Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-02-05
Eileen looked up.

shake with which they always met,
even after an hours separation. OF
course she noticed this and, bend
ing low above her sewing, wondered
why.
1t seemed to him for a moment as
though he were looking at woman
he had heard about and had just met
for the first time. His observation OF
her now was leisurely, calm and thor
ough-not so calm. however. when,
impatient of his reticence, bending
there over her work, she raised he
dark blue eyes to his. her head re
naming lowered. The sweet, silel
inspection lasted but moment Thcl
she resumed her stitches, aware that
something in him had changed since
she last had seen him. But she mere
ly smiled quietly to herself, confident
of his unaltered devotion in spite of
the strangely hard and unresponsive
gaze that had uneasily evaded hers.
AS her white fingers few with the
glimmering needle she reflected on con-
ditions as she had left them week
ago. A week ago between him and
her the most perfect of understand
ings existed, and the consciousness Of
it she had carried with her every mo-
ment in the country-amid the icy tum-
BILE of the surf, on long, vigorous walks
over the ereening hills where wild
moorland winds whipped like million
fairy switches till the young blood fair
ly sang pouring through her veins.
Since that-some time within the
something evidently had hap
pened to him here in the city while
she had been away. What?
AS she bent above the fine linen gar
ment on her knee, needle flying, a sud-
den memory stirred coldly-the recol-
lection of her ride with Rosamund-
and instinctively her clear eyes flew
open, and she raised her head, turning
directly toward him disturbed gaze
he did not this time evade.
In silence their regard fingered; then,
satisfied, she smiled again, saying,
Have I been away so long that we
must begin all over, Captain Selwyn"
begin what, Eileen?
"To remember that the silence of
selfish preoccupation Is a privilege l
have not accorded your
81 didn't mean to be preoccupied.'
"Oh, worse and worsew She shook
her head and began to thread the nee
die. 81 see that my weeks absence
has not been very good for you.
knew it the moment you came in with
all that guilty, absentminded effrontery
which / have forbidden"
He colored up as he took her hand
in his. Then they both laughed at the
very vigorous shake.
what q horribly unfriendly creature
you can be-" said Eileen. "Never
greeting, never even formal express
sion of pleasure at my return"
"You have not returned" he said,
smiling. "You have been with me ev-
cry moment, Eileen"
what pretty tribute" she exclaim-
ed. II am beginning to recognize
traces of my training after all"
When the children came in they left
the nursery together and descended
the stairs to the library. Austin had
Just come in, and he looked up from
his solitary cup of tea as they en-
tered.
Hello, youngsters! What conspiracy
are you up to now? l suppose you
shifted the tea and have come to de-
prive me. BY the way, Phil, l hear
that you've sprung the trap on those
Siowitha people"
"Neergard has, believe"
"Well, isn't it all oneY
mo, it is not" retorted Selwyn so
bluntly that Eileen turned from the
window at sound in his voice which
she had never before heard.
"Ohr' Austin stared over his sus-
pended teacup, then drained it. 'Trou-
BILE with our friend julius? he ill.,
Quired.
mo trouble. 1 merely severed my
connection with him."
"Ah WhenY
"This morning"
"In that case," said Austin, laugh
ing, 'I've job for you"
mo, old fellow, and thank you with
all my heart I've half made up my
mind to live on my income for awhile
and take up that chaosite matter
again" 49,