The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-27

LADY ATHLYNE
Copyright, 1908, by BRAM STOKER Entered at Statoner's Hall-An rights reserved



 l ing rules,
 Then she began to admire his car l partly to please him, partly because ii ! was really a splendid machine admir- | ably wrought to it's special purpose speed. He lifted a couple of coats and | asked
 (Which will you wear?" l Must I wear one? It is warm ! enough isn't it without a coat?'' At present, yes! But when our friend here," he slapped the car af- 1 fectionately, wakes up and knows whom he has the honour of carrying | you'll want it. You have no idea what difference fifty or sixty mile breeze makes
 "I'll take this one. please she said without another word; a ready acqui- | essence to his advice which made him glow afresh. One after another she | took all the articles which his loving | forethought, had provided. and put ! them on prettily. She felt, and he was something after the manner of an embrace. At the last he lifted the ! moor cap and held it out to her. She took it with smile and blush. <I really quite forget my hat,'' she said. 'Tis funny how your memory goes when you're very eager!" This little speech, unconsciously uttered sent wave of sweet passion through the man. Every Eager She went put it? I think I had almost better hide it here behind the hedge and re- trieve it when we get back" Athlyne smiled superiorly-that sort of affec tionate tolerant superiority which woman admires in a man she loves and which the least sentimental man employs unconsciously at times. He stopped into the tonneau and from under one of the seats drew out leather bonnet-boX which ran in and out on a slide. As he touched a spring this flew open, showing space and equipment for several hats and a tiny dressing bag.
 '"Why, dear, there is everything in the world in your wonderful car.''
 How he was thrilled by her using the word-the first time her lips had used it to him. It was none the less thought She herself had something of the same feeling. She quivered in a 1anguorous ecstasy. But she did not even blush at the thought; it had been but the natural expression of her feeling and she was glad she had said and told their own eloquent tale.
 ''Darling!'' he said, and. bending over kissed again the rosy mouth that was pouted to meet him.
 In silence he opened the door of the tonneau. She drew back.
 Must I go in there-alone?"
 'I can't go with you darling. Il must sit in the seat to drive. Unless y feur!'
 You stupid ald dear," this in a whisper. "I want to sit be- side you-as close as I can darling!' She sank readily into his arms which instinctive1y opened.
 True love makes it's own laws, it's own etiQuettes. When lovers judge harshly each the conduct of the other it is time for the interference or yer dict of strangers. But not till then.
 Athlyne took the wheel, feeling in a sort of triumphant glory; in every way other than he had expected. He thought that he would be ardent and demonStrative; he was protective. The very trustfulness of her reception of his caresses and her responsiveness to them made for a certain intellectual quietude.
 Joy too was in a sort of ecstatic about her happiness that all thought of self disappeared. She did not want anything to be changed in the whole universe. She did not want time to fly betwixt now and her union with the man she loved. That might-would come later: but in the meanwhile happiness was so complete as to trans | ceEd ambition. hope. time.
 Athlyne, who had made up his mind | as 10 the direction of the drive, came | down on the high road and drove at moderate speed to Ambleside; he thou ught that it would be wise to go slow | had given Joy a dust-devil but she had | not yet adjusted 1t. The present pace did not require such protection, and the idea of concea1ing her identity did | not even enter into her head. When | they were passing the post-office a 1 sudden recollection came to Athlyne l and he stopped the car suddenly. Joy l for an instant was a little alarmed | and looked towards him inquringly:
 "Only a letter which I want to post!' inc said in reply as he stepped down on | the pavement. He opened his jacket | and took from his pocket a letter | which he placed in the box. Joy sur missed afresh the letter; she vaguely | wondered if it was the same that she | pocketbook. The thought was. how ever. only a passing one. She had something else than other peoples let | ters to think about at present.
 Just as he was turning back from the post box Eugenie. who was taking of her freedom. passed | along the pavement. She stopped to admire the tall chauffeur whom she thought the handsomest man she had ever seen. She did not know him. Her service with Miss Ogilvie had only | commenced with the visit to London; up to the time of her leaving Italy | Mrs. Ogilvie's maid had attended to Joy. She stood back and pretended to be looking in at a window as she did 1 not care to be seen staring openly at him. Then she saw that he was no ordinary chauffeur. It was with a sish that she said to herself:
 'fVoila, In vrai MonSieur.' Her eyes following him as he turned the starting handle and took his seat be- hind the wheel she saw that his com panion was her mistress. Not wishing to appear as if prying on her either, she instinctively turned away
 As Athlyne was arranging himself to his driving work he said quietly to Joy:
 Sorry for delaying, but it was a most important letter, which I want to be deliv cred tonight. It might>be late if it was not posted till Carlisle" This was the first knowledge Joy had of the direction of the journey. Eugenie heard only the last word as the car moved off.
 The pace was comparatively slow until the outskirts of AmbleSide had heer passed. then he told Joy to put