The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-01-07

by the young lady. she aOlnllleu CoilfliNilS
with her father despite her aunts
precautions, in a night meeting with Dom
oVan.
CHAPTER discontinued.
'Do you mean to tell me that you
have not talked with ) our father-that
you have not seen him here?" l be-
sought.
Yes: I have seen him-once, and
it was by accident. 1t was quite by &C.
cident."
"Yes; I know of that"
Then you have been spying upon
me, Mr.. Donovan!"
"Why did you tell me that outrage
ously foolish tale about your chess
game, when I knew exactly where you
were at the very hour you would have
had me think you were dutifully en-
gagged with your aunt? 1t seems to
me, my dear Miss Holbrook, that that
Is not so easy of explanation, even to
my poor wits"
THAT was without purpose; really
1t was! was restless and weary from
so much confinement; you can't know
how dreary these late years have been
for us-for me-and | wished just
once to be free. I went for long
walk into the country. And If you
saw me, if you watched me"
I gazed at her blankly. The thing
could not have been better done on
the stage; but Miss Pat was walking
toward us, and I put an end to the
talk.
II came upon him by accident
had no idea he was here" she per
sisted.
"You are not growing tired Of us,
began Miss Pat, with her brave, beau
tiful smile; you are not anxious to be
rid Of u.s."
81 certainly am not" I replied. 81
can't tell you how glad am that you
have decided to remain here. I am
quite sure that with a little patience
we shall wear out the besiegers. Our
position here has, you may say, the
strength of its weakness. I think the
policy of the enemy is to harass you
by guerrilla methods-to annoy you
and brighten you into submission"
eyes; I believe you are right" she
said slowly. Helen had walked on
and I loitered beside Miss Pat.
Il hope you have had no misgivings
Miss Pat, since our talk yesterday"
None whatever" she replied, quick
ly. 81 am quite persuaded in my own
mind that l should have been better
off If had made a stand long ago.
don't believe cowardice ever pays, dc
your"
She smiled up at me in her quick
bright way, and I was more than ever
her slave.
Miss Holbrook, you are the bravest
woman in the world! I believe you are
right. l think should be equal to ter
thousand men with your spirit to put
heart into me-"
Don't be foolish" she said, laugh
ing. But t. show you that I am not
really afraid, suppose you offer to take
us for drive this evening. I think il
would be we'll for me to appear TODAY
just to show the enemy that we are
not driven to cover by our little ad
venture in the launch yesterday"
Certainly! Shall we carry out.
riders and rear guard?"
Not a bit of 1t. I think we NAV he
able to shame my brother out of his
evil intentions by our defenselessness.
We waited for Helen to rejoin us
and the drive was planned for five
Promptly on the hour, after day OF
activity on my part in cruising the
lake, looking for signs of the enemy
we set forth in an open trap. and
plunged into country roads that tray
ersed territory new to all of US. l car
ried lima along, and when, after 2
few miles, Helen asked to take the
reins, / changed seats with her, and
gave myself up to talk with Miss Pat
The girls mood was grave, and she
wished to drive, / fancied, as an ex
cuse for silence. The land rolled grad
ually away into the south and west
and we halted, in an hour or So far
from the lake, on wooded eminence
that commanded long sweep in every
direction, and drew into the roadside
lima opened gate that admitted us
10 a superb maple grove, and in a few
minutes we were having tea from the
hamper in the cheeriest mood in the
world. The sun was contriying new
marvels in the west, and the wood
that dipped lakeward beneath us gave
an illusion of thick tapestry to the
eye.