Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1909-12-24

IN a Iduncn, In0 1IdHdu SdllOT dllOIIIPtSO
to modest the trio, but failed. Miss Pat
%announced her intention of fighting Henry
place. Donovan met Helen in garden at
night. Duplicity of Helen was confessed
by the young lady. She admitted connivIng
precautions, in a night meeting with Don
ovan.
CHAPTER IX.-Continued.
do you mean to tell me that you
have not talked with you father-that
you have not seer him here?" I be-
sought.
Yes; l have seen him-once, and
It was by accident. 1t was quite by &C.
cident."
Yes; l know of that"
Then you have cen spying upon
me Mr.. Donovan!"
"Why did you tell me that outrage
ously foolish tale about your chess
game, when l knew exactly where you
were at the cry hour you would have
had me think o were dutifully en-
gagged with your aunt? 1t seems to
me, my dear Miss Holbrook, that that
Is not so easy of explanation, gel to
my poor wits"
That was without purpose; really
1t was! l was restless and weary from
SO much confinement; o can't know
how dreary these late years have been
for us-for me-and l wished just
walk into the country. And If you
saw me, if you watched me"
I gazed at her blankly. The thing
could not have e better done on
the stage; but Miss Pat was walking
toward us, and 1 put an end to he
talk.
81 came upon him by accident
had no idea he was here" she per-
sisted.
"You are not growing tired of US"
began Miss Pat, with her brave, beau
tiful smile; you are not anxious to be
rid of us?"
II certainly am not" 1 replied. 81
can't tell you how glad I am that you
have decided to remain here. l am
quite sure that with a little patience
we shall wear out the besiegers. Our
position here has, you may say, the
strength of it's weakness. I think the
policy of the enemy is to harass you
by guerrilla methods-to annoy you
and frighten you into submission"
Yes; 1 believe you are right" she
said slowly. Helen had walked on,
and l loitered beside Miss Pat.
Il hope you have had no misgivings,
Miss Pat, since u talk yesterday"
None whatever" she replied, quick
ly. Il I'm quite persuaded in my own
mind that l should have been better
off if I had made a stand long ago. l
don't believe cowardice ever pays, do
your"
She smiled up at me in her quick,
bright way, and l was more than ever
her slave.
Miss H~olbrook, you are the bravest
woman in the world! l believe you are
right. I think I should be equal to ten
thousand men with your spirit to put
heart into me-"
Don't be foolish" she said, laugh
Ing. But to show you that l am not
really afraid, suppose you offer to take
us for a drive this evening. I think it
would be we'll for me tt appear to-day,
just to show the enemy that we are
not driven to cover by our little ad-
venture in the launch yesterday"
Certainly! Shall we carry out
riders and a rear guard?"
MOT a bit of it. l think we may be
able to shame my brother out of his
evil intentions by our defenselessness."
We waited for Helen to rejoin us,
and the drive was planned for five.
Promptly on the hour, after a day of
activity on my part in cruising the
lake, looking for signs of the enemy,
we set forth in an open trap, and
plunged into country roads that trav-
erSed territory new to all of US. l car
ried lima along, and when, after a
few miles, Helen asked to take the
reinS, | changed seats with her, and
gave myself up to talk with Miss Pat.
The girls mood was grave, and she
wished to drive, l fancied, as an ex-
cuse for silence. The land rolled grad
ually away into the south and west,
n we halted, in an hour or so, far
from the lake, on a wooded minen
that commanded a long sweep in every
direction, and drew into the roadside.
lima opened a gate hat admitted US
to a superb maple grove, and in a few
minutes we were having tea from the
hamper in the cheeriest mood in the
world. The sun was contriving new
marvels in the west, and the wood
that dipped lakeward beneath US gave
an illusion of thick tapestry to the
sye.