Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-12-26
CHAPTER III.
The TarqeN

fuO d' Wv
The set at tennis having finished
with victory perching on my banners,
| made excuse to put of the inspection
of the collie puppies until another
time. resumed my walking boots and,
with parting II futile admonition to
Cameron to think no more about IT,"
started on my homeward way.
My route lay again through the min
iature forest. for the day had waxed
uncomfortably warm with the APP
proach OF noon, and there was scant
shade on the high-road between our
two houses. In the wood. however.
the air was gratefully cool, and |
strobe on at good pace. breathing
deeply and with enjoyment the bosky
odors which greeted me afresh at
every step.
The dead silence which had re-
marked earlier was broken now by the
hoarse footing Of n steamboat whistle,
somewhere of shore, and by the shrill
voices of birds. apparently in resent
full protest at this raucous invasion Of
their sylvan quiet
had succeeded in putting aside, for
the moment at least, all thought of
Cameron, his anonymous letters. and
his mutilated portrait, and was dwell
ling on my disappointment at not hav-
ing caught even so much as a glimpse
Of Evelyn Grayson during my morn
ing visit TO Cragholt. 1t Is true that |
had gone there with a single purpose
in mind-to convey to Cameron what
believed to be an important theory
| but underlying this, | realized now.
was more than a hope. confidence
| even, that should see Evelyn. ! was
| tempted, indeed. to regret that had
not waited, visited the kennels. and
accepted Cameron's invitation for
luncheon, which would doubtless have
insured me a few words at least with
my Goddess of Youth.
While on the verge of this self-re-
proach my spirits suddenly lifted, for
the steam whistle having died away
| in the distance and the feathered
I choristers having relapsed into a
pleased chirp that merely accented
the stiffness, there broke all at once
on the mute calm of the woodland the
silver sweetness of n girls singing
Clear and resonant 1t rang through the
forest aisles: a voice | knew beyond
mistaking. Evelyn Grayson was com.
ing towards me over the scented turf
Still hidden by a bend in the path, the
melody alone measured for me her ap.
preach. 1t was French chanson she
Irsrf 80 Hnlo "a
which we were both fond.
Sweet music sweeps me like the sea
Toward my pale star,
Whether the clouds be there or all the
air be free.
sail afar.
And then she came around the turn
At first she did not see me, for heI
eyes we're lifted with her voice, and
had time to mark the fascinating
grace of her long, free stride, before
she became conscious of my presence
and checked and shortened it, She
wore a frock of white serge, the
skirts edge at her ankles, revealing
dainty, snowy buckskin ties and just q
peep OF white silk hose. And hel
fower-like face looked out through &
frame Of Leghorn straw and pinl
roses, tied snugly beneath her softly
rounded chin with the filmiest OF long
floating white wells. You can imagine
the picture she made, there in thi!
green glade, with her big blue eyes
alight with glad surprise, and the
warm blood suddenly risen in he
cheeks
You truant!" cried. in jocular rep
rimand. Are you always going to ruI
away when I visit Cragholt?"
She pOuted pTettily. detest a won
an who pouts, ordinarily. There Il
usually such palpable affectation abou
IT, But Eyelyn's pouting was winsom,
as an infants. Besides It was Onl,
momentary. Then her eyes flashed an,
her foot was planted very hard. TO