The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-12-19

. Nv <11SV
vide gateway between the great
stone pillars with their heraldic
and sauntered leisurely along
he smooth macadam drive. bordered
BY sentinel elms.
My thoughts were busy with the
new line Of conjecture which Romney
had unconsciously opened up for me.
[ wondered whether by any POSSIBLE
[ty this eccentric painter, Murphy,
could be personally involved. Was
Cameron acquainted with him? Had
they eve quarrelled? From what
had told me of the affair at
the artist was evidently of
bellicose disposition. He had come
here two years ago. Cameron had
owned Cragholt less than a year.
Perhaps at the time he vas preparing
the mansion for occupancy he had
offended the too sensitive Murphy,
who was letting my imagination
run free-may have wished to take
a hand at the new decoration. 1t
would probably be well for me to see
Cameron before seeing the artist. The
i%nvolutions Of my hypothetical train
led me. I fear, into many monstrous-
~ preposterous conceits; yet. as sub.
sequent events proved, the cogitation
In which I INDUCED on that afternoon
walk was not wholly idle. Although
the working out was along lines
which I was then far from foresee-
ing, 1t was curious, in looking back,
to observe how very closely, collater-
ally, even at that stage. I came to the
truth.
In the midst Of my revery. the
rhythm Of horses hoofs on the drive
awoke me to time and place. And as
l raised my eyes, I saw, still some
distance away, but bearing down
upon me at a swift single-foot, the
girlish figure Of Evelyn Grayson, in
white waist and gray habit, mounted
on Prince Charley, q buckskin cayuse,
which for saddle purposes she pre-
ferred to all the thoroughbreds in the
Cameron stables.
Am l late?" she cried, refining the
wiry little animal to a stand beside
me. Cecilia Ainslee just left. She
was expecting the Lentilhons to stop
for her in their motor boat, but they
broke down and were delayed, and
instead Of coming at three O'Clock, it
was half-past four before they land
ed"
Il fancy you are just on the min
ute," was my response, as l consult
ed my timepiece.
"But I'm still a mile from the
Lodge she argued.
"And all the nearer to the TRAIL" I
condoned. 1T must be somewhere
about here, isn't it?"
You've passed 1t. It's just beyond
that next bend" And she pointed
over my shoulder.
why didn't you bring a groom
with you to hold your steed?" I asked,
smiling. "You don't expect to ride
Prince Charley into the forest fast.
nesses, do your"
II could" she answered, promptly.
ri will, If you dare me. He can pick
his way like a cat. But it isn't nee
essary. He'll stand forever, the dear
thing. If I drop the bride rein over
his head"
My preference was to have her on
foot at my side, and 30 I did not dare
her. And thus it CHANGED that we left
the homely little animal standing
with dropping head and dangling rein
on the Swallowed side of the drive
way, and went of together down the
narrow, understanding trail. the
| girl in the lead.
The slanting sunlight, shooting it's
golden arrows In intermittent volleys
through the tree tops, made target of
her hair, as we passed, scoring bril-
liant flashes Of FURNISHED bronze. Her
hat, a broad brimmed sailor of coarse
straw, was but a poor shield for that
| shimmering, tawny coil which lay low
on her neck, and the darling rays
had their will with It. I have never
before or since Eel hair Just like
Evelyn Grayson's. There was such a
wealth of it, and it's color was so elu-
| sive. Under dim lights 1t seemed q
prosaic brown, but with small encour
agement 1t changed to q light fawn,
streaked with lustrous topaz strands;
which in the suns blaze became a
dazzling bronze glory.
I'm pretty sure I can find the
tree" she asserted, as she swung
along with that free. lissome stride
which 1 loved. 1T is an old, dead
chestnut, a great giant of the woods,
imposing even in death; and it stands
only a half-dozen yards of the trail.
I was looking for ferns, or l never
in the world should have come upon
it. How do you imagine that thing
ever got away of here? And who
could have stuck 1t up on that dead
tree trunk?"
THAT is precisely what I should
like to find out" was my rersgk "It
seems very mysterious to me. About
what time was it. when you discov.
cred it,"
"Just before I met you"
Had you heard any shooting In
the woods. before that?"
"shooting?" she Queried, apparent
ly surprised. mo. Was some one
shootingf"
II understood 70. Poaching, I
imagine. After some Of Cameron's