Evening star., 1909-04-22


away through AMMAN toward Dumsrtes.
Joy did not know that at that turning
on TO Amman they were almost in touch
Win Gretna Green. Athlyne did not
think OF It at the time Had the knotl-
sased on the subject the temptation It
would have brought might have been TOO
much for lovers In their rapturous cos,di-
ton. and the course of this history might
have been different
The run to the outskirts OF Dumfries.
where the trafnc Increased. was another
wild rush. which wrought both the oc.
cupants OF the car to a high pitch Of ex-
element
To Joy 1t seemed a sort e realization
On the drive to Carlisle, and from that
on over the border. the fFinging hills of
the Soiway had been dim and mystery
provoking outline. But now the hills
were at hand before hem and to the
north: while far across the waste OF
banks and shoals Of Solway Firth rose
the Cumberland mountains mighty
piltng mass OF serrated blue haze. 1t was
convincing reco milton Of the situation:
this was Scotland and England was far
behind! Inst'nctively she leaned clio :er t.
her companion at the thought
Between Dumfries and Castle Douglas
was long hill to climb within stretch
Of seven miles. But the De,auany Bell
vile breasted it nobiy and went IN witt,
unyieiding energy. Then. when the sum
nit at Crocketford was reached. she ran
down the hill to Crr Water with a mighty
rush which seemed to carry her over
thence the road to Dairy was magnificent
for scenery. At Crossmichael II cams
close to the Ken. whose left bank 10 fol-
lowed right up by Parton to st Johns
river. Athlyne had intended to rest a
while some where about here: but the old
coach road, winding with the curves OF
the river. looked so inviting that ne ran
a few miles up north toward carsphairn.
Coming to bye-road where grew many
fine trees of beech and stone pine which
gave welcome shade. ne ran UP q few
hundred yards to where the road curved
a little. Here was an ideal spot for
picnic. and especially for picnic Of two
The curving of the road made an open
space. which the spreading trees above
shaded. Deep grass was on the wide
margin Of the fiat road which presently
wa'er which fell from a little rocky
ledge. tinkling happily through the hum
OF summer insect life. Wild flowers grew
everywhere. 1t was idyilic ana delightful
where towering high above a Druidic
| ruin. in the foreground. the lofty hills OF
Carspha'rn rose far away between them
and the western sky. In itself the scene
wanted for absolute perfection some fis-
ures in he foreground. And presently
had them in a very perfect form. Joy
clapped her hands with delight ike a
happy child as she glanced around her
Athlyne drew up sharp. and jumping
from his seat held out his hand TO Joy.
who sprang beside him on the road. As
they stood togeth.r when Joys wrap had
been removed they made a hand
some couple. Both tall and slim and eIe-
CANT and strong. Both straight as lances
both bright and eager WITH the light of
love and happiness shining on them
more notably than even the flicker OF
sunlight between the great stems and
branches OF the trees. His brown hair
seemed to match her black: the brown
eyes and the gray both were lit with
light that never came from land or sea-!
Joys eyes fell under the burning gances
of her lover the time had not yet come
for that absolutely fearless recognition
which. being a mans UNCONSCIOUS de-
mand q woman instinctively resists.
lAthiyne recognized the deiicacy. and ar
quiesced All t.lis without q single
spoken word. Then he spoke:
Cro be continued tomorrow.)