Evening star., 1915-05-16

GOrdons idea OF walk Nor did her
melancholy expressions of sympathy with
him as a dying man yield their old pleas
ure, now that he had known the joy of the
quartet's applause at his signs of return
ing hardihood.
He Joined the Crosby party one morn
ing for walk into region they had not
yet explored Finding the road impass-
able, they had recourse to a railroad
track which brought them upon long
trestle flung across a deep defle. AS they
were gaily walking the rails locomotive
shrieked a quarter of mile away, and at
Miss Crosbys sharp command they
turned instantly and scampered over the
ties. A good five hundred yards lay be-
tween them and safety, and they settled
down for lively sprint, with the engineer
footing his whistle to encourage them.
The three younger women were making
lark of the race, and quickly outdis-
tanced Stuart and Miss Crosby. His feet
slipped on the rough footing. and the roar
of the train frightened him.
Don't be alarmed, Miss Crosby ad-
monished, accommodating her pace to
his. 41t's only freight, and we can make
it easily
He finished in panic, and reaching the
solid roadbed jumped from the track and
rolled down the bank. He shut his eyes
as the train roared past, and when he
opened them guardedly the three girls
We're kneeling beside him anxiously, while
Miss Crosby had torn open his waistcoat,
and then-oh, marvellous, unbelievable
thing!-placed her head against his heart.
He felt its beat under the pressure of her
face. This lasted for centuries, he thought;
then she rose quickly, peered down into
his face, laughed, and struck her hands
together smartly.
"Fine! Splendid! Perfect!' she ex-
claimed.
He sat up and stared as the three ire
pressibles began executing a war dance
expressive of their relief.
When their boisterous joy had worn it
self out Miss Crosby remarked quietly,
"Please pardon me. | really thought you
had tainted. We were foolish to have
tried the trestle-it was my fault. If
we'd gone a little farther, something un-
pleasant might have happened
ON the return the younger girls kept
him in gay humor; but Miss Crosby
walked ahead, studiously avoiding him.
Her cheek had rested against his heart
he could not forget it! The scent of her
hair taunted him. Innumerabe doctors,
the most distinguished specialists on both
sides of the Atlantic. had applied their
heads to the same spot; but this had been
very, very different. He was glad he had
not tainted and missed that moment with
its delightful, intangible sensations. The
world was very different place from the
world of an hour ago. He marked her
fine carriage as she led the way, her bare
head erect, and listened with new interest
to her musical laugh when the trio flung
a jest at her And he knew nothing
about her The sense of his ignorance
was heavy upon him. They were all set
down on the sanatorium register as from
New York, and her name he had learned
was Isabel. This was precious little to
know about a girl who had-oh, incredi-
BILE thing!-listened to the beating of his
heart and held her lovely dark head there
while it thumped fully hundred beats.
MRS. GORDON, rendered desperate
- by many Illustrations of well laid
plans, had left note in the Office thank