The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-12-23

80 hair. when she had watched the se<
and then | remembered those snddsn
flashing changes when the imp of subtls
mischief had danced in her blue-gray
eyes. She was just bundle of mischief
to whom new man was simply SO mach
sport. Yet l envied lslip with all kas
strength Of nay heart, which shows how
strangely Inconsistent | had grown.
Charles had f0reseen the storm and
had made things tight about the cottage !;
moreover, he had hallt fire In the liv-
ing~room. which was also ehe dining-roem.
to take the chill cut Of the rapidly damp
ening air. Ordinarily. | would have been
glad to get In and change into dry clothes
and stand In front OF the Ere. snug and
comfortable. but now 1 vas as much out
of sorts as though the cottage had been
a house Of cards and had suddenly tum-
hled down about my head
Poor Charles, He was soon 10 feel
the rawness of my temper. | had no
sooner closed the door than l called to
him to get into his oilskins and go to
McCullom's with an order to him to have
my horse at the back door by 3.
Yes, Mr.. Felix. said Charles "Ets
going to be bad night. sir. asking your
pardon"
I'm going to the Penguin Club.
Charles answered. and | don't care
if the heavens fall on the way.
Yes. sir, very good. sir = and Charles
departed. wondering. doubtless. at the
strange new master he had found. He
knew what thought OF the Penguin.
changed into my storm clothes
heavy riding breeches. with a leather
jacket thar buttoned up to my chin.
put the locket in little pasteboard box
and placed it in an inside pocket Doubt
less Miss Graham valued that small gold
oval trinket with her monogram woven
on the outside and her lover ensconced
inside, and she should nor have TO wait
until the storm passed to learn that she
had not lost Il. Ii would do no harm
for her to be disturbed for a few hours
then | would end il.
Charles came back and said that Nero
would be around at s. I had supper in
silent state. and then sank into gloomy
thought before the fire. Comfoand ms ,
'or being such simple. gullibie fool. /
who had scarcely laid eyes ca woman
'efore at AIastair, That was the troa-
lie with the affair. In town | should !
AVE been prepared. properly gyved and !
but here she had come up :
n me in my own natural wilderness. on Z
ny own simple beach. in my Ship Of day y
reams. where everything was - free s
nd open as the sea. a
Charles eyed me askance as / pulled 81
" oilskin hat about my ears and vault q
4 upon Nero Even the poor beast must n
ave looked at me suspiei0usly, for this "a
as no night for riding on any simple
rand | must be the bearer OF tidingx,
figure stepped ont Of rouxh-and- tum-
e story. Had l only known how thar |
ght was 70 carry me far afeld. and
Nv that ride be the first swift gallop In /
a strange and swirling enterprise
The pines shot their water into my
&c as l gall0ped along the narrow road. =.
be sandy footing gave now and again, -
ID ! had to let Nero's instinct save US ~
ON laundering in the hogs which the
avg rain was making Of the country ca
ie night was black as pitch the wind. ca.
zen to a hurricane. screeched through tir
2 forest In a thousand varied voices.
ID moEe harsh and ominous than the
Il. Several times. riding out from the ia
ddle OK the road. wet branches driven sta
the gale flung themselves against me hal
almost thudded me from my horse. pei
rouched low. bending forward for safe
and that I might peer into the murky wh
ckness OF the road Several times -
70 stumbled and almost pitched over ~
head nin
rhe lights at the gate Of the club were ~
they were evidently not expecting
tors. I rode Nero to the stables, left IRA
j with groom. and strobe into the pan
IS main hall. I must have presented nos
sorry spectacle; my tighf-buttoned VIII
her jacket, my riding breeches and y
is. all soaked and running with water, "a :.
hair and face dripping when I took 80,
my oilskin hat that buckIed under my -. -.
Take my name TO Mas Graham I oln'
to the clerk at the desk. and he rec chal
zed me and sent a buttons to End W
still
Miss Graham is In the ssu-parlor on thin
porch to the right of the main-aoor,v c,,s
rfed the buttons. "and says she viii rntu
you there" .A
tie be continued \ os4S