The Washington times., 1913-05-25
CHAPTER xuv-(continued.)

V0AS A01 AAN-NSOASAAsoS9s/
rYE did not add. ITO thee" but she
read it in the lingering glance
Of the eyes that she half had
learned to read.
by nieht," he went on, II shall dare
70 trust to mine hands. And give me
mine hands again. can bring myself
aafe ont OF Kings Staversha.n. else do
] well deserve to hang"
Don't say that word" she breathed.
sol I will not. little Vixen"
She did not lose the sudden gesture.
e suddenly expressed, with which he
put out q hand toward her.
TEL me-" she thought TO tread on
safer ground by speaking thus in ids
ness.
what was 1t that thy father called
thee In the days when they did name
me vixen.'
He had been eight and forty hours
from . rasor, yet he still was all boy
when he smiled
NY father? Truth, he called me
Teufelchen.'
And what 10 that?"
In English. little devil
Thomaine smiled. her wide and fash
ing smile, - ahe caught the bearing OF
that by-name both on his CHARACTER
and on his fathers.
But cannot call thee that" she
said, renectively.
"By no means" he answered.
what doth they friend. Jack Auorsy.
call theeT'
He drew his brows together at the
name. He found 1t hard to think with
out q pang Of Aubrey, who had turne4
his back and left him to the tender
Offices Of Erisey.
jack Oh! aforetime he would call
what doth Karichen mean?"
He hedged. He had no thought TO
: stand In those ruddy eyes OF ners a.
Il said Karichen. 'Tis the little name
As you would say in your tongue. hap,
iy. Charlie. But that is not my name.
he hastily assured her.
He might endure to be called Casting
broke but to find himself Engiisneo
into Charlie castingbroks were intoi-
erable.
.'Karlchen." Thomsine fingered on the
word.
He had not realized whittier his
chance words should lead him. de
looked at her with wide eyes. where
pain and pleasure and something close
akin to awe were blended.
"Dost thou know" he said. thou art
the first in long to call me karlchen
Twas my sister ever would call me
Thy sister," ThomsIne's thought
leaped to a misty twilight. under drip
ping willows In meadow hard by OK
she remembered a sentence. the mean
ing Of which she had been at pains TO
learn.
Grown older. she had remembered Won
Kerstenbroocks little sister" as one
TO whom, In some sort. she had owed
much at that crucial hour.
Il were right fain." she spoke, 'one
day TO greet thy sister"
.'ehe IL dead
He did not look at her, but he nursed
MS right wrist-the wrist that killed
In his other hand, as IL he loved IL.
The day that should have been his
snSinG day had broken misty. By the
inid-morning rain had begun to trickle
down.
Now they could hear. as they sat in
gent odors, the slow spatter OF water
drops that dripped from the caves and
streeked athwart the mullioned win
dows.
Presently. after a long pause. Won
Kerstenbroock looked at her and spoke.
Thou vast betrothed to Carisford?"
She was reminded Of his old pistol
wise fashion Of explosion. to her ex.
ceeding terror. a year ago. She smiled
faintly.the shadow Of smile
They betrothed me. yes"
Thou didst love him.
Thomsaine let her eyes stray to the
rain-splashed window.
He died bravely. that poor Caris-
ford
The manner of his death ] did not
question. But didst thou love him.?
Again that quick. repressive gesture,
which she marked, Of his hand reached
out to her.
Tell me. Iiebe vixenw
.'One time she said slowly, Il loved
my brother Wat. And loved my good
Aunt Eustasia. and now I love Joan
Laycock. That is all"
He looked at her, with eyes and lips
'.so"' Was all that he said. Only this
was yet in a different way from the
many ways in which she had heard
Two Of the clock, The rain stiIl flick
cred past the dripping windows.
Twill be a darksome night Van
kerstenbroock spoke blithely, across
the food that Joan had just fetched in.
Twill serve my turn rarely. know
the spot where I may scale the wall"
Suddenly he looked on Thomsine.
"kleine cute Vixen! Thou are not 90
-oh. no.; she said, and blirked The
foolish tears from her eyes. "OnIy I
AMI know not wherefore-I am!
Aye" he comforted. Thou art
wearied. But this night thou must
sleep"
Sleep" she said. And he out yon-
der In the dark and the storm. where
the hunters prowled?''
For A wild moment she could have
flung her arms about him and besought
him stay Oh. dream made real! how
could she let him go? She pushed the
food from her.
Il am not hungered. she smiled Up
On Elm vaniy. Thou must eat my
share"
~ t.n: h,s gesture vas s not half. =: