Evening star., 1909-05-13
CHAPTER xxIII-continued.

II the journey up north had been fairy
land. the journey southwark was heaven
for both the young people. Athlyne felt
all the triumph OF q conqueror. II he
had sung out loud, as he would like to
have done. his song would have been a
war song rather than q love song. There
was the elan Of the conqueror about him;
the stress of love-longing and love- -pining
was behind him. The battle was won.
and his conquerors booty was beside
him. we'll content to be in his train Still
even conqueror's love has its duties as
than ever to Joy. She. sitting beside him
in all the radiancy Of her new-found
wifehood, felt that their hearts were
beating together; and that their thoughts
swayed in unison. When her eyes would
be lifted from the lean. strong. brown
hands gripping the steering wheel-for
in the rush Of the departure he had other
things to think of than putting on the
gloves which were squeezed behind him
in .his seat-and would look up into his
face she would feel a sort Of electric
shock as his eyes. leaving for a moment
their steering duty. would flash into hers
with look Of love which made her
Quiver. But presently when his yielding
to affection had been tested. and even her
curiosity had been satisfied. she ceased
such sudden looks. She realized his idea
of gravity of the situation when she saw
as their eyes returned to their necessary
task. the hard look become fixed on his
eagle face-the look which to one en-
gagged In his task means safety to those
under his care. She was all sympathy
with him now. She was content that his
will should prevail; that his duty should
be the duty Of both; that her service was
to help him. And the first moment she
realized this she sighed happily and she
sank back in her seat, her lover-rapture
merged in wife-content. She had COM
pensation for the foregoing in the exer-
else OF her own pride. From her present
standpoint all that came within the scope
of her senses was supremely beautiful
The mountains gray and mysterious in
their higher and future peaks: the dark
woods running fiamelike up into the glory
Of the mountain colOring: the scent Of
the new-mown hay, drifted across the
track by the bracing winds sweeping over
the hills; the glimmering sapphire of the
water as they swept by lake or river, or
caught flashes Of the distant Forth
through long green valleys. They went
fast; Athlyne's wild excitement-the echo
distinction on the f1eld-found some relief
In speed. He had thrown open the throt-
tie of his powerful engine and swept
along at such a speed that the whole
car. giving only momentary glimpses Of
even the most far-flung beauty. He did
not fear police traps now. He did not
fear anything! Even the car seemed to
have yielded itself like a living thing to
the spell of the situation. It's wheels
speed made a wind which seemed to roar
in the ears of the two who were one.
Joy felt that she had a right to be con-
tent This journey was of her own
been this-when the party had been ar
ranged for starting her father had said
to -Athlyne:
when you get to Ambleside. as sup
pose you will do before us. will you give
orders to have everything ready for our
over to Bowness. You can come over to
dinner, IL you like. l suppose you and
Joy will want to see something of each
other-all you can, indeed. before the
wedding comes of. That can be as soon
as you like after you have got the IL
cense." To this he had replied:
Il should like to-and shall-do any
thing l can, sir. to meet your wishes.
But cannot promise to do anything now,
on quite my own initiative. You see, our
not tell you that her wishes must pre-
vail-so far as am concerned!
Quite right. my boy! Quite right"
said the old man. "Then we shall leave
the orders to her. Here. Joy!' She came
over and her father put his suggestion to
her. She hesitated. gravely, and paused
before she spoke; she evidently intended
that there should be no mistake as to her
deliberate intention:
mo, daddy, that won't do; I'm going
with my husbandn She took his arm
and clung to him lovingly. her finger tips
biting sweetly into his flesh. But, daddy
dear, we'll come over tomorrow and lunch
or breakfast with you. IL we may. Call
it early lunch or late breakfast. We
shall be over about noon. Remember we
have tn come from ROwnpSSI'
Athlyne seemed to float in air as he
heard her. There was something so
sweetly-so truly wifely in her words and
attitude that 1t won to his heart and set
him In state of rapture.
The late breakfast at Ambleside next
day, though ostensibly mere family
breakfast, was hardly to be classed in
that category. It was In reality regarded
by all the family at present resident in
that town as a wedding breakfast They
had one and all dressed themselves for
the occasion. Not in complete marriage
costume. which would have looked a lit
tie overdone. but In a modified form.
which sufficiently expressed in the mind
Of each the prevailing spirit of rejoicing.
toot" of Athlynes powerful hooter was
heard some distance off. All rushed to
the windows to see the great red car
swing round the corner. The chauffeur
was driving; the bride and groom sat In
the tonneau. AS Athlyne was not driv-
ing he wore an ordinary morning dress
well cut suit of light gray, which set
out we'll his tall, 1.-the, powerful figure.
JOY was wrapped in a huge motor coat
of soft gray. with her head shrouded In a
veil of the same color. In the hall they