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

PAGES or where sne STOOD.
Al first she had kept her brother in
a state bordering on nervous collapse.
for the risks she took we're such a.
few men would care TO undertake.
After he had discovered. however.
that she possessed perfect GOODNESS In
the face Of danger. and that the ac-
curacy Of her aim was 90 almost I'M
canny as to wiring unstinted praise
from the oldest hunters among them.
he commenced to lean a trifie too far
In the other direction. so that Vic
toria was often In positions where
she found herself entirely separated
from the other members Of the party
"A compliment 60 her prowess which
she greatly priced. since women and
beginners were usually surrounded
by precautions and guards. through
which II was difI'cult to get within
firing distance OF any sort Of game.
As they we're riding homeward ono
evening after hunt In tho foothills
Barney noticed that his sister was
unuSuoiy Qu''t anu "pp"''"'s wv
pressed.
What's the matter. vic?" he asked
Dead tired. eh'"
The girl looked up with n bright
smile, which was Immediately fol-
lowed by an expression OF puzzled be-
wilderment.
Barney" she said, after a moment
OF silence. "thero In something about
those hills back there that fills mo
with the strangest sensation Of terror
imaginable.
To-day I passed an outcropping OF
volcanic rock that gave evidence OF II
frightful CONFUSION Of nature In some
bygone age. At sight OF II I com
menced to tremble from head to foot.
a cold perspiration breaking out all
over ne.
But that part 10 not so strange
you know have always been subject
to these same silly attacks OF un-
reasoning terror at sight of any evil
dence OF the mighty forcesethat havs
wrought changes In the carth's crust,
or Of the slightest tremor OF IN earth
quake: but to-day tho feeling OF un-
uttcra BILE personal loss which over.
whelmed mo was almost unbcarabio
IT was as though one whom I loved
above all others had been taken from
me.
And yct," she continued. "througf
all my inexplicable sorrow there shon,
a ray OF brilliant hope as rcmarkabl,
and unfathOmable as tho deeper an,
depressing emotion which still stirre,
me-
For some time neither spoke. blu
rode silently. stirrup to stirrup, a
their ponies picked their way through
the knee-hiGh grass. The girl wa
thinking. trying to puzzle out an ex
PLANTATION OF the rather weird sensa
lions which had NO recently elaine,
her.
unusual and delightful people who d,
not scoff at whatever they cannot un
derstand: tho reason. doubtless. tina
his sister as we'll rs others chose hin
an the recipient OF their condolences
Not understanding her emotion. h
had nothing to Offer. and so RENAME,
silent.
He was. however. not a little pux
zled. Us he had always been, at eacl
new manifestation Of victoria's un
} canny reaction to every indication o
the great upheaval which marked tn
physical changes In the conformation
Of the earth's crust.
He recalled former occasions upol
which his sister had conndsd In hin
something OF similar terrors.
Once In the Garden Of the Godi
and again during n trip through tn
Grand Canyon in Arizona. and Yer.
vivid indeed was the recollection o
Victorta's nervous collapse following
the reading Of the press despatche
describing the san Francisco earth
quake. In all other respects his sis
ter was an exceptionally normal, well
balanced young American woman
which fact. doubtless, rendered he
one weakness the more apparent.
But Victoria Clusters terror OF earth
quakes was not her only peculiarly
The other was her strange contemp
for the men who had sued for he
hand--and OF these there had bee
many. Her brother had thought sev
cral Of them the salt Of the earth. an
Victoria herself had liked them, too
but as for loving them! Perish tn
thought!
Oddly enough. recollection OF thi
other phase Of her character obtrude
itself upon Barney's memory as tn
two rode on toward the Clayton bun
galow. and with 1t he recalled a per
astent dream which Victoria had sal
REQUIRED after each reminder of
great CONFUSION OF nature, At tn
thought he broke the silence.
Has your--ah. --avatar made hi
customary appearance" he aske
smiling.
The girl extended her hand towar
4 ls.kA IA hs.s