Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-05-27
CHAPTER iI.-Continued.


the voice from out of the skies evil
IDENTITY alarmed her not at all. Still
bending over the lifted foot, she turned
her head slowly and looked up; and
On" said a small voice, tinged with
relief. And cOolly knOtting the laces
again, she sat up. Il didn't hear you,
you know"
Nor | see you" Maitland supple
mented, unblushingly, until moment
ago. I--er-can | be of assistance"
Cant ynu?'
Idiot" said Maitland. severely
both 10 and of himself. Aloud: Il think
can.
Il hope so"-doubtfully. It's very
unfortunate. | was running
rather fast, | suppose, and didn't see
the slope until too late. Now" open
ing her hands in a gesture ingenuously
charming with it's suggestion Of help
lessness and dependence, Il don't
know what can be the matter with the
machine"
I'm coming down" announced
Maitland briefly. Wait"
Ihank you, | snail.
She laughed. and Maitland could
have blushed for his inanity; happily
he had action to cloak his embarrass-
ment. In a twinkling he was at the
waters edge, pausing there to listen,
with admirable dOcility, to her plain
tive objection: But you'll get wet
aud-and ruin your things. l cant
ask that of you
He chucliled, by way of reply, slap
ping CALAMITY into the shadows and
cOurageously wading out to the side of
the car. Whereupon he was advised in
tnnes of fiuttered indignation:
You simply wouldn't listen to me!
And warned you! Now you're soak
ing wet and will certainly catch your
death Of cold. and-and what can do?
Truly, am sorry"
Here the young man lost track of
her remark. He was looking up into
the shadow Of the motoring cap, dis
covering things; for the shadow was
set at naught by the moon luster that,
reflected from the surface OF the
stream, invested with a gentle and
glamOT0us radiance the face that bent
above him. And he caught at his
breath sharply, direst fears confirmed:
She was pretty indeed-perilously
pretty, The firm, resOlute chin, the
sensitive sweet line of scarlet lips,
the straight little nose, the brows del
icately arched, the large. alert, tawny
eyes with the dangerous sweet shad-
ows beneath, the CLINT as of raw cop
per where her hair caught the light
Maitland appreciated them all far too
well; and clutched nervously the rail
OF tho seat, trying to steady himself
to re-COllect his routed wits and con-
siCer sensibly that it all was due to
IL magic Of the moon, belize; the
witChery of this apparitiOn that looked
down into his eyes so gravely.
"Of course" he mumbled, its too
beautiful to endure. OF course it will
all Jade, vanish utterly in the cold
ligh' Of day
Aooye him, perpleXed brows gath
cred GninOusly. Il beg pardon?"
'I--er--yes.i he stammered at ran
dem.
'YOu-er-what?"
Positively, she was laughing at him,
He. Maitland the exquisite. Mad Matt
land the imperturbable, was being
laughed at by mere child, a girl
scarcely out of her teens. He glanced
upward caught her eye a-gleam with
merriment, and looked away with
much vain dignity.
Il was saying" he manufactured.
that | did not mind the wetting in
the least. I'm happy to be of service
You weren't saying anything of the
sort" she contradicted, calmly. How,
ever She paused Significantly.
Maitland experienced an instan
taGeCuS sensation as of furtive guilt
decidedly the reverse of comfortable
lie shuffled uneasily. There was a
brief silence, on her,,part expectant
nu his, blank. His mental attitude re
manned hopeless; for some mysterious
reason his nonchalance had deserted
him in the hour of his supermest
need; not in all his experience did he
remember anything like this-as awk
ward
The river puzzled indifferently abou
his calves; vagrant breeze disturbed
the tree tops and died OF sheer lassi
tude; Time plodded on with measured
stride, Then abruptly, full-winget
inspiration was born out of the chao
OF his mind. Listening intently, h
glanced with covert suspicion at tn
bridge; il proved untenanted, inoffer
siye of mien; nor arose there an,
sound OF hCOf or wheel upon the high
way. Again he looked up at the girl
and found her in thoughtful mood
frowning, regarding him steadily be
meath level brows.
He assumed a disarming levity c
demeanor, smiling winningly. There
only one way" he suggested-not to
archly-and extended his arms.
Indeed" She considered him wit
paeionable dubiety,
instantly his purpose became a
adamant
y must carry you. It's the onl
way
oh, indeed no, I--couldnt impos
npon you i'm-very heavy, 20
know"
Never mind firmly insistent "Yo
caat stay here all night. OF course