The San Francisco call., 1909-07-25
CHAPTER "
Flower. by the Way

ing room with walls as frail as
box boards, low ceiled and flooded
with sun It recalled surround
ings she had known later than the
mining camp. but long before the great
red house. It seemed to her that she
fitted here better than the Purdies. She
looked across at Kerr, sitting opposite,
TO see if perhaps he fitted too. But he
was foreign, decidedly. He kept about
him still the hint of delicate masque-
rade that she had noticed the night be-
fore Out Of doors, alone with her, he
had lost it For a moment he had been
absolutely off his guard. And even
now he was more on his guard than
he had been last night She
was surprised to see him so un-
studied so critical, so humorously
anecdotal. If she and the major between
them had dragged him into this against
his viii he did not show 1t. She rose
from the table with the feeling that in
an hour all three Of them had become
quite old friends Of his, though without
knowing anything further about him.
We must do this again" Mrs. Purdie
said as they parted from her at the
garden.
Surely we will" Kerr answered her.
But Flora had the feeling that they
never, never would. For him II had
been chance touching on strange
shore.
But at least they were going away
together. They would walk together
as far as the little car. whose terminal
was on the edge of the parade ground.
But just outside Of the gate he stopped.
DO you especially like board walks -
he asked.
1t was an instant before she took his
meaning. Then she laughed. NO. like
green paths"
He waved with his cane. There is a
path yonder. that goes over bridge.
and beyond that a hill"
And at the top of that another car"
Flora reminded him.
All we'll" he said, there are flow
ers on the way, at least" He looked at
her whimsically There are three pur-
PIE irises under the bridge. I noticed
them as I came down
She was pleased that he had noticed
that for bimself-pleased. too, that he
had suggested the longer way.
The narrow path that they had chos-
en- branched out upon the main path,
broad and yellow. which dipped down
ward into the hollow. From there came
the murmur of water Green showed
through the white grass of last sum-
mer. The odor of wet evergreens was
pungent in their postrils. They looked
at the delicate fringed acacias. at the
circle OF hills showing above the low
tree tops, at the cloudless sky;
but always their eyes returned
10 each others faces, as If they
found these the pleasantest points Of
the landscape Sauntering along be-
tween plantations Of young eucalyptus,
they came to the arched stone bridge.
They leaned on the parapet, looking
and at the three irises Kerr had re-
marked. knee deep in swamp ground.
Now that I see them I suppose l
want them" Flora remarked.
'Of course" he assented- Then
hold all these"
He put into her hands the loose
bunch of syringa and rose pluched for
her in the Purdies' garden, laid his hat
and gloves on the parapeti then, with
an eye for the better bank, walked to
the end of the bridge.
Sire watched him descending the
steep bank and issuing into the broad
shallow basin OF the streams way. The
sun was still high enough TO I'LL the
hollows with warm light and mellow
the doubles of trees and grass in the
stream. In this landscape of green
and pale gold he looked black and tall
and angular. The wind blew longish
locks of hair across his forehead, and
she had a moments pleased and tim
orous reflection that he looked like
Satan coming into the garden.
He advanced from tussock TO tussock
He came TO the brink of the marsh.
The lilies wavered what seemed but a
hands breadth from him. But he
stopped, he reached Oh, could any
thing so foolish happen as that he
could not gef them, Or more foolish
still, plunge in to the knees, He
strai ightened from his fruitless effort,
drew back. but before she could Ia
what he was about he had leaned for
ward again, flashed out his cane, and
with three quick, cutting slashes the
lilies were mown- 1t was deftly, deli
cstely, astonishingly done, but it gave
her a singlar shock. as If she had
seen hawk strike it's prey He
drew them cleverly toward him in the
crook Of his cane, took them up dainti--
" in his fingers, and returned to her
across the shallow valley. She waited
him with mixed emotions.
oh, how could you" she murmured,
as he put them into her hand
He looked at her in amused astonish-
ment Why. aren't they right?1
They were as clean clipped off and as
perfect as IL the daintiest hand had
plucked them.
.'Oh. yes. she admitted. they're
lovely, but don't like the way you got
them
i took the means had he objected.
Il don't think I like it."
His whole face was sparkling with
interest and amusement. rs that so?
Why not2"
You're too. too" she cast about
for the word-"too terribly resource
fulw
I see" he said. If she had feared
he would laugh il showed how little she
had gauged the limits of his laughter.
He only looked at her rather more in
tently than he had before
But, my good child, resourcefuIness
Is 4 very natural instinct I am afraid