Evening star., 1909-06-26

1t was good to see her. And the man:
business cares. his social plans. his mat
rimoniaI campaign itself, faded int
nothingness He was here. by her side
That was enough. And doubly h,
realized how poignant had been the ache
of aloneness at his heart during ever,
day of her absence. There new
peace an utter content. that enwrappeC
him now that he was once more beside
her He did not try to analyze the
emotion. But he knew 1t mastered hin
as nothing else had ever done He knew
1t. and. satisfied to look no farther ahead
ne was glad
The launch had churned clear of the
dock and was beating to northwa ard
through the mist barrier Shadowy
shores slipped past them. To their left
out of the fog. loomed the boathOuSe OF
a camp. Beyond its float men and. girls
in shiny bathing suits were splashine
about in the water. Caleb trailed his
hand over the launch side. At the niI
of the icy water he accorded the swim
mers such glance as he might have
bestowed on the martyrs of old.
A wind danced down from the north
playfully tearing the lake vapors to ST.
yer tatters. A lance of white sunlight
struck through the flying mist-reek. Out
of the obscurity leaped an island: emer-
aid green. sparkling with diamonds OF
moisture. Then another and another.
The mainland's vague shores took shape
and beauty. Broad reaches of water
flashed azure and pale gold under the
swift caress Of wind and sun.
''See!" cried Desiree. Isn't it per-
fect?"
Yes" ne murmured 1T is
But lookr' she commanded You
haven't once taken your eyes from my
face. How can you say"
What said goes" he answered. curt
ly. There's nothin' to take back
conover's first day lat the Antlers was
pleasant. for he and Desiree were to-
gether from morning to night He was
welcomed with effusive cordially by
by the lads mother. The big tent where
In he was quartered was near enough to
the Hawarden cottage to make the trip
to and fro seem as nothing. More and
more strongly as the day wore on did he
feel as though he had reached some long
sought mecca. The beauty of the top
of the world" was lost on him: but the
beauty of the girl had in a moment be-
thought. He was duly surprised at him
self. Heretofore he had always taken
Desiree as much for granted AS he had
taken the sunlight itself To her he had
restful in his life: had done ii unthink-
fngly. as part of his established routine.
But now, after two months of separation
from her. he grasped for the first time
all her presence had meant to him.
The mighty silences of the mountains
the tumbled miles of multi-shaded green's.
strewn with fire-blue lakes-all these car
ried no message to the hard-headed fight
er, the man Of cities. But ever he caught
himself staring at DeSiree in awed Won
der. as though some veil between them
had of sudden been snatched away.
That first afternoon he and she went
for a long walk where the twisting red
brown trail wound half aimlessly through
the still forest; and she lectured him with
sternness that he found delicious upon
his lack of appreciation for the vistas.
hooks and leafy sanctums she. pointed
out. But before supper she made him
take her out on the lake in one of the
long. slender euide-boatS, whose over
tapping oar handles he found so hard TO
manage. In midstream she bade him stop
rowing and pointed to the west Against
a green-gold BACKGROUND of sky long
crimson cloud streamers flickered.
1T looks as If the wind were on fire.
she breathed In ecstasy.
And he, after perfunctory glance
and word of acquiescence. bent again
to his oars. The lake was dotted with
beats of the sunset fleet" The oc-
cupants of a dark blue st. Lawrence
skf hailed them. Caleb. In obedience
to ADesiree's gesture, rowed closer. The
oarSman of the other boat proved to be
Jack Hawarden. who was returning with
his mother from a climb of the CragS.
isn't this sunset well worth travelling
all the way from Granite to see?" called
Jack.
1T is kind of pretty assented Caleb.
gentle scorn. What word for such
a scene! 1t brings ou- all that is highest
and most beautiful in one" she went on.
soulfully Il wish. instead Of rowing
back to the Antlers to supper, l might
drift on here forever"
You'd be. lfble to get rather hungry
after a few hours Of it. 1 guess volun-
teered Caleb. feeling he was somehow
Hungry" shuddered Mrs Hawarden
loath to come down to earth. Il should
be feasting on the sunset. What more
could any one want?'
well. ma'am.' suggested Conover. du-
biously, IF YOU leave 1t to me Ia rather
Just now have tripe sandwich
Come. Jack said Mrs. Hawarden.
coldly. II think we'll go in
oh how could youG la laughed ans De Desiree rec
b Ws hsr cas' csrs bost ras
disgust. She'll never forgive you for
spelling her rhapsody. A tripe sand
wich, How could
1T was the first thing that came into
my head" he excused. An this noun
tain airs put an edge on my ap'tite that
! could shave with. A tripe sandwich
would taste good. I'm sorry if =
If 1t had been anything less hideously
plebeian' she insisted. Even roas,
shoulder of tripe would have sounded
better, oh. tripe doesn't have shoulders
though does it?''
1T may. for all / KNOW" he returned
But. say. Dey have : made you mort
fed? Honest. l dido> mean to-"
II ought to scold you she answered.
But. for letting me see that look on
poor Ms. Hawardens face. I forgive
you eve: - hing
Jack Hawarden. entering conover's tent
half hour later. found the Fighter
struggling into dinner jacket.
For heavens sake" urged the lad
take that thing off. Except at dances
they're never worn here. There's a ru-
NOR that the boys ran stranger into the
lake one summer for coming to supper
in evening dress"
First thing that's struck me right
since came. grunted Caleb, eagerly
beginning to shed the tabooed garments
IL get something conf Ia Bile I'm half a
minute II you'll walt for me that long"
The Granite papers keep us posted on
your doings.' said Jack. seating himself
on the bed. You've made the old state
sit up this summer"
I'll have II standin' on its hind legs an
beggin'. before I'm done" chuckled Con-
over. I'm only just beginnin How
you gettin on with Dey?'
How do you mean?" asked Jack, un-
easily.
Got her to take your view of the mar
ryin' problem?''
No said the boy. II haven't