The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-22
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Of a sound below him-I sfOotIalI com ing toward him. It crossed bar of the moonlight
 He shrank, and tremor ran over him, for 1t was Barbara.
 She had thrown over her loose cloak. and bit of soft, clinging lace showed between its dark edges. Her brilliant hair was loosely gathered in a single braid. and in the moonlight it shone like beaten copper against the vivid pallor of her face. He sat stir less, smitten with confusion. conscious that a movement must betray him. A painful embarrassment enveloped him, a fastidious sense of shrinking from of resentment that an antic irony of circumstance should have brought them beneath the same roof. to make him seem the moody pursuer, the un- welcome trespasser on her reserve, and that now thrust him into posi- ton which at any hazard he would have summed. But all thought of him. self, all feeling save one. vanished when, with sudden piteous abandon, she threw herself on her knees by the bench and broke into slow sObs, shud- dering and fearless.
 In that outbreak of emotion were not alone the pent up pain and humili- ation she had suffered or the desperate joy of that evenings knowledge. There were in it. too. grief and compunction, dismay and doubt of the future. She was engaged to Austen Ware. Would Daunt ever forgive? Would he want her now? In the first realization of her error, wound with the knowledge that he was so near her, she had felt only joy, but in the silence of her room shock on shock had come the incredu- ious question, the burning revulsion- Awhile she had lain wide eyed. but at length, sleepless, she had stolen out to the balmy. fragrant night, craving it's peace, longing passionately for its soft shadows and the. lowering touch of the mountains breath on her hair. And in its friendly shadows the gust of feel ing had swept her from her feet.
 The action took Daunt wholly by surprise. The sound tore his heart like a ruthless talon and drew a hoarse word. from his lips:
 "Barbara.' It was little more than whisper. but she sprang erect with a gasp, her breath labored and terror stricken.
 "I-I beg pardon" he said. with a dry catch in his throat. Don't be frightened. I will go at once. should not have stayed. But you came so suddenly, and I did not dream-I"-
 How strange that you should have been herev' She thought he must hear the loud drumming of her pulse.
 He laughed. hard. colorless little laugh. 'Yes." he answered, 'it seems so."
 A mist blinded her eyes. for his tone carried to her even more sharply than had the look she had seen from the balcony sense of the pain. he, had undergone. In what words could she tell him? "You have been suffering" she said in low voice. T see that. And it was my fault"
 He gathered himself together with an effort of will to still the tirfgle that flashed along his nerves. Tt was quite sane and r1ght, no doubt" he said. "When l have learned to be honest enough with myself 1 shah see 1t 50. My mistake was in ever dream ing that was worth one Of your thoughts or . single seconds mem l ory."
 She turned her head abruptly. "Do you bear some one taikingI l thought heard 1t as carne up the path. like some one muftering to himself" He listened. but there was no sound. ''I must have imagined it." she said. There was moments pause. and I presently she went on:
 "You have been thinking hard things 1 of me. 1t Is natural that you should. And yet 1. whatever you think. what ever you do. that day in tLe cave 1 1 was nct-was not
 "You were nothing you should not
 have been." he replied rapidly. Her voice had sent tremor over him. He
 felt it with a new wave of the morn. ing's contempt. ''I understand. Tbere
 is nothing for you to justify, nothing
 to regret"
 i She shook her head. "'We have left
 undone those things which we ought I to have done.'" she quoted in a low l voice, ".and have done those things | which we ought not to have done. and
 there is no health in us.' We all re.
 cite that every Sunday. have some.
 thing now to confess to you. Won't l you stand there in the light7 I-l i want to see your face"
 He stepped slowly into a bar o1
 moonlight.
 Why" she said. you have hurt
 your handr' She made quick steI
 toward him. her eyes on the stained l bandage.