Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-15

she was conscious of how strong were the
arms that held her so easily, ere they set her
down.
a beg your pardon! How awkward l
ami" she exclaimed in hot modification.
mo" said Bellew, shaking his head, at
was nail you know, bent and rusty nail
here, under the top bar. Is your dress
much torn?'
ooh, that is nothing, thank YOU"
So they went on again; but now they
were silent once more, and very naturally;
for Anthea was nightly angry with herself,
the stile and Bellew and everything con-
cerned; while he was thinking of the sudden,
warm clasp of her arms, of the alluring fra
GRANGE of her hair, and of the shy droop of
her lashes as she lay in his embrace. There
fore, as he walked on beside her, saying
nothing, within his secret soul he poured
benedictions upon the head of that bent and
rusty nail.
A ND presently, having turned down a
grassy lane and crossed small but very
noisy brook that chartered impertinences
among the stones and chuckled at them
slyly from the Shadows they eventually
came upon a small and very lonely little cot
tage lowered in roses and honeysuckle-as
are all the cottages hereabouts. But now
Anthea paused, looking at Bellew with a
dubious brow.
II ought to warn you that Mrs. Dibbn
is very old, and sometimes a little queer,
and sometimes says very-surprising things"
"Excelent!' nodded Belew, holding the
little gate open for her. "Very right and
proper conduct in a witch, and love sur
prises above all things"
But Anthea still hesitated, while Bellew
stood with his hand upon the gate, waiting
for tf, I,a baI Oft hot
behind him, and, as the moon shone down
on his bare head, she could not but notice
how bright and yellow was his hair, despite
the thick, black brows below.
IL think had rather you waited out
'sde-if you don't mind, Mr.. Bellew."
"You mean that am to be denied the JOY
of conversing with real, live, old witch and
having my fortune told? Well, if such is
your will, SO be it" said he obediently, and
handed her the basket.
II won't keep you waiting very long-and
thank you!" she smiled and, hurrying up
the narrow path, she tapped at the cottage
door.
"Come in! Come in" cried an old quaver-
ing voice, albeit very sharp and piercing.
"That be my own soft dove of a maid-rny
proud, beautiful, white lady! Come in,
come in, and bring him wi you, him as is so
big and strong, him as I've expected so long
the tall, golden man from overseas! Bid
him come in, Miss Anthea, that Goody Dib-
bins old eyes may look at him at last"
Hereupon, at a sign from Anthea, Bellew
turned in at the gate, and, striding up the
path, entered the cottage.
DESPITE the season, fire burned upon
- the hearth, and crouched over this, in a
great elbow chair, sat very bent and aged
woman. Her face was furrowed and scanned
with a thousand numberless lines and wrin
kles; but her eyes were still bright, and she
wore no spectacles; likewise her white hair
was wonderfully thick and abundant, as
could plainly be seen beneath the frill of her
cap; for like the very small room of this
very small cottage, she was extremely neat
and tidy. She had a great, curving nose and
a great, curving chin, and what with this
and her bright, black eyes and STOPPING fig
ure, she was very much like what a witch
should be, albeit very superior kind of old
witch.
She sat for awhile staring up at Bellew,
who stood, tall and bare headed, smiling
down at her; and then all at once she
nodded her head three several and distinct
times.
"Right" she quavered. fright! Right!