Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-09-10

drinking tea. So they were IL ak iike
lihood to be married, and | a door Joke
that had been batted back and forth like
a shuttlecock between them. | tried to
laugh as one, should who sees a clown.
head in air, stumble over broomstick
but the laugh was not even a passabl.
imitation.
The storm was coming, and was glad
of it, l wanted no more of this fine
weather when man was led to lapse into
rose-colored dreams and fancy himself a
prince with the world as his realm.
The rain began to spin against my
face. The storm was coming fast, and
the waves barked angrily at my feet, like
hounds yelping. But would not run,
would not even turn up my coat-collar to
keep off the wet; | would walk stolidly
and let myself be soaked, for the poor
muddle-brained idiot that | was.
But what Of her? Barbara Graham
looked to me like a consummate firt,
playing with me when she was a trifle
weary of the company of her accredited
admirer. | knew that women sometimes
did such things l did not consider that
she was the worst of her SEX but merely a
striking instance of the sex's insincerity.
| Yet she had looked like child. as guile
less as a maid in short skirts and braid
ed hair, when she had watched the sea,
and then l remembered those sudden
flashing changes when the imp of subtle
mischief had danced in her bue-gray
| eyes. She was just a bundle of mischief,
to whom a new man was simply so much
sport. Yet l envied Islip with all the
strength of my heart, which shows how
strangely inconsistent l had grown.
Charles had foreseen the storm and
had made things tight about the cottage
moreover, he had built a fire in the liv-
ing-room, which was also the dining-room,
to take the chill out of the rapidly damp
ening air. Ordinarily, would have been
! glad to get in and change into dry clothes
and stand in front of the ire, snug ana
comfortable, but now l was as much out
of sorts as though the cottage had been
house Of cards and had suddenly tum-
bled down about my head.
Poor Charles He was soon to feel
the rawness of my temper. had no
sooner closed the door than l called to
him to get into his oilskins and 60 to
McCulloms with an order to him to have
my horse at the back door by s.
"Yes, Mr.. Felix" said Charles. "Its
going to be bad night, sir, asking your
pardon"
I'm going to the Penguin Club,
Charles" l answered, "and l don't care
If the heavens fall on the way"
"Yes, sir, very good, sir" and Charles
departed, wondering, doubtless, at the
strange new master he had found. He
knew what thought of the Penguin.
| 4 changed into my storm clothes
heavy riding breeches, with a leather
jacket that buttoned up to my chin.
put the locket in little pasteboard box
and placed it in an inside pocket. Doubt.
less Miss Graham valued that small, gold
oval trinket with her monogram woven
on the outside and her lover ensconced
inside, and she should not have to wal
until the storm passed to learn that sh'
had not lost it. 1t would do no harm
for her to be disturbed for few hours
then l would end it.
Charles came back and said that Ner,
would be around at 8. | had supper II
silent state, and then sank into gloomy
thought before the fire. Confound m,
for being such simple, gullibe fool,
who had scarcely laid eyes on woman
before at Alastair That was the trou
BILE with the affair. In town l should
have been prepared, properly gyved ant
breast-plated, but here she had come up
on me in my own natural wilderness, or
my own simple beach, in my Ship of day
dreams, where everything was as fret
and open as the sea.
Charles eyed me askance as l pulled
my oilskin hat about my ears and vault
ed upon Nero. Even the poor beast must
have looked at me susplciously, for this
was no night for riding on any simple
errand. l must be the bearer OF tidngs
a figure stepped out of rough-and- tum
BILE story. Had l only known how that
night was to carry me far afeld, ant
how that ride be the first swift gallop in
to a strange and swirling enterprise
The pines shot their water into my
face as l galloped along the narrow road
The sandy footing gave now and again
and l had to let Nero's instinct save us
flom laundering in the bogs which tn,
heavy rain was making of the country
The night was black as pitch; the wind
risen to a hurricane, screeched through
the forest in a thousand varied voices
each more harsh and ominous than the
last. Several times, riding out from the
middle of the road, wet branches driven
by the gale flung = Emselves against me
and almost thuddt me from my horse
| crouched low, bending forward for safe.
ty and that might peer into the murky
blackness of the road. Several times
Nero stumbled and almost pitched over
his head.
The lights at the gate of the club were
out; they were evidently not expecting
visitors. l rode Nero to the stables, left
him with groom, and strobe into the
clubs main hall. l must have presented
sorry spectacle; my tight-buttoned
leather jacket, my riding g-breeches and
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