Evening star., 1909-04-16
CHAPTER xI-Continued.

When they had gone in Athlyne waited
little while in the garden. He sat In the
sunshine on a garden seat placed in the
center Of the grass plot. He was not
afraid Of being seen at present. and as he
knew that Joy and her father were In the
house he did not even try to look for
| them. Had he chosen a position for the
purpose of giving Joy pleasure he could
not have done better than this. From be-
hind her window curtain she could see
him plainly. To her he made a beautiful
picture, of which the natural setting was
complete; the background OF sweet pale
| lilac, the dropping gold OF the laburnum
and the full red scarlet hawthorn; his
feet in the uncut grass starred with
daisies. She had long. long view of him.
watching every movement and expression
with eager eyes One thing he did which
she could not understand He took from
his breast pocket an envelope; this he
opened and took from 1t letter Instead
OF reading 1t. however. he sat for a long
time with 1t in his hand. Then with a
quick movement he put 1t back in the en-
velope, mcistened the flap with his lips
and closed It, joys idea had been that 1t
might have been Judy's letter which he
had intended to reread: but this could not
be: For an instant a spasm OF pain had
gripped her heart as the thought came
that it might have been from some other
woman. But this idea she swept aside
imperiously- Now she knew that 1t was
some letter OF his own, and the question
ing Of her brain began to assail her heart:
Whom could he be writing TO? What
could he be writing about? Why did he
have a finished letter In his pocket, not
even sealed up?
If she had known the truth she would
have sat quiet. not with perturbation, but
in silent ecstasy. Athlyne had made UP
his mind that II occasion did not serve
for his seeing Joy alone he would send
the letter to Col. Ogilvie and risk being
refused. In such case he would have to
take another course. and try to obtain her
consent in spite of her fathers wishes
He did not. however. intend to send the
letter yet. His first hope was too sweet
to abandon without good cause. His clos
preston Of his feeling.
Suddenly he stood up and moved out Of
the garden. This did not puzzle her, but
awoke all her curiosity. She had q wild
she could not follow him she made up her
mind to present patience She watched
from her window till he had passed out
of sight. She was glad that she was con-
him at the furthest point Of sight turn
and give a long look back at the hotel
Then she went to her room to, get ready
for lunch.
Atnlyne feIt thaf he must do SOmethinH 4
to let off steam. Movement of some kind
was necessary in his present frame Of
mind. For his pleasure was not unmixed.
He had seen Joy. and she WAS looking
more radiantly beautiful than ever. But
she had said one thing that sent a pang
through him: IF I ever fall In love"
There could hardly be any doubt OF her
sincerity; she was talking to her father
quite alone and unconscious that he Of all
men was withing earshot. IF ever fall
In love'-that meant that she had not yet
done so. It would be Wise to wait be-
fore sending the letter so that he might
see If that happy time had come or had
even began to peep above the horizon.
Unconsciously he took from his pocket
the letter and his poeketbook, put the
former into the latter aud returned 1t to
It's place.
Athiyne was no fool: but he was only
a man. and as such took for gospel every
word spoken by the woman he loved. Had
Joy been present and known his dthculty.
and had cared to express herself then as
she would have done later. she would
have smiled at him and said:
why, you dear old goose. how could
fall in love with you when had done
that already
Had Aunt Judy been commenting on the