The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-04-13

lie II very handsome. Barney. aAd
very tall and strong and clean Iimbcd.
! wish that I might meet such n man
In real life. know II II q ridiculous
thing 20 say. but I can never love
any OF the pusiilanimous wcaklings
who are forever falling In love with
mc--not after having walked hand In
hand with such a. he and read the
love In hs clear eyes.
And yet. Barney. am afraid Of
him. In II not odd?"
Al this juncture they were Joined
by other members 81 the party. 40
that no further reference to the sub
ject was made by either.
At the Claytons' they found that
an addition had been made to tho
number OF guests by tho unherulded
advent OF two khaki.oiad young men.
one of whom rose and cnme forward
20 meet the returning hunters while
they were We. n hundred yards away.
lie was n tall. athletic appearing
man. As Victoria Custer recognized
his features she did not know whether
to be- pleased or angry. Here was
the one man she had over mot who
came nearest to tho realization Of her
dream man, and this one OF all the
others had never spoken word OF
love to her. His companion. who had
now risen from tho cool shade OF the
low veranda. was also coming for
ward, but more slowly. the set OF his
shoulders and the swing Of his stride
bctokcning his military vocation.
MIR. Curtiss." exclaimed Victoria.
looking past him. And Lieut.. Hut
COW! Where In tho world did you
como from"
Tho world left u.s." replied the ON
Ger, smiling. and we have followed
her to tho wiids OF equatorial Africa.
I'VE found Nebraska a very tAme
place 1ter you and Barney left. ex-
planned MIR, Curtlss. and whom l
discovered that Butsow would &C
company mo We lost no time In FOL
lowing you. and here We are throwing
, ourselves upon the mercy and nos
pitality Of Lady Greystoke."
Il have been trying to convince
them" said that lady. who had now
Joined the party at the foot OF tho
veranda steps, that the obligation 10
all upon our side. II taxes our In
genulty and the generosity OF our
friends to keep the mousse even half
full Of conEenial companions"
II WAS not until after. dinner that
!, night that Mr.. William Curtiss had
. an opportunity to draw Miss Victoria
Custer away from the others upon
. soms more or iess hasy pretext that
: no might explain for her ears alone
. lust why he had suddenly found
. Beatrice, Neb.. such n desolate place
and had realized that 1t was impera-
tive to the salvation OF his life and
:, happiness that he travel halfway
round the world In search OF a cor
tain slender bit OF femininity.
This usually self posse sscd youna
man stammered and hesitated like q
bnshfui schooiboy speaking his Friday
afternoon piece: but finally he man.
! aged to expel from his system. more
" or less coherenty. the fact that he
. was very much In love with Victoria
= Custer, and that he should never
again eat or sleep until she had prom
!, Used TO be his wife.
. There was a strong appeal to the
f., girl In the masterful thing the man
. had done In searching her out In the
n wilds OF Africa 10 tell her Of his love.
for IL seemed that he and Butzow had
!, forced their way with but y handful
ton OF the jungle because 1t was the
shortest route from the coast TO the
= Greystoke ranch.
v Then there was that about him
Z which appealed to the same attribute
q OF her nature to which the youns
= giant Of her dreams appsaled--a prim-
+. tive strength and masterfulnsss that
!. left her both frightened and happily
= helpless In the presence Of both these
= strong loves: for the love OF her dream
r man was to Victoria Custer . real and
living love.
= curtiss saw assent In tho silence
:. which followed his outbreak. and
t taking advantage OF this tacit en-
r couragcment. no seized her hands In
q his and drew her toward him,
= "Oh, Victoria" he whispered. tel
d me that thing wish TO hear. from,
f. your dear lips. Tell me that even a
o tenth part Of my love Is returned. and
| shall DO happy" ..
Nh. lpnkot IN In IA his Ayou uhin ~ a
down upon her In tho moonlight. and
Q on her lips trembled an avowal OF
= the love she honestly believed she
= could at last bestow upon the man
d OF her choice.
a In the past few moments she had
. thrashed out the question OF that
other unreal and intangible love tina,
y had held her chained to a dream for