The newspaper., 1909-09-03

Very well, I promise responded
the girl. not little troubled by tho
strangeness of his expression.
That night Miss Leslie dutifully
fastened herself in with all six bars.
She wakened at dawn, and fastened
out to prepare Blake's breakfast but
she found herself too late. There
were evidences that he had eaten and
gone off before dawn. The stretching
frame of one of the antelope skins
had been moved around by the fire.
and on the smooth inner surface of
the hide was a laconic note. written
with charcoal in firm. bold hand:
Exploring inland. Back by night.
II can"
She bit her lip In her disappoint-
ment, for she had planned to show him
how much she appreciated his absurd
but well-meant concern for her safety.
AS it was. he had gone off without a
word and left her to the questions .is
pleasure of a tete-a-tete with Win
thrope. Hoping to avoid this, she hur-
ried her preparations for day on the
cliff. But before she could get on.
Winthrope sauntered up. hiding his
yawns behind a hand which had re-
gained most of its normal plumpness.
His eye was at once caught BY the
charcoal note.
"Ah," he drawled; really now, this
is too kind of him to give US the pleas
ure of his absence all day"
"Ye-es?" murmured Miss Leslie.
Permit me to add that you will also
have the pleasure OF my absence. I
am going now"
winthrope looked down, and began
to speak very rapidly: Miss Gea-
evieve. IL wish to apologize. I've
thought it over. I've made a mistake
IL mean. my conduct the other day
was vile. utterly vilel Permit me to
appeal to your considerateness for .
man who has been unfortunate-who.
/ mean, has been-er-was carried
away by his feelings. Your favoring
OF that bloom-er-that-er-
SO angered me that THAT +"
Mr.. winthrope!" interrupted the
girl. Il will have you to understand
that you do not advance yourself In
my esteem by such references to Mr..
Blake"
Aye, aye. that Blake," painted Win
thrope. Don't you see? It's i'm. an
that blossom, Wen a mans daily
wen 'e's In love,-"
Miss Leslie burst into a nervous
laugh: but checked herself on the in
slant.
Really. Mr.. winthrope!" she sx-
claimed. you must pardon me. II
never knew that cultured Englishmen
ever dropped their his As it happens.
fore this"
All. yes: to be sure-to be surs,-
murmured Winthrope. in an odd tone.
The girl threw out her hand In q lit
tie gesture of protest.
Really. I'm sorry to have hurt-te.
have been so thoughtless,"
winthrope stood silent She spoke
again: I'll do what you ask. I'll.
make allowances for your-for your;
feeling. towards me and try TO forget.
all you said the other day. Let me-
begin by asking favor Of you"
An. MISS Genesieve. anything to be
sure. that may do"
1T is that | wish your opinion. When
Mr. Blake finished that absurd door
!. evening he would not tell me why
he had built it-only vague state
rent about my safety"
-Ah, He did not go into particu-
larss" drawled winthrope.
NO. not even hint; and he looked
so-odi.'
NinJhrope slowly rubbed his soft
palms one upon the other.
DO you-er-really desire to know
his-the motive which actuated him."
he murmured.
Il should not have mentioned II to
you if | did not" she answered.
"Well-er-" He hesita:ed and
paused for a full minute. You see.
it is a rather difficult undertaking to
intimate such a matter to a lady
just the right touch of delicacy, you
know. But l will begin by explaining
that | have known il since the first
known WHAT"
"Of that und-of-er-Blake's
trouble"
"Trouble7"
"Ahi Perhaps l should have said
afiiiction; yes. that is the better word.
To own the truth. the fellow has some
good qualities. 1t was no doubt be-
cause he realized. when in his better
moments"
Better moments: Mr.. Winthrope.