Evening star., 1909-04-23
By BRAN STOKER.

for today. For today we are true hus-
band and wife-are we not?'
"Yes. dear" she answered simply. He
went on:
''Tomorrow-we can be grave tomor-'
row, and then I can give you another
name to use-if you wish it,
Il do" she said, with reverence. She
accepted and returned the kiss which fol-
lowed. This closed the incident, and for
"a little space they sat hand In hand, his
arm again round her, while again she
had linked her arm in his. Presently he
said:
"And now. Joy, dear. won't you tell
me all about yourself? You know that as
each others surroundings. I want spe-
cially to know today. dear. for tomorrow
want to see your father and it will be
better to go equipped" Joy felt quite in
a fiutter. At last she was going to learn
something about the man she loved. She
would tell him everything, and he would
Her thoughts were interrupted by her
companion going on:
And then tomorrow. when we have
talked, l can tell you everything"
"Everything!" then there was some
thing to conceal! Her heart fell. But as
the man continued her train of thought
was again interrupted.
When you see him tonight you had
Suddenly she jumped to her feet in a
sort Of fright Seeing her face. he, too,
sprang up. giving. with the instinct of his
campaigning, a quick look around, as
though some danger threatened.
What is 1t. JOY? What Is wrong"
She almost gasped out:
my father! He will be home by Z.
It must be late in the afternoon now,
and we are more than a hundred miles
from home" Athlyne in turn was stag
Joy and talking Of love he had quite
overlooked the passing of time. Instinct
lively he looked at his watch. 1t was now
close on O'Clock. Joy was first to
speak:
"Oh. do let us hurry! No one knows
where I am. and if daddy gets home
and finds I'm not there he will be alarm
ed-and he may be upset. And mother
and Aunt Judy, too! Oh, do not lose
moment! If we do not get home before
they arrive and daddy finds I have been
out all day with you-oh, hurry. hurry"
Athlyne had been thinking hard while
she spoke. and his thoughts had been ar
ranging themselves. His intelligence was
all awake now. He could see at glance
that joys absence might make trouble
for all. Col. Ogilvie was a man OF cove
nance. and his daughter going out with
him in such way was at least unconven-
tional. She must get back in time! His
conclusion was reached before she had
finished speaking. His military habit Of
quick action asserted itself; already he
was replacing the things in the carriage
Joy saw and with feverish haste began
to hep him. When he saw her at work
he ran to the engine and began to prepare
for starting. When that was ready he
held Joys coat for her and helped her
into her seat AS he took the wheel he
said as he began to back down the road,
which was hardly wide enough to turn
in:
Forgive me- my dear 1t was all my
selfish pleasure. But we shall do all we
can. Bar accident we may do 1t; we
have over three hours." He set his teeth
as he saw the struggle before him. 1t
no use forestalling trouble. Joy saw the
smile on his face, recognized the mans
strength, and was comforted.
They backed into the road and sprang
southwark. Without taking his eyes of
his work. Athlyne said:
Tell me, dear. as we go along all that
I must bear in mind in speaking to your
father OF our marriage"
There! 1t was out unconsciously. Joy
thrilled. but he did not himself seem to
notice his self-betrayal. He went on un-
concernedly:
1T may be a little up hill at first II we
do not get in line in time" Joy looked
under her lashes at the strong face. now
as to the word. She was glad she could
blush unseen. After q little pause she
said In a meek voice:
Very we'll. dear. / shall tell you when
ever we are on a straight DIT or road,
but 1 will be silent round the curves
They were then flying along the old
coach road. The road was well made.
broad and with good surface. and they
went at a terrific pace. Athlyne felt that
the only chance of reaching Ambleside
was by taking advantage Of every oppor-
tunity for speed. Already he knew from
the mornings journey that there were
great opportunities, as long stretches of
the road were level and in good order
and were not unduly impeded with traf-
fic. The motor was running splendidly
1t seemed as IL the run in the morning
had put every part OF it in good working
order. He did not despair of getting to
Ambleside in time. The train was not
due at Windmere till I. And 1t might be
little late. In any case 1t would take
the arriving party little while to get
their things together and then drive to
Ambleside AS they were sweeping
down toward the bridge at Dairy he
said to Joy without looking round:
''It will be all right. 1 have been think
ing 1t over. We can do it,
Thank Cod" she exclaimed, fervently.
She. too had been thinking.
''Stop!'
(To be continued tomorrow.)