The Yale expositor., 1909-05-14
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II dare say" he ventured hopefully,
Il could hire team at some farm
house"
But the delay! It's so late al
ready"
Undeniably late; one o'clock at the
earliest. A thought longer Maitland
hung In lack Of purpose, then without
a word of explanation turned and again
began to wade out.
What do you mean to dor" she
cried, surprised.
See what's the trouble" he called
back. Il know a bit about motors.
Perhaps"
''Then-but why"
She stopped and Maitland forbore
to encourage her to round out her
question. 1t was no difficult matter to
supply the missing words. Why had
he not thought OF investigating the
motor before insisting that he must
carry her ashore?
The humiliating conviction forced
itself upon him that he was not figur-
ing to great advantage in this adven-
ture. Distinctly humiliating sensa-
ton to one who ordinarily was by way
of having a fine conceit of himself.
II requires a certain amount of ego
tism to enable one to play the ex-
quisite to ones personal satisfaction;
Maitland had enjoyed the possession
of that certain amount; heretofore his
approval of self had been passably en-
tire. Now-he could not deny-the
boor had shown up through the polish
of the beau.
Intolerable thought! Cad" ex-
claimed Maitland, bitterly. This all
was due to hasty jumping at conclu-
sions; IL he had not chosen to believe
a young and charming girl identical
with an-an adventures, this thing
had not happened and he had still re-
tanned his own good will. For one lit
tie moment he despised himself hearth
ly-one little moment of clear insight
into self was his. And forthwith he
began to mediate apologies, formu-
lating phrases designed to prove ade-
quate without sounding exaggerated
and insincere.
BY this time he had reached the
car, and-through sheer laundering
luck-at once stumbled upon the seat
of trouble-a clogged valve in the car
bureter. No serious matter; with the
assistance of a repair kit more than
commonly complete, he had the valve
clear in jiffy.
News of this triumph he shouted to
the girl, receiving in reply an "Oh,
thank you!" so fervently grateful that
he felt more guilty than ever.
Illuminating unhappily on the end OF
contemplated abasement, he waded
round the car, satisfying himself that
there was nothing else out of gear;
and apprehensively cranked up.
Whereupon the motor began to hum
contentedly; all was well. Flushed
with this success, Maitland climbed
aboard and opened the throttle trine
The car moved. And then, with a
swish, a gurgle, and watery whooshl
1t surged forward. up, out of the river,
CALAMITY up the slope.
At the top the amateur chauffeur
shut down the throttle and jumped
out, turning to face the girl. She was
by the step almost before he could
offer a hand to help her in, and as she
paused to render him his due need Of
thanks, il became evident that she har-
bored little IL any resentment; eyes
shining, face aglow with gratitude,
she dropped him a droll but graceful
courtesy.
You are too good" she declared
with spirit. How can thank your"
You might" he suggested. looking
down into her face from his superior
height, give me bit of a lift-just a
couple of miles up the road. Though"
he supplemented eagerly. IF you'd
really prefer. / should be only too
happy to drive the car home for your"
Two miles, did you say?'
He fancied something odd in her
tone; besides. the question was super
fiuous. His eyes informed with puz-
element, he replied: why, yes-that
much, more or less. live"
"Of course" she put in quickly, 'I'll
give you the lift-only too glad. But
as for your taking me home at this
hour. can't hear OF that"
But"
Besides, what would people say?"
she countered, obstinatsly. "Oh. no."
she decided; and he felt that from this
decision there would be no appeal;
II couldn't think of interfering with
your arrangements"
Her eyes held his for a single in
slant, instinct with mischief, cleaning
with bewildering light from out face
schooled to gravity. Maitland expe-
rienced sensation of having grasped
after and missed subtlety OF al
fusion; his wits. keen as they were, re-
coiled, baffied by her finesse. And the
more he OWNED that she was playing
with him. as an experienced swords
man might play with an impertinent
novice, the denser his confusion grew.
But have no arrangements" he
stammered.
(To BE coNTINUED.)