Evening star., 1909-06-29

was going to dare you to do is much less
spectacular Nothing more exciting than
"A walkr' echoed Conover why. It's
near 10 o'clock. an cold as charity. Be-
sides. it'll be all dark an damp In the
tnick part of the woods
But I'm sure Well run across q ring
On. the night is throbbing with magic!
answer the call?'.
Sounds to me more like katydids." he
take stroll. Wen be back in half an
hour or so. an that ought to be early
enough. even for old Mrs. Propriety in
there" with a nod toward Mrs. Ha-
Warden's tent. But you'll want some
wrap, won't your"
NO. I'm warm as toast This sweat.
er's so wudgy and soft. and it's as thick
as thick can be. Come along!"
Laughing excitedly under their breath.
after the manner OF schoolboys making
safe escape to truancy. the two stole
away on tiptoe from the radius Of fre
SHINE. Rex, waking again at their de-
parture, sighed as devotion dragged him
from sleep and warmth; and trotted
along solemnly in the wake OF the two
truants
Before them lay a natural vista wind
ing between ranks OF black trees. Star
light filtered through. giving an uncanny
1T Is like breaking into fairyiand"
gasped the girl. tense and vibrant with
the hushed wonder of 1t ALL I'VE are
mortals We have no right in Oberon's
nice. harmless mortals we are. So he
doesn't change us to bats or hrefies.
He just lets us trespass all we want to.
And perhaps. he'll even let US see a real
fairy. An elf. anyway"
CALEB laughed. in sheer happiness. OF
her Oberon rigmarole he grasped little.
But he saw she was in childishly wild
spirits. and the knowledge OF her Joy
thrilled him. The cold bit deeper as
they struck rising ground and followed
the glimmering forest vista upward.
Both insfinctively quickened their pace
to keep from shivering. But mere cold
could not quench Desirees pleasure in
the simple escapade.
her mood shifting from fairyland to q
newer fantasy. We are escaping from
a fearsome Simon Legree named Con-
ventionahty! Conventionality Is
wicked master who has whipped us and
piled chains on US ever since we were
born. And now we've put him to sleep
In two tents and we're running away
from him. He'd be furious IL he woke
up. But he's snoring very industriously.
And he surely won't wake-in either tent
for at least an hour And by that time
Wen be safe back again with our chains
all nicely riveted on. And he II never,
never even guess we once ran away from
him. No-Id rather think we're run
and then some more after that And
he'll never find us. no matter how long
ne hunts. Well spend the rest OF our
life In the enchanted woodland. and
live on berries and nuts. And our faith
full hound who's followed US from slavery
will catch venison for US. And-and if
You ask him very politely. Caleb. per-
maps he'll catch tripe sandwich soms-
times for you
Still rememberin' that awful break of
Miner chuckled Caleb. as unreasonably
excited as she. That amt fair!'
1T wasn't break!" she pronouncea
Judgment 1T was a smashing blow at
our Simon Legree. Conventionality. You
how silver the light is getting! I'm sure
that means we're on the courtyard Of
the fairy palace. I shouldn't be ono
With little cry OF alarm she clutcheu
Caleb. From almost under her feet .
partridge whirred upward, hts beating
wings rafting through the stiffness like
double castanets. Rex. with one staccato
growl deep down in his throat. gave
chase. But as the bird utterly refused
to fly fair and even resorted to unsports-
manlike rocketings that carried IL far up
through the tree tops. the pursuit was
quickly over. Rex. his run a-bristle.
strutted back to the girl. walking on the
tips Of his toes and casting baiefra
glanees OF warning to left and right at
any other lurking partridge that might
be tempted to brave his ire.
What was it? What was it?' de-
manded Desree. startled far out Of her
fit Of eerie gayety.
Maybe twas one OF those fairies or
satires you was hopin' would drop in on
U.s." suggested Caleb. unkindly. TT was
real treat to see how glad you was to
meet him.
You're horrid-" declared the girl. "As
II any self-respecting fairy would Jump
up with noise like ten ing guns! I
oh. the silver is turning ay It's fog!
The fog Steve Martin said we'd have to-
night And it's coming down around us
like. like a Niagara of-of-"
'Of pea SOUP" supplemented Conover.
It's thick enough to cut. An ten min
utes ago the sky was perfectly clear.
Best get back to the camp before the
measly stuff makes US lose our way.
Then we would be In a sweet fx"
Backward they turned upon their
tracks. Already the guiding tree vistas
were wiped out. The two walked rapid
ly. pushing along with no better guide
than their sense OF general direction.
For full half hour they walked. Caleb
helping Desiree over series OF fallen
trees. gullies and boulders that neither
had noted during their outward journey.
Then. out OF breath. Desiree halted
We're not going the right way!" she
exclaimed: We're going uphill. / know
we are. I can tell by the feeling. And
the camp lies down by the pond"
They struck off at another angle. After
ten minutes of fast, difficult walking.
through the water-thick mist, Desires
came again to a halt.
(To be continued tomorrow.)