Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-22
THURLEY RUXTON
BY PHILIP VERRILL MIGHELS


Stetson, Algy Dearborn. Kelsey Woods, Beau Brym-
mer, Captain Fowler and nearly dozen lesser umi-
nares took careful account of the enemies strength and
position and planned for CROPPED toward more
or less definite campaign.
At the present moment the tuneful Algy was quite
at the fore of the firing line and gleefuy dlscharg-
ing the weapons he felt convinced most certain to
achieve victory all who might engage.
you know it's wonderful, really" he announced to
Thurley, the effect you have my creative ability
stirring up the muse! You're oats and barley and all
that sort of thing you know, to my Pegasus. Real
jolly of you too. told you new one was working up
another of my poems. l fancy it's bit original.
Shall give it to you?
Il should be sorry to miss anything in creation"
Thurley answered, genuinely amused by Agys mani
festation of genius. Is it very long?"
That's the deuce of it, Agy confessed. II can't
seem to keep up the white heat-the pressure, you
know-for very long at time All my poems are short,
far though have sort of epic swing rather
fancy. This goes-if can remember it straight
Oh er-yes 1t starts off say. It's really all in quo
tation marks You might keep that in mind. 1t goes
like this:
81 say said the hare to the tortoise,
How comes it that persons import
If they efface
And in soup and in ragouts to thwart us!
The humorous vein you see Neat isn't it? And con
ragouts and forth. And after ALL there's philosophy
in it. I'm glad it amuses you, really!"
It did, almost much as he did himself. Thurley
such relief from of the and affairs too in
sistently serious! Il hope your genius will flourish
she told him honestly Thank you much for letting
me be oats and barley Pegasus old Pegasus the
many -gaited What endurance some creatures have!"
Really | never ride him overtime" said Algy
gravey. You know a merciful man and the rest of
it. Better keep him fresh, say, if doesn't wish to
become cropper.
Alice broke his spell relentlessly as one who knows
the necessity of rotating the crops Thurey
presently listening to and smiling at the utter
of Count FiaSc as if nothing in the world had
ever happened Later it was Gaillard, in somewhat
sullen, wholly selfish and exacting mood, that she
Gained and soothed with softened word and smile.
With something inherently skilful, well as naive,
she contnved to impress upon each and every of
her envlous and wacfu sutors the conviction that he
above all others, had been favored, indicted into
little private of her real regard and pedestaled
all by himself.
Indeed, that afternoon became typical of the DAYS
and maneuvers to follow. The game developed all
manner of mild exctements and vast necessity for SKILL
adroitness, and tact To adjust her hours moods and
movements to the needs of the game avoiding collisions
of the pieces the board, and keeping them all in
active play, yet overpayed, to the essential
neglect of Others demanded all the judgment, good
nature, and fnesse of which both Thurley and Alice
capable.
A chase could have been no more exciting. Merely
to alay the suspicious constantly preyng upon both
Gaillard and Faschi required breathless fencing quite
absorbing in itself. But the they exacted, the
grew the with which Thurley entered the
t1ct The engagements increased in intensity day by
day, as the mems impatience and new demands were
multiplied yet, while they arrogated powers and
assurance to themselves strong grew Thurley's
resentment of their attitude and greater her desire
to them eveled.
DURING all this season of uncertainty, evasion, and
back firing on dangerous love-" as Alice termed
the game, there two persistent elements that
gnawed just bit at Thurley heart One was certain
increasing anxiety and dubiety attacking Robey Stuy
verant, he watched her movements and seemingly
heartless democracy with all these admirng men, the