Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-12
CHAPTER XIII

A MAN was standing in the shadow of
"A tree, looking down into the Hollow
l could not see him very distinctly be-
cause, though evening had scarcely fallen,
the shadows, where he stood, were very
dense, but he was gazing down info the
Hollow in the attitude of one who waits.
For what?-for whom?
a sudden fit of shivering shook me from
head 10 foot, and. while l yet shivered.
l grew burning hot; the blood throbbed
at my temples, the small hammer was
drumming much faster now. and the cool
night air seemed to be sitting me.
Very cautiously l began creeping nearer
the passive figure, while the hammer beat
so loud that it seemed he must hear it
where he stood: a shortish broad-should-
cred figure clad in a blue coat He held
his hat in his hand, and he leaned care
lessly against the tree, and his easy as
surance of air maddened me the more.
As he stood thus, looking always down
into the Hollow, his neck cleaned at me
above the collar of his coat, wherefore
l stopped and, laying my irons in the
grass, crept on, once more, and, as 1
went. l kept my eyes upon his neck.
A stick snapped sharp and loud be-
meath my tread, the lounging back stiff
fened and grew rigid, the face showed
for an instant over the shoulder, and,
with a spring, he had vanished into the
! bushes.
1t was a vain hope TO find a man in
such dense tangle of boughs and under
brush, yet | ran forward, nevertheless;
but though l sought eagerly upon all
| sides, he had made good his escape. So,
! after awhile, / retraced my steps to
where / had left my irons and brackets.
and taking them up, turned aside to
that precipitous path which, as I have
already said. leads down into the Hol-
low.
Now. as I went listening to the throb
OF the hammer in my head, whom should
meet but Chairman coming gaily
| through the green and singing as she
| came At sight of me she stopped, and
| the song died upon her lip.
"Why-why. Peter-you look pale
dreadfully pale"
| "Thank you, / am very Well" said /.
you have not been-hghting again?"
'Why should 1 have been 1ghting,
Charmian?"
your eyes are wild-and fierce. Peter"
Were you coming to-to-meet me,
| Charmian2"
| yes, Peter" Now, watching beneath
my brows. II almost seemed that her
color had changed. and that her eyes OF
| set purpose avoided mine. Could II be
that she was equivocating?
but lam much before my usual time,
| tonight, CHAIRMAN"
s.rhen there will be no waiting for sup
| per. and | am ravonOus, Peter"
And as she led the way along the path
she began to sing again.
Being come TO the cottage, 1 set down
my bars and brackets with elang.
"These," said l. In answer to her look,
fare the bars / promised to make for
| the door"
sDo you always keep your promises.
| Peter2"
II hope So"
ssrhen," said she coming TO look at
the great bars with a fork In her hand
for she was In the middle Of dishing up.
| then n you promise me always 10 come
home by the road and never through the
| copplce-you will do 80, won't your"
s'Why should II" 1 inquired. turning
| sharply 10 look al her.
sBecause the coppioe is 50 dark and
lonely. and Ill say, II 1 should take
I IA into my head 10 come and meet you
sometimes, there would be no chance OF
my missing YOU" And 30 she looked at
me- and smiled. and going back TO her
| cooking, fell once more a~ainginE. the