Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-09
CHAPTER XVIII-Continued.

| "Addie, every drop OF blood in me calls
| for that stuff; I know every sensation II
| would give me, and three months ago l
| would have given my immortal soul for
| a spoonful: but I'm just as safe from II
as though it were locked up behind steel
doors. No power on earth could make
me touch a drop
| So long as he made love to her she I'M
derstood: this bit of bravado distur q
and baff1ed her. But here at least was
something that required prompt commen-
dation, and while she had been better sat
isfied by the first direction Of his talk.
here was a zone of safety in which they
might stand together in security. She
rose and placed her hands on his shout
ders.
You are splendid; YOU are fine and
brave and l am proud OF you, WI yhe'
| DEAR"
| His manner changed instantly and he
| caught her hands and clasped them tight.
He was still breathing deeply from his
long harangue, but in a moment he spoke
quietly, with return OF the tenderness
| with which he had begun.
| I'm a beast to frighten you that way,
and | must have hurt this poor little
hand.
He kissed it and swung her hands light
| ~ looking into her face tenderly.
| What a terrible big bear you are. And
everything was peaceable and coy, and
you let your temper get the better OF
you"
The snow, still falling densely, had has
tened the twilight and night was near.
I'VE must goat once-at once. W nat
| if the car wouldn't run in the snow?
What if it wouldn't. Tney can give
us dinner here-right here on the hearth
They can always put up something. ITS
| the rule of the club, and there's no emo
| of wood for the fire.
I'VE are going straight home-just as
straight as we can go. Please!
She tried to free herself, but he held
her hands fast, laughing into her eyes,
| and suddenly he put his arms around her
and drew her close and kissed her 1uil
upon the lips. The freight danced MT
fully about them as they stood thus. he
had raised his head to repeat the KISS
Some one cried aloud once, twice and beat
upon the door, and when Wayne f1ung II
open Jean Morley, frightened and Sob
| bing stumbled across the threshold.
Wayne plunged through the snow-hlied
| dusk after a man who had turned away
| from the veranda steps and was running
swiftly down the road. To his surprise
| the fugitive, who had at once Widened
the distance between them, stopped snort
and wheeled round.
Il meant no harm. l meant no HARM
cried voice.
Good God, Joe. What are you doing
ihere?"
rs it you, Mr. Wayne? I guess I'm
crazy. that's all. l meant no harm; She IL
| tell YOU herself I meant no HARM
We'll see about that. / told you to
stay at the house. I'm surprised and
| disappointed in you. I'll see you about
this tonight. Now go to the car-back
there under the shetland bring it out
| right away and take us in. And you
needn't try to smash it on the way home;
| 60 in by the Red Oak road and take your
| time
Wayne was not more surprised to find
that his man Joe had been Jean Morley.s
pursuer than by the young fellows evil
| dent distress, so markedly in contrast to
his usual anliable cocksureness. 1t was
no time for inquiry and debate. The
snow was already ankle deep. and 1t was
| imperative that they start home at once
WAYNE, returning to the clubhouse,
found Jean Morley. sitting by the fire.
with Mrs. Craighll ministering to her
| She had not yet recovered from her
| fright; her clothes were wet and her dark
hair had shaken loose about her race.
Mrs. Craighill appealed to Wayne for an
account of what had happened, ard her
, surprise was manifest when Wayne ad-
! dressed the crumpled refugee quietly by
| name.
Mrs. Craighill. this is Miss Morley"
| Whereat Mrs. Craighills OH expressed
| rather more than surprise. Miss Nor
ley is an acquaintance of mine: We met
and he smiled at the girl-'at the parish
house at Ironstead. where she is one OF
| Mr.. Paddocks assistants"
| Jean rose and aware that an eXpiana-
| ton was necessary she offered 1t 1mme-
| diately, standing forlornly on the hearth.
|. Il had gone for a walk in the country;
| ] have been in the habit of taking an
| afternoon once a week. and it was 80 fine
at noon that I ventured on longer eX-
| cursion than usual. l took the train to
| Rosedaie Heights and struck off across
,nC1- v1-6n no n
| to snow, but lost my way and it was not
till then that l saw that some one had
| followed me-"
The man who followed you was my
chauffeur: is there any reason WHY ne
should be annoying you?" demanded
| Wayne.
NO, there is no reason: but | know
him. I have known him long time.
I'm sure he didn't mean to trouble me
f. he wouldn't do that. | was foolish to
run but the dark was coming on and
was not sure of the way in the snow. 1
iran up on the veranda more for shel' r
and to get my bearings than In 1ear-l
really was not afraid.
| Her hearers were struck by the tact
! that she seemed anxious to minimize the
incident. She turned toward the door,
saying:
! very easily walk to the station.
Not a bit Of it, exclaimed Mrs. Craig
hill. I'VE were just ready to start ard
it will be perfectly easy to take you
home. Is the machine ready, Wayne"
Mrs. Craighill was pointedly ignoring
him In her attentions to the girl. She
was holding her hat to the fire to dry;
the caretaker's wife, who had been sent
for dry shoes and stockings. led M ss
Morley to her own room to change. Mrs.
CraighilI had been good deal shaken by
the sudden invasion Of the peaceful club
tireside. but she had not lost her wits.
The housekeeper had been drawn to re
scene not merely for aid but TO sustain
and support the two cuipfits or the tea
table, before the bedraggled girl VINO had
interrupted the afternoons drama.
| The spell had been broken; the ar
rested embrace, the defeated KISS might
not be recovered at once Mrs. Cralghlii
placed chair between herself and
| Wayne and from this vantage point sur
| veyed him with severity as she touched
a loosened strand of hair into place. They
were now on the most formal footing. and
he smiled slightly before the bristling
bayonets with which she demanded ex-
plantations
Well, who is she?'
oh don't be 50 fierce about 1t, Addie'
couldn't help it. Shes just what said
"a girl | met at PaddOck's mission al
Ironstead Shes an art student: Fanny
is helping her; she's one Of Fannys en-
thGSiasms.
DO you suppose-do you suppose she
saw us?"
II doubt it: she didn't have time" and
WAYNE laughed But il would make no
difference If she did.
,it,ly oil