, of fond and all-consuming love
for the man beside her.
As she lifted her eyes at the words o.
affection he was whispering into her ear
as they went along the quiet. deserted
street, she perceived how tall and attn
le' &c no was, and noticed, woman-like.
tLc masculine perfection OF his dress.
alike removed from siovenliness and lop-
perry
No" she said az last. her eyes gazing
In abstraction "a front OF hes. y don't