Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-28

lay the germ of real peril to Medenham. He
had not only to narrate but to convince.
He was called on to answer questions of pol
icy and method that few if any of the women
in his own circle would think of putting.
Obviously. this appeal to his intellect weak
ened the self imposed guard on his lips.
More than once it CHANGED that Meden-
ham had to exercise his wits very quickly to
trip his tongue when on the verge of some
indiscretion that would betray him. Per
haps he was unduly cautious. Perhaps his
listeners heart had mastered her brain for
the time. Perhaps she would not have
Weakened in a maze from dream that was
not less a dream because she was not Sleep
ing, even if some unwary utterance caused
her to ask what manner of man this could be.
But that can never be known, since Gym
thia herself never knew. The one sharp and
clear fact that remained in her mind as a
memory of a summers evening passed in a
boat on river flowing through fairyland
was provided by set of circumstances far
removed from tales of stormy night riding
after De Wet, or the warp and welt of Euro
pean politics as they fashioned the cere-
cloths of the two Dutch Republics.
NEITHER the one nor the other should be
y blamed If they found boat on the Wye
a most pleasant exchange for an eager auto
mobile on roads that tempted to high speed.
At any rate, they gave no heed to the time.
until Cynthia happened to glance at the
horizon and saw that the sun was repre-
sented by thin seam of silver hemming the
westerly fringe of a deep blue sky. If there
was MOON it was hidden by the hills.
Whatever o'clock is it?" she cried in a
voice that held almost sound of scare.
Medenham looked at his watch, and had
to hold it close to his eyes before he could
make out the hour Time you were back
at the hotel" he said, swinging the boat
round quickly. Il am afraid | have kept
you out too long. Miss Vanrenen. 1t is
perfect night; but you must not risk catch
ing chill"
I'm not worrying about that sort of chill
there are Others. What will Mrs. Devar
Think"
1.-The worst" he could not help saying.
What time is it, really?"
Wont you be happier not to know We
have the stream with us now
"Mr. Fitzroy, what time is it,"
NEARLY half-past ten o'clock. You did
not leave the hotel till after half-past eight"
''Oh, blame me, of course. The woman
tempted me and l did eat"
mo, no. Apples are not the only for
hidden fruit. May vary an unworthy de-
lSHoC. IC WOiiidH NeniS Will anu 4
didn't care"
But do care Please hurry. Mrs. De-
var will be real mad, and l shat mt have a
word to say for myself"
Medenham bent to it, and the outrigger
travelled down stream at rare pace. Gym
thia steered with fair accuracy by the track
they had followed against the current; but
the oarsman glanced over his shoulder occa-
sionally and advised her as to the probable
trend of the channel.
Keep bit wide here, he said when they
were approaching sharp bend. Il believe
we almost touched ground in midstream as
we came up
She obeyed, and wide expanse of low ly-
ing land opened before her eyes.
. don't see the lights of the hotel yet"
she said, with a note of anxiety.
"You are not making enough allowance
for the way this river turns and twists.
There are sections in which you box the
compass during the course of short"
A SHARP, tearing noise in the bottom of
the boat amidships was followed by an
thrush of water. Medenham sprang upright
leaped overheard, and caught the port out
rigger with his left hand. He was then i'm
mersed to the waist; but he flung his right