Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-24
CHAPTER VIII.
Almost q Hero

The noon meal was again served. in
Difference to me. 1 suppose. in the front
room; but this time the square table was
with the family.
Mrs Horsford was still silent, and her
eyelids were red and swollen. as IL from
recent weeping. Her husband had charge
Of the child, and wondered whether II
were his habit to care for 1t always when
in the house. He looked grim and barely
spoke during the meal. To my remark
that I had called at the Arms cottage.
he merely looked at me and uttered a
conclusive Aye"
When we had finished 1 followed him
to the grain house. and by dint of many
questions succeeded in learning the names
and accredited characteristics Of the post
master. the banker. the physician and
the chief merchant OF the town. whose
assistance ! thought II possible 1 might
have occasion to seek. / also arranged
with Horsford for the use of two horses
and q man to care for them, and then
proceeded to make myself acquainted
with the grounds and environs Of Over
look.
1 found that starting from the sunken
gardens to the northwest of the house q
gravel path bordered the edge OF the
bluff and Joined the twisting drive to the
main entrance gates on the one hand. and
on the other followed in and out among
the trees that grew on the bank that
sloped at this point TO the waters edge.
Down there, on a pier that ran well out
into the water, 1 found q boathouse. and
one of the keys in the bunch that Hors-
ford had given me fitted the lock in the
door.
There were three rowboats inside. two
Of them dry and sprung from disuse. but
one still gay with green and red paint
and apparently seaworthy. On a wide
shelf that outlined three sides OF the
room were fishing tackle. hooks. pals.
etc and near the middle OF each side Of
the house was q window in the shape OF
a large portfolio.
In my progress Of inspection l had
reached one Of these windows. and as l
fixed by an unexpected picture before me.
A hundred feet. or whereabouts. beyond
the Overlook pier stretched another pier.
likewise bearing a boathouse: and be-
tween the two lay bit Of sandy beach
on which at that moment the rising tide
was sending foam-capped waves.
Along this beach ran a young girl.
clothed in white, with q white sunbonnet.
and her dress was gathered to her knees
above the whitest. roundest. daintiest an
kles and calves that were ever. perhaps.
bestowed upon mortal. Now and then
she paused to dig a small pink toe into
the sands, or to dare an incoming wave
to break upon the polished marble OF her
ankle, screaming with lusty giee when IL
did SO, and running on again out OF
reach Of the next encroacher. Once she
turned a little. and l caught q glimpse
of a pink and white face framed in the
floating gold of her hair as the breeze
caught the loosened tresses and blew
them out.
thought of the attractive girl on the
train, and at once began to trace a re-
sembiance between. her and the wisp Of
humanity on the sands. Both had hair
like captured sunbeams. and upon both
had nature bestowed her rare kiss of per
feet coioring. What more likely than
that they were sisters? I hoped thew
were. for already 1 had registered a vow
that If she were Eoppins for long in
OF my high priestess Of travel. and to
have this pretty little one q member OF
for me tremendously. / had only to as
certain to whom the neighboring pier e.
Ionred secure q card from some re-
hans when / came to know him-and 10,
7 Should have the privilege OF looking
again. and perhaps often. into q fair face.