The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-05

up the lane where II was darkest un-
der the trees, Erebus told Virgins to
mind the mud and Virgins said.
This wouldn't be a nice place to fall
down in, would itY
The Terror stopped short, chucklcd.
and said, "Wlgglns, you're a treasure"
what is it?' said Erebus quickly.
"a little Job of my own. Itwouldn't
do for you and Virgins to- help. The
Cruncher will swear so. And you're
girl; and Virgins IL too young said
the Terror.
"0h. what n shamew cried Ercbus
well, you won't-sO there said the
Terror; and he went briskly on.
Captain BastCf~thanked the Terror
for the cigarette case with a facetiOus-
ness which robbed his thanks Of much
Of their value. At seven o'clock he
took his leave. to dine at the Inn and
return at nine. lie was proud and
happy, for he knew that he had been
shining before Mrs. Dangerfield.
The good spirits Of Captain Baster
were somewhat dashed by his failure
10 find the key of his pOrtmantcau. 1t
rendered him unable TO ravlsh Mrs.
Dangerheld's eve that evening by his
distinguished appearance In the I'M
maculHte evening dress of an English
gentleman" After Il long hunt and
some shouting to Mrs. Plttaway, he
made up his mind that he must ap-
pear before her. with all apologies. in
the tweed suit he was wearing Then
he put his foot into dress-boOt full
of cold water Ii was good, water
tight boot, and IL had faithfully re-
tnined all the water Its lining had not
soaked up. The gallant officer said a
good deal about its rptentlve properties
to the mute boot
At dinner he learned from Mrs. Pit
taway that the Terror had himself
fetched the cigarette case from his
bedroom. A flash Of intuition CON
nccted the Terror with the watered
boot; and he begged her with some
acerblty, never again TO let anyone
anyone! ENTER his bedroom. As he
rose from the table. the Terror. stand
ing among the trees which made the
muddy patch OF the lane so dark, was
drawing a clothesline tight II ran
through the hedge which hid him TO
the hedge on the other side OF the
lane. There Il was fastened TO a stout
stake. At its tightest it rose a foot
above the roadway just before the
mud-patch began. II was at its tight
est.
Heartened by his dinner Captain
Baster set out for Colet House at a
brisk pace. As he moved through the
keen October air his spirits rose--that
night-that very night he would crown
Mrs. Dangerfe'd's devotion with his
avOwal Of an answering passion; he
pressed forward swiftly like a con
queror; and like conquerOr he whis-
tied. Then he suddenly pitched for
ward and fell. not heavily. for the mud
was too thick, but sprawling. lie rose,
Oozy and dripping took n long breath
and the welkln shuddered. The Ter
ror did not shudder; he was going
home like the wind.
Mrs. Dangerfeld waited restlessly
for her tardy guest, her beautiful, sor-
rowful face set In an anxious frOwn
Her wOman's instinct told her that
Captain Baster would propose that
night: and she dreaded II.
Captain Baster awoke in less than
his usual cheerfulness. He thought
for while about the Terror with a
gloomy unamiabllity. Then he rose
and, IN the middle of his toilet missed
his shavlng-brush, He hunted for II
furi )usly he could have sworn that
he had taken 1t out of his portman
teau He did swear; but not to any
definite fact There was nothing fol
II; he must expose tender chin tC
the cruel razor of village barber
Then he disliked the look of his tweed
suit; all traces of mud had not van
lshed from 1t; in one short night i
had lost its pristine freshness. Thi'
and the ordeal before him made his
breakfast gloomy; soon after It he en-
tered the barber's shop with the ali
Of one who has abandoned hope, Later
he came out of II with his rowing blacl
eye full of tears; his scraped chin wa'
smartlng horribly ana unatiractiye II
patches red patches. Al the door th'
breathess maid Of the Inn met hin