The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-05-06
CHAPTER l-continued.

Without demur. and an evident dis
taste to prolonging the personal
theme, she said:
May begin to make my notes. Mr..
Tempest?"
He smiled. "win you sit there at
my table?"
He put the chair in place, drew be-
fore her paper and a choice Of pens,
ink, and sharpened pencils. left her
side and went round in front of her,
where he sat down facing her, closing
his eyes and folding his arms across
his breast.
Write" he commanded, what l
dictate, please, as fast as you can"
In a low and measured tone. as II
every word were pearl and he
weighed 1t, as II every phrase were a
jewel which he held up to see its
quality, Tempest began to compose.
Not in verse. but in an even, sonorous
prose as rich as II was free from man
uerism and ambiguity.
The scribe wrote like lightning and
listened spellbound as she wrote. The
power Of what she was going to tran
scribe shook her as Tempest develop
ed the theme and warmed to his sub.
ject. Once as he paused she raised
her eyes to his, her own ardent, deep,
full Of emotion, in tribute for the gen.
ius she had been permitted to see. She
was unconscious how much OF her
self her uplifted face betrayed.
oh hol 10
eyelids to lift, opened his eyes, stopped
speaking. A flush came into his face.
he unfolded his arms and stirred.
Wait" he murmured, don't move"
He held her eyes for a second. then
fell back, set her free, refolded his
arms, and continued his dictation.
Miss Carew filled page after page
with rapid characters. When he had
definitely ceased she sighed. dropping
her pencil. II she had yielded to i'm.
pulse, she would have buried her
head on her arms and SO remained
under the spell that had magnetized
her. Too tactful in the presence OF
this uncontrolled and personal man
to betray anything of herself or her
feelings. she sat without comment or
movement.
Tempest came up to her and lifted
her right hand.
you are tired out"
"Oh-no-no!"
But you sighed"
Because 1t was at an end"
That's graceful. You have written
two hours" He gathered up the
sheets and piled them slowly together
why do you push your chair back?"
II must l will be late for Mrs
Ramsdill's lunch"
MRS. Ramsdill-" He caught him
self. "You lunch here"
NO." she said firmly, mot to-day
Mr.. Tempest"
Then he said tentatively: you are
tired. of course. I'm a brute. but you
may as well know it-a brute absorbed
and egotistical."
"You don't think il. Mr.. Tempest
| not OF yourself-and l am tired.
suppose my 12-mile walk is still In my
| bones"
An extraordinarily gentle look came
over his face. his lips parted as II Il
say something which he altered.
Il won't keep you. then; 90 and
rest, with Mrs. Ramsdill to coddle yot
she's q dear little soul-but tomor
row. please, you shall work for your
self, l promise you"
As she drew on her gloves he said.
Il have not written one line In si1
months. To a man Of my tempera
ment no one knows what that means
1-of nerves and bad humor and-de
spair. viii not bore you with M,
migraines. but ! thank you more thar
you can know. Miss Carew." At tht
carriage he said: II hope you vii
lunch well. and remember that I LEI
you 60 only from an unselfsh scruple
I can say without exaggeration It's al
epoch in q self-indulgent life."
She lunched at Mrs. Ramsdill's likt
Q queen. for Tempest had sent frui
and wine and game. The table In thu
cottage kitchen had q royal air. TO
the service was from Craven and tn
vim In dusty bottles. and Tie fruit