Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-26
CHAPTER XIV. .
Eleanor 1ntervenes.

The presidents private car was side
tracked on the short spur at the eastern
end Of the Crows Nest, and when Lid
gerwood reached it he found the observa-
ton platform fully occupied. The night
was no more than pleasantly cool, and
the half grown moon, which was already
dipping to it's early extinguishment be-
hind the upreared bulk of the Timan-
yonis, struck out stark etchings in silver
and blacklist shadow upon a ground OF
fallow dun and vanishing grays. On such
nights the mountain desert hides its for
bidding face, and the potent spell Of the
silent wilderness had drawn the young
people of the Nadia's party to the out
door trystinG place.
Hello, Mr.. Lidgerwood. is that you"
called Van Lew, when the superintendent
came across to the spur track. Il tnought
you said this was bad man. country
We have been out here for solid hour.
ard nobody has shot up the town or even
whooped a single lonesome war-whoop;
in fact, I think your village with the
| heavenly name has gone vigorously To
bed. We're defrauded."
part Of it which doesn't stay up pretty
late laughed Lidgerwood. Then he
came closer and spoke to Miss Brewster.
Il am going west in my car. and don I
KNOW JUST Wnen l. SIld1l icdcC
tell your father that everything We have
here is entirely at his service. If you
don't see what you want, you are to ask
for il.
will there be any one to ask when
you are gomez" she inquired. neither sor-
rowing nor rejoicing, SO far as he could
determine.
| "Oh, yes: McCloskey, my trainmaster.
will be in from the wreck before morn
ing and he will turn fiip-faps trying TO
make things pleasant for you. IL you VIII
give him the chance
She made the adorable little grimace
which always carried him swiftly back
to q certain summer of ecstatic memories:
to time when her keenest retort had
been no more than a playful love thrust
and there had been no bitterness in her
mockery.
Twill he make dreadful faces at me, as
he did at you this morning when you
went down among the smashed cars at
the wreck to speak to him." she asked.
$50 you were looking out of the win
dow. too, were you? You are close OBJ
server and good guesser That was
Mac. and-yes, he will probably make
faces at you. He can't help it any more
than he can help breathing"
Miss Brewster was running her fingers
along the hand rail il it were the
keyboard Of a piano. You say you don t
know how long you Will be away she
asked.
NO; but probably not more than the
night. L was only providing for the un-
expected. which some people say Is what
always happens"
Twill your run take you as far as the
Timanyoni canyon"
Yes; through it, and some little dis
lance beyond
You have just said that we are to ask
for what we want. Did you mean tip
Surely he replied. unguardedly.
Then we may as we'll begin at once,
stre-said, coolly, and turning quickly to
the others: ., all you people: listen
minute. will you? Hush. Carolyn! What
do you say to a moonlight ride through
one of the grahdest canyons in the west
in Mr.. Lidgerwood's car? 1t will be some
thing to talk about as long as you live.
Don't all speak at once, please
But they did. There was an instant
and enthusiastic chorus Of approval
winding up rather doIefuHy. however.
with Miss Doty's, But your mother Will
never consent to 1t, Eleanor
Mr.. Lidserwood will never consent.
you mean," put in Miriam Hoicombe'
quietly.
Lidgerwood said what he might with
out being too crudely inhospitable. His
car was entirely at the service or the
presidents party. of course, but 1t was
not very commodious compared with the
Nadia Moreover. he was going on
business trip, and at the end OF 1t he
would have to leave them for an hour
or two. or maybe longer. Moreover again.
if they got tired they would have to
sleep as they could, though possibly his
stateroom in the service car might &c
made to accommodate the three young
women. All this he said hoping and be-
lieving that Mrs. Brewster would not
only refuse to go herself. but would
promptly veto an unchaperoned excur-
sion.
But this was one time when his dis
family related kinswoman disappointed
him. Mrs. Brewster, cajoled by her
:2II v.o1t1 afo v,f on
ing to the car door to tell Liugerwood
that she would hold him responsible for
the safe return of the trfppers.
"See. now. how fatally easy it is for
one to promise more-oh. SO very much
more!-than one has any idea of perform
ing" murmured the presidents daughter
dropping out to walk beside the victim
when the party trooped down the long
platform of the Crows Nest to the serv-
ice car. And when he did not reply:
please don't be grumpy.
1T was the maddest notion!' he pro
tested. Whatever made you suggest it,
More churlishness?" she said. re-
proachfulIy. And then, with fronical SEN
would have moved heaven and earth for
a chance to take me somewhere with
you, Howard
.'To be with you; yes. that is true.
But"
Her ripping laugh was too sweet to be
shrill: none the less it held in il a little
flick of the whip of malice.
Listen" she said Il did it out OF
pure hatefulness. You showed so plainly
this afternoon that you wished to be quit
of me-of the entire party-that l couldn't
resist the temptation to pay you back
with good. liberal interest Possibly you
will think twice before you snub me
again, Howard. dear
Quickly he stopped and faced her. The
others were few steps in advance-were
already boarding the service car.
lone word, Eleanor-and for heavens
sake let us make it final There are
some things that can endure and some
others that L cannot-wiil not. L love
you; what you said to me the last time
we were together made no difference:
nothing you can ever say will make any
difference. You must take that fact into
consideration while you are here and We
are obliged to meet"
"Well?" she said and there was moth
ing in her tone to indicate that she felt
more than a passing interest in his dec
laratidn.
That is ALL he ended. shortly. Il
am, as 1 told you this afternoon. the
same man that l was a year ago last
spring, as deeply infatuated and. unhap-
PLY, just as far below your ideal of
what your lover should be. In justice to
me- in justice to Van Lew
Il think your conductor is waiting to \
speak to you," she broke in. sweetly, and |
he gave it up, putting her on the car and |
turning to confront the man with the |
lantern. who proved to be |
Bradford.
ANY special, orders, Mr.. Lidgerwood?" |