New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-12

p
Goodnight.
CHAPTER XIV. Danger.
TT seemed TO Hernia that she had hardly
L closed her eyes before she opened them
again and found herself broadly awake. y
blue light was fltering softly through the
tops Of the trees, and the birds were already
calling. She pushed her covers away and
sat up, all her senses acutely alive. me
fire was out: but the air was not chill She
glanced ut Markham's recumbent figure, at
Cleofonte and Luigi, and then steaithlly
rose. TomaSSo the bear, who OF all the
vagabond company had alone kept vigil
eyed her whimsically from his small eye,
and moved uneaSily in his chains.
On tiptoe she made her way TO the stream
One of the dogs followed her; but she pattec
him on the head and sent him back TO tho
wagon. As she reached the depths OF the
forest she relaxed her vigilance and went
rapidly down the stream, finding at last Al
some distance a quiet pool in the deep Shad
ows. Here was her porcelain tub. She
quickly undresSed and bathed, her teeth
chattering with the cold; but before the
caravancrs were awake was back IN camp
gathering wood for the fire.
Her activities, furtive rs they were
awakened Markham, who sat up rubbing
his eyes.
"Hello!" he said Haven't you been
asleep"
For reply she pointed silently through the
treetrunkS 10 the rosy east.
He got TO his feet, shaking himself, rubbed
his eyes sleepily, and took from her hand
the dead branch that she was dragging &c
the fire. Between them they awoke Cleo
fonte, who numbered TO his feet and stared
about with bleary eyes.
"BHon gioynO, SignorG, Signoy. have
slept oh, what Sleep-oh, what sleep
Luigi, up with you! DiOl 1t is already
day.
Immediately the camp was in connection
The Signora descended from the wagon, and
with Hermia'S help prepared the breakfast
while Stella held the baby. BY sunrise the
gray horse was hitched 20 the shafts OF the
wagon, the bear hitched TO the tail, and the
travellers were on their way (the content;
OF ones valise is on ones back in Naga-
bondia). Clcofontc had invited Hernia tc
sit with him upon the seat OF the wagon; but
She had refused and taken her place by
Markham's side behind ClariSSa, who, quite
peacefully, followed in the trail Of TomasSc
the bear.
In this order the procession moved for
ward into the golden wake OF the morning
Hernia was in high humor, joyous, spark
ling, satirical, by turns If yesterday she
had found a talent for living, today it seemed
that the genius for JOY had got into her
veins. Her mood was infectious, and Mark
ham found himself carried along on its tide,
aware that she was drawing him by imper-
ceptible inches from his shell, accepting his
aphorismS one moment that she might the
more readily pick them to pieces in the next.
He couldn't understand her, of course, she
hadn't intended that he should, and this
made the game so much more interesting for
them both. He didn't mind her tearing his
dignity TO tatterS, and this she did with a
thoroughnesS that surprised him; but he
discarded the rags of it with excellent grace,
meeting her humor with a gaiety that left
nothing to be desired.
on, Philidor, she cried, what deluSion
~ you arel
"Me? Why
"Your gravity, your dignity, your wise
saws and maxims, your hatred of women
"Oh, say
"All pose' she continued gaily. polite,
but Ineffective. You love us all madly, |
know DO v,,,al-e love to Won philidOrp"