Evening star., 1909-05-02


sentiments on the stage. Come out for little
stroll, and tell me all about it
Helen hesitated. 1T will soon be teatime,
she said, with a self conscious blush She had
promised Spenser to walk with him to the
chateau; but her visit to Millicent had inter
vened, and he was not on the veranda at the
moment.
We need not 60 far The sun has garnished
the roads for us. What do you say if we make
for the village, and interview Johann klucker S
cat on the weather.
His tone was quite reassurlng 10 her trans
parent honesty of purpose it seemed better that
they should discuss Millicent's motive in COM
ing to the hotel and then dismiss it forever.
A most excellent ideal" she cried lightly Il
have been writing all the morning; breath
of fresh air will be welcome
They passed down the steps.
They had not gone more than few PAGES
when the driver of an empty carriage pulled up
his vehicle and handed Bower telegram.
They gave it to me at ST Moritz, Herr
Bower he said. Il took message there for
Herr Spenser, and they asked me to bring this
to you, as it would reach you more quickly
than if it came by post"
Bower thanked the man, and opened the en-
velop 1t was very long telegram; but he
only glanced at it in the most cursory manner
before putting it into pocket.
AT distant corner OF the road by the side OF
the lake, Millicent turned for last look at the
hotel and waved hand at them. Helen re-
Piled
Il almost wish now that she was staying here
few days" she said wstfully. "She ought to
have seen our valley in its summer greenery."
Il fear she brought winter in her train, was
Bowers comment. But the famous cat must
decide Here. boy" he went on, hailing
village urchin, where is Johann klucker's
house?"
The boy pointed to a track that ran close to
the right bank of the tiny Inn. He explained
volub1y. and was rewarded with franc.
DO you know this path!' asked Bower
o1,o1a% &c foil hroI,
should be fine sight, owing to the melting
snow"
TT was Helen's favorite walk. She would have
group of houses described by the boy was quite
near, and she could devise excuse for keeping
to the busy highway. As the path was mar
row, she walked in front The grass and flowers
seemed to have drawn fresh tints from the
snow, which had cleared away with magical
rapidity from this sheltered spot. But the little
rivulet usually diamond bright tur-
bulent and foamlng stream. Care was needed
not to slip. If anyone fell into that miniature
torrent. it would be no easy matter to escape
without broken bones.
Would you ever believe that few hours
snow, followed by hot sun, would make such
difference to mere ribbon of water like
this?' she asked when they were passing
through narrow cleft in wall of rock through
which the Inn roared with quite respectable
fury
Il am in a mood to believe anything, said
Bower. " Do you remember our first meeting
at the EInbankment Hote9 Who would have
imagined then that Millicent Jaques. few
weeks later, would rush thousand miles to the
Maloggia and scream her woes to Heaven and
the multitude. Neither you nor |, fancy, had
seen her during the interval Did she tell you
the cause of her extraordinary behavior"
No. | did not ask her But it scarcely
needed explanation. Mr.. Bower. II fear she
suspected me of flirting. 1t was unjust but
can well conceive that woman who thinks her
friend is robbing her of mans affections does
not wait to consider nice points of procedure.
Surely Mcent did not say that had
promised to marry herr"
Though Helen was not prepared for this
downright plunge into an embarrassing dis
cussion, she managed to evade direct answer.
There was more than suggestion of that in
her words last night she said Perhaps she
thought SO in all seriousness. You seem to
have undeceived her to-day. and am sure you
must have dealt with her kindly, or she would
not have acknowledged her mistake in such
frank terms to me. There now! That is the
end of a very disagreeable episode Shall we
say no more about it!
Helen was flushed and hurried on speedily;
but she persevered bravely, hoping that Bow
er's tact would not desert him at this crisis
She quickened her pace little, with the air of
one who has said the last word on a difficult
topic and is anxious to forget it.