Evening star., 1913-08-10
RY Mstus Miles FOrnlan

quick she and caught her before she had gone
more than a step or two
You'll come back when he's gomez? he demanded
you'll come back to Break o Day? You won't
throw me aIl?' The woman was al
most beside herself with She pulled the hand
he held. noddins her desperately.
Yes. Oh yes she whispered Let me go. Harry!
Oh, for Heavens sake, go. Yes. IL come back
l promise Let go. Oh won't you let me go?
promise | promise anything She broke from him
anu ed into the cover of the pine SHRUBS and the man
watched her She could escape easily. he said 10
himself for the fringe of shrubs turned corner
of the high bank just little way beyond and disap-
peared from sight. What he did not know and what
Mrs Stanley in her panic had forgotten was that the
shrubbery came to abrupt end just round that eo
ner and that the which it had root enoeo
too with sheer fall Of six eight feet TO the rocks
and water below. Above, the bank rose hisn ana pre-
cpitous. There possible out except the way
by which the had entered. In short sne was ~
of trap.
Stanley came down the steps and nodded pleasantly
the who there If he cast one swift glance
round the place looking for something the o'nei
did it,
This is a private pier" said. 4 use it some
times for my motor-boats. It's nearer the mouse .na
the ether landing in the yonder VI COURSE W
hastened 0 add don't mean that l OBJECT " Sou.
being good many people from the Neck "an
along beach, and if they don't steal 'he PIC, -
scatter egg shells and banana skins apoul w 49,
mind in the least
His eye wandered in circle round the place ana ie
last hocghtfully that thick patch Oh sur Wv
berry. The shadow of smile came for an instant -
lips and passed
Stranger here?" he inquired.
Yes said the other man. In Way-yes
He his part. thinking very swiftly, ana no
to bold conclusion. The woman was oy nov,
he said to himself. far away and sa1e "ouio she .o
back him? He knew that he mad no more 20.
shaken with the recalling of an old SPELL no h'oi
than stirred ready emotions with old pictures ana
old appeals If would have her now ne must IN
some way commit her beyond all retreat anu no ."
the way before desperate way. II you AKe out
the man was gambler in life as are most OF ms Aino
He drew little quick breath of decision and came
step forward. i,
Some years ago." said Il met woman-a girl
and she loved me- She going leave the silly con-
ventiona maronette-show life shed always lived ana
come awav with me to-freedom. knew what real life
was and she coming to me to learn Ihen Things
came doesn't mater
what So l lost Well. I've found her again and
paused and drew another quick breath. Its yoNr WIFE,
he said. She's going away with me-
Stanley gave a short laugh which seemed 70 express
pure amusement and nothing else
"Oh, she thought said he. He sat Gown upon
wooden bench and took knee between his hands,
smiling cheerfully the who stood before him
Yes" said the other "sne is. You might as we'll
know it. OF course explained, Il could have taken
ner away in without knowing anything about
it. That's the usual thing, 1 believe But don't 90
Things in the dark. Well he demanded after mo-
ments pause what you going to do about it?'
"I2, said the man the bench What am 1 going
tn do? His eyes imperceptby toward that near
nv patch of pine shrubs, and it seemed to him
that something white cleaned among them. He smiled
slowly Why" said he. II suppose the conventional
thing would be throw you of the pier yonder and
watch you swim ashore-or perhaps to beat you half
20 death then have you locked up But. ne said.
smiling still I'm like you. don't always do the con-
ventonal thing talk it bit. You may sit
down if you like No? Very WELL stand then! Tell
me more about plan Of yours. Why take my-take
the lady you mention away? She seems very well here
What have you to offer that have not?'
II have life to oner' cried the other man passion
ately Il have offer something that you have never
known-and that she has never known either-except
in dreams | know what it is to live, and you don't
know it, Big houses and motorcars and balls and
thousa aren't nfe Diamonds and pearls
nd lapdoes aren't life This foolish race for amuse-
ment isn't either but it's all you and your KIND
know / tell you you're starving her here She's being
starved TO death for what 1 give her.
ewes Inon the thick pine shrubbery. Just what do
you me by this life OF yours! . -. -, .
4 mean.' cried the other man. "a life lived close 10
the good earth-a life warmed by the and sweet
.ned by the things with the rain some
times (for is good). life lived as men were
meant it, free the world-free to come and
90 without question tiefree of conventional things
and people. That's what real life is. You've never
known it, but that's what it is.''
Stanley nodded his head. and he was no longer
smiling.
offering. in place Of ties and duties, Romance inc
Great Romance