Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-24


are we-some of us??'
"The people of our island are supersti-
tious," Daura said. "They believe all the
old stories of fairies and wraiths.
"And family curses?'
@Yes-more than all.
what about you?" he asked suddenly,
as if he had been leading up to the question.
"Do you believe that the lost piper can be
heard playing the mermaid tune in the caves
under the castle whenever some misfortune
is due?"
NO." she answered decidedly, a don't.
1t would be very silly to believe such thing.
STILL l wish Hamar hadn't told you
"And you wish we hadn't thought we
heard the piper-Nira and you and II"
well, yes don't believe the stuff; but
wish we hadn't heard it today,-Nira's
wedding day, when we're all excited, and
easily worked up by-by the least thing.
It's as if
"Whato"
GAS if something dreadful was coming to
us three. shouldn't mind for myself; but
for Mira
"Do you care more for her than your
self?"
a should think I did, cried Daura al
most Indignantly. @Td bear anything, go
through anything, do anything, to save her
lIOHl pain Vi SOllOW.
what a wonderful little sister it isl
Conway smiled down at her, as they walked
together along the road. In minute more
they would turn off it, to go down to the
beach.
"Whv wonderful? Wouldn't you do the
same?H she asked, her eyes on a distant au
tomobile which was rushing toward them at
a furious pace from the direction of Portree.
This was only branch road; but in the
spring and summer and autumn it was often
travelled by tourists who wished to see Dun
ulm. There was no other way of passing
near the castle, except on foot. Vaguely,
as she answered Conway and asked her
question, the idea fitted through her head
that the big motor coming so fast was like
the car of Juggernaut,- RELENTLESS, terrible,
sweeping on to its destination like Fate.
would l do anything for Nira?" George
echoed @My God! wouldn't II" He num-
bled the last words under his breath; but
there was something of concentrated pas
sion, almost ierceness, in his tone, which
made Daura turn her eyes from the adj
vancing car to his face. He too was watch
ing the car as it came: not with his inward
self, for that was far away, perhaps with
Mira, but mechanically, his eyes empty win
dows behind which the soul had mysteri-
ously withdrawn.
THEN with rush, as of unseen wings,
great red motorcar swept past them.
Daura had a flashing glimpse of two men,
seeing only their profles; but in second
they were wiped out of her memory. George
started back as if he had been struck, or
shot, staggered, tried to save himself, and
fell on his back at the side of the road.
Daura gave cry, and the thought of the
lost piper came between her and realities
for blurred instant She hardly knew
what had happened. Surely the car had
not touched George 1t had dashed by,
within yard of them perhaps; but there
had seemed no need to step back for safety.
Yet George had fallen, and now he lay still
as if dead. Could a sharp stone have been
thrown up by the rushing wheels, and struck
him? She knelt down by his side, and gath
cred up his head on her arm, looking down
at him in fear and confusion. There was no
blood, no mark, on his face.
"George-George!" she called softly.
AOpen your eyes-speak to me! Oh, for
Nira's sale!'
But he did not answer. No shiver of re-
turning life thrilled through him. His eyes
were half open, and rolled up, so that be-
tween his thick brown lashes there was only
frightening glimmer of white
Daura felt very young, and miserably
he1p1ecS PerhaDS C,eoroe IF he wac NOT