The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-03-13
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stone pillars with their heraldlc
shields. and sauntered le!surely along
the smooth macadam drive. bordered
by sentinel elms.
My thoughts were busy with the
new line of conjecture which Romney
had unconsclously opened up for me.
| wondered whether by any POSSIBLE
lty this eccentric painter. Murphy
could be personally involved. Was
Cameron acquainted with him? Had
they ever quarreled? From what
Romney had told me OF the affair at
Garrisog's the artist was evidently Of
n bellicose disposition. He had come
here two years ago. Cameron had
owned Cragholt less than year
Perhaps at tho time he was preparing
the mansion for occupancy he had
offended the too sensitive Murphy.
who-l was letting my imagination
run free-may have wished to take
a hand at tho new decoration. 1t
would probably be well for me TO see
Cameron before seeing the artist. The
involutions Of my hypothetical train
led me, | fear, into many monstrous.
ly preposierous conce.ts; yet, as sub.
sequent events proved, the cogitation
In which | INDUCED on that afternoon
walk was not wholly idle. Although
the working out was along lines
which ] was then far from foresee-
Ing, II was curious, in looking back,
to observe how very closely, collater.
ally, even at that stage. came TO the
truth.
In the midst OF my revery, the
rhythm Of horses hoofs on the drive
awoko me to time and place. And as
! raised my eyes. saw, still come
distance away, but bearing down
upon me at a swift slngle.foot, the
girllsh figure OF Evelyn Grayson, in
white waist and gray habit, mounted
on Prince Charley, buckskin eayusc.
which for saddle purposes she pre-.
ferred to all the thoroughbreds in the
Cameron stables.
Am late?" she cried, refining the
wiry little animal to n stand beside
me. Celia Ainslee Just left. She
was expecting the Len,ilhons to stop
for her In their motor boat, but they
broke down and were delayed. and
instead OF coming at three o'clock, 1t
was hnlf.past four before they land.
ed"
Il fancy you are Just on the min.
ute" was my response, ~ | consult.
81 my tmepIeCe.
But I'm stu n mile from the
Lodge" she argued.
And all tho nearer 10 the trail" I
condoned 1T must be somewhere
about here, isn't IT."
You've passed IT, It's Just beyond
that next bend" And she pointed
over my shoulder.
Why didn't you bring groom
with you TO hold your stoed?" I asked,
smiling. You don't expect to ride
Prince Charley into tho forest fast.
nesscs, do your"
81 could" she answered, promptly.
~ will, II you dare me. He can nick
his way like cat But It isn't nee
essary. He'll stand forever, the dear
thing II | drop the bride rein over
his head"
My preference was TO have her on
foot at my side and so did not dare
her And thus It CHANGED that We left
tho homely little animal standing
with dropping head and dangling rein
on the Swallowed side Of the drive
way, and went off together down the
narrow. Notwithstanding trail, the
girl In the lead.
The slanting sunlight, shooting its
golden arrows in intermittent volIcys |
through the tree tops. made target Of
her hair. as We passed, scoring bril-. |
liant flashes of FURNISHED bronze. Her
hat, a broad brimmed sailor of coarse |
straw, was but n poor shield for that |
tawny coil which lay low
on her neck, and the darting rays
had their win with 1t. have never
before or since seen hair Just like
Evelyn Grayson's. There was such n
wealth Of It, and It's color was so clu.
sive. Under dim lights 1t seemed q
Drosaic brown, but with small encour.
agement It changed to light fawn.
,treaked with lustrous topaz strands:
which in the suns blaze became a
iazzllng bronze glory.
lin pretty sure | can find the
.ree." she asserted, as she swung
llong with that free, llssome stride
which loved. 1T Is an old, dead
,hestnut, great giant Of the woods,
even in DEATH and II stands
'nly half.dozen yards of the trail.
was looking for ferns. or never
n the world should have come upon
/. How do you imagine that talng
yer got away off here? And who
ould have stuck II up on that dead
rec trunk7"
That Is precisely what should :
Ike to find out" was my reply. ut {
GEMS very mysterious to me. About
that time WAS 1t, when you discov.
red TT" I
Just before l met you" II
Had you heard any shooting IN .
no woods. before that?"
''Shooting?" abe querled, apparent I
! surprised. mo. Was some one ,