The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-07-28

courageonsly wading out to the SIDE OF
the car. Whereupoa he was advised Ia
tones OF fiuttered indignation:
-s'Yon simply wouldn't listen to me.
And warned you. Now you're soak
ing wet and viii certainly catch your
death of cold. and-and what can do?
Truly, am sorry"
Here the young man lost track OF
her remark He was looking up into
the shadow Of the motoring cap, dis
covering things; for the shadow was
set at naught by the moon luster that,
reflected from the surface of the
stream, invested with gentle and
glamorous radiance the face that bent
above him. And he caught at his
breath sharply, direst fears confirmed:
She was pretty indeed-perilously
pretty. The firm, resolute chin, the
sensitive, sweet line of scarlet lips,
the straight little nose, the brows del
icately arched. the large, alert, tawny
eyes with the dangerous sweet shad-
ows beneath, the CLINT as of raw cop
per where her hair caught the light
Maitland appreciated them all far too
well; and clutched nervously the rail
+, of the seat, trying to steady himself,
to re-conect his routed wits and con-
slider sensibly that it all was due to
the magic of the moon. belize; the
witchery of this apparition that looked
down into his eyes SO gravely.
"Of course" he mumbled, ii too
beautiful to endure. OF course i will
all fade, vanish utterly in the cold
light of day"
Above him, perplexed brows gath
cred ominously. 81 beg pardon?"
'T-er-yes," he stammered at ran
dom.
s'You-er-what? ?"
Positively, she was laughing at him!
He. Maitland the exquisite, Mad Matt
land the imperturbable, was being
laughed at by mere child, girl
scarcely out of her teens. He glanced
upward, caught her eye a-gleam with
merriment, and looked away with
much vain dignity.
q was saying" he manufactured,
that l did not mind the wet,ing in
the least. I'm happy to be of service. :"
You weren't saying anything OF the
sort, she contradicted, calmly. How
ever She paused significantly.
Maitland experienced an instan-
taneous sensation as CT furtive guilt,
decidedly the reverse of comfortable.
He shufed uneasily There was a
brief silence, on her part expectant.
on his. blank His mental attitude re-
NAMED hopeless; for some mysterious
reason his nonchalance had deserted
him in the hour of his supermest
need; not in all, his experience did he
remember anything like this-as awk-
ward
TIE river purled indifferently about
his calves; a vagrant breeze disturbed
the tree tops and died Of sheer lassi-
tude; Time plodded on with measured
stride. Then, abruptly, full-winged
inspiration was born out of the chaos
of his mind. Listening intently, he
glanced with covert suspicion at the
bridge; it proved untenanted, inoffen-
sive Of mien; nor arose there any
sound of hoof or wheel upon the high
way. Again he looked up at the girl;
and found her in thoughtful mood,
frowning, regarding him steadily be-
meath level brows.
He assumed disarming levity OF
demeanor, smiling winningly. There's
only one way" he suggested-not too
archly-and extended his arms.
@Indeed?" She considered him with
pardonable dubiety.
Instantly his purpose became as
adamant
q must carry you. It's the only
way"
"Oh, indeed no! couldn't impose
upon you. Tm-very heavy, you
know"
Never mind" firmly insistent. you
can't stay here all night, of course"
But are you sure?" (She was yield
ing) 81 don't like to"
He shook his head, careful to re-
strain the twitching corners OF his
lips.
1T will take but a moment" he
urged, gravely. and I'll be quite
careful"
(To be Continued)