The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-03
(Continued.)

(COntiuCeQ.t
 She sat up. The golden light, and the faces of the excited people below, appeared like something she had left, and to which she came back with wonder. Somehow. or other, Jem and the boys had got out of the little chamber and gone downstairs. She could see them standing there, amid the eagerly talking group, discussing what had happened. She saw Aunt Emma appear at the doorway, her face chalk-white, crying out, What is it? What is it2 An accident to Vernon? Where is she?"
 At that she threw off the strange stupor of nerves altogether and, ris- ing. stood, with Evelyn's assistance on the stairs, calling out
 "An right, auntie, all right! I'm not hurt
 Mrs Bardsley rushed forward, and her niece made the best of her way down the stairs.
 Sorry to be so stupid. I-I SUD- pose it was rather a dangerous place to play in," she said, putting her arms round her aunt's neck and KISS ing her. .'I slipped, and--and l think I should have been killed if had fal- len
 Bardsley was very prompt and clev- CT. He went and held her up till she could get her foothold. But it was a horrible moment for us. watch ing"
 .Jem," cried Mrs. Bardsley, in a voice unlike her own, full of deep emotion. One arm round Vernon. she held out her other hand to the his eager converse with Selma, and said, grumblingly-
 Miss Wilrnot did her best to break her neck never saw such a piece of follyl'
 Vernon had been profoundly shak- en, and the rough words and voice upset her completely. She burst in- to tears and, unable to repress them, as far as she could from the rest of the party. AS she ran, she strug- gled to check her sobs, but could not. She felt as if all the things che had England until that moment-all her grief and horror about the twins, her anxiety about Lionel, her sympathy with Evelyn's tragic story-welled up in her at that moment, and filled her heart too full for bearing.
 In blind flight, she made for a small clump of trees at little dis tance, and there fell prone upon the turf, and for 8 few minutes let her. self sob uncontrolled. Then other considerations began to arise. She ] had to face the others at tea in a few minutes. How could she, with her face all disfgured by weeping? She must command herself. She lift ed her head, and saw that Evelyn had followed her. Neither said anything, but Evelyn sat down upon the turf and let her lean against her, while she softly stroked the tumbled curls and let the tempest subside.
 Come, Vernon she said, after , healing pause, T am little surpris- ed at your giving way so utterly. know it is a shock, but you are safe and quite unhurt."
 Vernon glanced at the livid marks round each slender wrist, and gave a little helpless laugh that was half a sob. T am a fool,'' she said, "but Jem need not have been 90 unkind--so brutal, need he?"
 Some men are like that when they are feeling tremendously. It is a kind of reaction quietly replied Ev- elyn. Did you see how he was shak- ing?"
 Vernon sat bolt upright and turn ed. so as to look the other girl in the lace. Shaking. Jem?'' she said fn- credulously.,
 And his face looked quite gray. You had given him a terrible fright, and in his curious masculine fashion. he resents being frightened. Have a little consideration for him."
 Consideration for him? Why, Il am just dying to thank him prop erly. Do you think I don't realize that he saved my life?'
 ,"And can't you see that the one thing in the world he could not stand was to be thanked before everybody? To have dear Mrs. Bardsley in a transport of feeling, appealing in pub- lie to all the soft part of him that he keeps so carefully hidden?"
 Vernon had quite forgotten to weep She gazed very curiously at Evelyn How do you know that?" she ask- ed
 Evelyn laughed. 'I am older than you, and more experienced in human nature" she replied. But you have plenty of sense. so do help the poor fat,ovv through He will he fealfno-