The Caucasian., 1910-07-14

She noted how oblivioUs he was to
her presence. and, with the impetuostty
which was so apt to characterize her
actions, she left the abbey. Going rap
idly back TO her hotel and finding that
she could leave MeIrUSe at once, she
packed her few belongings. made her
way to the station. and when Ear
court returned and called for her she
was gone. He was nlystffed enough
What had happened: He could not
imagine He had not knowingly hurt
her in any way How lonely it was
without her. How he missed her
bright. CHEEKY ways. the sparkle Of
her brown eyes. her girlish laughter!
''Can it be-" thought the young fel-
low, that am in love?"
Before the next day he felt there
could not be much doubt about it, for
he had never spent more miserable
twenty-four hours. Then it was that
he determined to follow her and tell
her he loved her with all the ardor of
nature that had never frittered itself
away in the love of many women. He
Travelled day after day, getting now
and then a clew of the girl, but he
never found her, and when he finally
reached London he was almost dis
couraged. He could not remember the
steamer she was to take back to Amer
lea nor the port from which she was
to sail. but he scanned passenger lists
and haunted steamboat offices with
pertinacity that laid him open to cEiti-
cism by his friends, who one and all
declared the truth-that he was in
love
Gertrude. for her part, was mfsera-
bic indeed. The thought of the black
eyed beauty who had kissed the Eng
lishman and called him Edward was
torture. but the thought she had so
tamely surrendered herself to a love
which had been unasked and evidently
undesired was far greater torture. By
the time she had reached London she
was very weary girl indeed, and she
waited fmpatiently for the time when
she was to return to America. In
sort of aimless way she did West
during those days of waiting she took
fancy to the omnibuses, which are
so great feature of London life. Day
after day she rode on the tops of the
buses, looking at the sights of Lon
don. listening TO the sounds. but for
the most part thinking of the young
fellow who had become so much to
her. She was impatient with herself.
but she felt a little sorry for herself
also, and when one begins to pity one
self one is In bad condition.
One evening she felt SO thoroughly
blue-and discouraged that she did that
which she had never attempted be-
fore in the eyening-tOok bus ride
She was just hemesick enough and out
of sorts enough to want TO lose her
self for time in London traffic. She
went out to Trafalgar square, sig
nailed bus, mounted to its top and
gave herself up to the contemplation
OF London streets in the evening from
the top of motor bus. She rode an
hour or SO until. finally arousing her
self with start. she saw that she
was approaching her starting point
She started down the steep fight of
little stairs to the ground Just be-
fore she reached the bottom step the
bus gave a lureh, and Gertrude was
precipitated to the ground. 1t seemed
as II thousands Of vehicles were ready
and waiting to pass over her body
There was shouting and oaths and
shrill screams from women, but in the
midst of it all she felt herself lifted
by two strong arms, set on her feet
and hurried to a place of safety.
Trembling and shaken. she looked up
to her preseryer OF course it could
be none other than the Englishman.
There was only one pair of strong
arms like that in the world.
"Three times and out. my darling
said Harcourt You are not to be
trusted alone ever any more You are