The Washington times., 1913-03-10

4 Vance
l. @~uh mn1~m

I like herself as he knew her. Really.
1 presume, it was mostly that l was
afraid for myself-frightened of the
loneliness. fearful lest 1t be made
more lonely for me by some acci-
dent
"Of course" he assented, puzzled be-
yond expression ,cudgeling his wits
sealed to his masculine obtuseness.
What could have happened to inf1u-
ence her so strangely? What had he
said or done-anything?
The problem held him In abstraction
throughout the greater part of their
walk to the farmhouse, though he heard
and, with what seemed intelligence. re-
sponded to her running accompaniment
Of comment and suggestion.
They dreaded the cluster Of buildings
that, having outlived their usefulness,
still incumbered the way up from the
| beach. Only a careless and superficial
glance was needed to bear out the i'm
preston conveyed by the girls descrip-
tion of the place.
Doorless doorways and windows with
shattered sashes disclosed gSmpses of
interiors fallen into a state OF ruin
that defied a remedy. What remained
intact of walls and roofs formed mere
shells half filled with a conglomerate
of orthlessness-mounds Of crumbled,
| moldering plaster. shards, ruet~eaten
once been garments; the whole perhaps
threatened by the overhanging skeleton
of crazy staircase.
An evil. disturbing spot. exhaling an
atmosphere more melancholy and dis
heartcning than that of a rain-sodden
November woodland, haunted place,
dreary with the spirit of moribund
senility walking where the hand OF
Time had wrought devastation with the
purposeless efficacy of 4 destructive
child, a good place to pass through
quickly and ever thereafterward to
avoid.
In relief against ii the upiands seemed
tine brighter. stretching away in the
soft golden light of the descending sun.
The wind sang over them boisterous
scng of strength and the sweep OF open
spaces.
The air was damp and soft and sweet
with the smell of heather. Struggling
sheep suspended for moment their
meditatfve cropping and lifted their
heads to watch the strangers with their
turkeys fed IN discordant agitation
from their path.
Halfway up 10 the farmhouse a men,
ory shot Though Whitaker's mind as
startling as lightning streaking athwart
peaceful evening sky. He stopped
with an exclamation that brought the
girl beside him to standstll with
questioning eyes.
But the others" he stammered.
The others?" she repeated blankly.
"They-the men who brought you
here
Her lips frightened. She moved her
head in slow negation.
Il have seen nc sign of either of
them
Horror and pity filed him; his mind
envisioned against wild, raving waters,
mad with blood-lust, and in their jaws,
arms and heads helplessly whirling and
tossing.
Poor wretches-' he muttered.
She said nothing. When he sought
sympathy from her face he found It set
and hard.
He delayed another moment. thinking
that soon she must speak. offer him
some sort OF explanation. But she re-
manned dumb. as uncommunfcative as
appearances showed her to be unfor-
giving. And he could not bring himself
to seem anxious to pry into her affairs.
He took a tentative stride onward.
She responded instantly to the sugges-
ton, but in silence.
They went on.
The farm house stood on high ground,
commanding an uninterrupted sweep of
horizon. As they drew near 1t Whitaker
paused and turned. narrowing his eyes
as he attempted to penetrate the enig-
matte amber-tinted distances.
To north and east the island fell away
in irregular terraces to two wide cres-
cent beaches, whose horns joined to
form the sandy spit. To west and south
the mooriands billowed up to the brink
OF precpitous bluffs.
In the west Whitaker noted absently
a great congregation of gulls milling
amid cacophony of screams. just be-
yond the declivity. In the north the
far. dark headland was blending into
violet shadows, which. in turn. blended
imperceptibly with the more somber
shade OF the sea. Beyond 1t nothing
was discernible.
Southeast from II the coast. backed
by dusky highlands. ran on for several
miles to another, but less impressive
headland. its line. at an angie to that
of the deserted island. forming tide
way for tn eintervening waters fully