Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-12-25

her twice. since. and she had met him
the night before at dance at one Of
the cottages.
Once free of the settlement she rode
far and fast until she was quite be
yond the usual routes of the Springs
excursonists; then in mountain by
ways she enjoyed the luxury of leisure
and dismounted now and then to de
light in the green of the laurel and
question the rhododendrons.
Jules Chauvenet had secured the hills
all day and explored many mountain
paths and inquired cautiously of the
natives. The telegraph operator at the
Storm Springs inn was woman. and
the dispatch and receipt by Jules Chau.
venet of long messages. many of them
in cipher piqued her curiosity. No
member of the Washington diplomatic
circle who came TO the Springs. not
even the shrewd and secretive Russian
ambassador. received longer or more
cryptic cables. With the social diver
sions of the Springs and the necessity
for making a show of having some le-
gftimate business in America Jules
Chauvenet was pretty well occupied,
and now the presence of John Armi-
tage in Virginia added to his burdens
He was tired and perplexed, and it
was with unaffected pleasure that he
rode out of an obscure hill path into q
bit of open wood overhangng a Curl
Gus defie and came upon Shirley Clai-
borne.
The soil was soft, and his horse car
ried him quite near before she heard
him. A broad sheet of water flashed
down the farther side Of the narrow
pass sending up a pretty squirt of
spray wherever 1t struck the jutting
rock. AS Shirley turned toward him
he urged his horse over the springy
turf.
"a pity to disturb the picture, Miss
Claiborne! A thousand pardons! But
1 really wished to see whether the fig
ure could come out of the canvas.
Now that | have dared to make the
test, pray do not send me away"
Her horse turned restlessly and
brought her face to face with Chau-
venet.
STEADY, Fanny! Don't come near
her, please this last to Chauvenet,
who had leaped down and put out his
hand to her horses bride. She had
the true horsewoman's pride in caring
for herself, and her eyes flashed angri-
ly for moment at Chauvenet's prof
fered aid. A man might open door
for her or pick up her handkerchief,
but to touch her horse was an alto
gether different business. The pretty,
graceful mare was calm in moment
md arched her neck contentedly under
the stroke of Shirley's hand.
Beautiful. The picture is even
more perfect, mademoiselle"
Fanny is best in action and splen-
did when she runs away. She hasn't
run away today, but l think she is
likely to before | get home"
She was thinking of the long ride
which she had no intention of taking
In Chauvenets company. He stood I'M
covered beside her, holding his horse.
But the danger, mademoiselle! You
should not hazard your life with run
away horse on these roads. 1t is not
fair to your friends"
you are a conservative, monsieur.
should be ashamed to have a run
away in a city park, but what does
one come to the country forT'
what, indeed, but for excitement?
You are not of those tame young wo-
men across the sea who come out into
the world from convent, frightened
ut all they see and whisper Yes, sis
! fcfn RI N
hear"
"Yes; we Americans are deficient in
shyness and humility. l have often
heard it remarked, NJ. Chauvenet."
"No, no! You misunderstood! Those
deficiencies, as you term them, are de-
lightful. They are what give the
charm to the American woman. | hope
speaking in disparagement, mademoi-
Eelle. You must know
The water tumbled down the rock
into the vale; the soft air was sweet
with the scent of pines. An eagle
cruised high against the blue over
head. Shlrley's hand frightened on the
rein, and Fanny lifted her head ex-
pectantly.
Chauvenet went on rapidly in French:
"You must know why l am here
why I have crossed the sea to seek
vou in your own home. have loved
you, mademoiselle, from the moment
FIRST saw you In Florence. Here, with
only the mountains, the sky, the wood
1 must speak. You must hear, you
must believe. that l love you! l offel
you my life, my poor attainments."
Monsieur, you do me a great honor
but / cannot listen. What you ask Il
impossible. quite impossible. But
monsieur
Her eyes had fallen upon a thicket
behind him where something haC
stirred. She thought at first that Il
was an animal of some Sort but she
saw now quite distinctly mans shah