The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-16


 1 Scotland Yard English. He had wired his employers that ''M. is still in Inns l bruck. Cannot be in London It was very clearly set forth in the letter that Roxbury Medcroft was in London and that MT. Githens of Scotland Yard had 1 betrayed his trust. He was virtually charged with playing into the hands of the enemy-'Ese1ling out,'' as it were. It readily may be expected that MT. Githens was accused of being in the employ of the opposition" Moreover, 1t is but reasonable to assume that he 1 took vigorous steps at once to vfHdf- cate himself, which accounts for the woe that lurked close behind the heels of man named Brock.
 | Brock and Constance had ridden off that afternoon to visit the historic 1 SchIoss Ambras. The great castle had been saved for the very last of their explorations. He had just been able to secure permission to visit that part of the dukes residence open on certain occasions to the curious public. Edith had declined to accompany them. In the first place, she was expecting the all important message from her hus- 1 band She was lon nettles,'' to quote her plaintive eagerness. In the second place. she realized that as the crisis was at hand in the affairs of Brock and Constance her presence was not a necessary adjunct. Not only was she expecting a message from Roxbury, but eagerly anticipating an outburst of joyous news from the two who had, it seemed, very gladly left her behind.
 The young couple returning by the lower road from the schloss came to resting place at a little eating house and garden on the hillside overlooking the river inn. It is a quiet, demure, l unfrequented place among dhe crags, | standing in from the white roadway a hundred feet or more, c1ouded by 1 gorgeous trees and somber cliffs It was to this charming, romantic retreat that Brock led his fair, now tremulous inamorata. She, too, knew that the hour for decision had come. It was in the air, in the glint of his eyes, in the leaping of her heart. And she knew what she would say to him and what | they would say to- the world a few hours hence. The mountains seemed to have lost their splendid frown. They were beaming down upon her, tenderly caressing instead of bleak and foreboding as they always had been before.
 A rosy checked girl came into the garden to serve them. Swift, cool breezes were scurring down the valley, bearing in their wake the soft rain clouds that were soon to drench the earth and then radiantly pass on. They were quite alone, seated in the shelter of a wide, oN srhanging rortico. A soft, green darkness was creeping oyer the mountain side, pregnant with smell of the shower.
 Constance ordered tea and a bite of | A. e., rS4 gaze never left her exquisite face while she was engaged in the pretty but rather self conscious occupation of instructing the waitress. After the girl had departed, he leaned forward across the little table and said, a trihe hoarsely and disjointed1y:
 'fIt was most appetizing to watch you do that. I could live forever on nothing but tea and sandwiches if you were to order them.''
 You've said a great many silly things to me this afternoon.'
 ''I wonder'.he stopped and lowered his voice-"I wonder If you would call 1t silly if I were to tell you that love you,. very, very much" His gloved hand dropped upon hers as she fum- ] bled ainlessly with the menu card; something in the very helplessness of
 
 of all his love toward it-an of this confident, arrogant love that had come to be so sure of itself in these last days. His gray eyes, dark with the purpose of his passion, took on a new l and impel1ing glow; she looked into them for an instant, the wavering } smile of last resort on her parted lips; then her lids dropped quickly and her lip trembled.
 'I should still think you very silly ,'' { she said in very low voice, unless unless you do love me"
 His fingers closed so tightly upon : hers that she looked up, her eyes swim ming with tenderness. Neither spoke for long minute, but words were not needed to tell what the soul was say ing through the eyes.
 ,''I do love you-you know do, Con nie. I've loved you from the first day I cannot live without you. Connie darling, you won't keep me waiting , You will be my wffe-you will marry . me at once2 You do love me, know I've known it for days and dayS''-
 She whimsically broke in upon his , l passionate declaration, saying with 2
 pretty petulance: "Oh, you have
 What insufferable conceit! I''-
 He laughed joyously. "I never wai
 so sure of anything in my Hfe,'' ht
 said. You couldn't help loving me
 Constance; I've loved you SOL YoJ Q don't have to tell me, dear; I know , Still, I'd like to hear you say, witt ! those dear lips as well as with you
 eyes, that you love me-
 She put her hand upon the back O, the broad one which held the other i'm
 prisoned; there was a proud, earnes l light. s1 her eEA- CT do love you" sh,