Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-01

weir" said I, as she hesitated.
- manr said she, and touched the
swollen hand very tenderly with her nm
gers.
you do not fear me any longer7"
mo"
"1n spite Of my eyes and hair7"
In spite Of your eyes and hair-you
see, woman knows instinctively whom
she must fear and whom not to fear"
"well7"
And you are one do not fear. and,
think, never should"
"Humr' said I, rubbing my chin, 'I am
only 26r'
Twenty-Five ls-25p said she demurely.
And yet am very like-him-you said
30 yourselfr'
'Himr' she exclaimed, starting. II
had forgotten all about him. Where Is
he-what has become of him?" and she
glanced apprehensively toward the door.
/ Half way to Tonbridge-or should be
by now"
"Tonbrldger' said she, in a tone Of
amazement, and turned to look at me
again.
"Tonbridger repeated.
But he is not the man to-run away"
said she doubtfully---"even from you"
No, indeedw said 1, shaking my head,
"he certainly did not run away, but cir
cumstances-and a stone, were too much
even for him."
| "A stone?'
Upon which he-happened to fall, and
| strike his head-very fortunately for me-"
| WAS he-much hurt?"
Stunned only" 1 answered.
She was still kneeling beside my chair.
! but now she sat back, and turned to
stare into the fire. And as she sat, I
noticed how full and round and white her
arms we're, for her sleeves were rolled
! high, and that the hend, which yet held
! the sponge, was likewise very white
! neither big nor little trne wide. per
haps, but with long, slender fingers.
| Presently, with a sudden gesture she
| raised her head and looked at me again
a long. searching look.
who are you?' she asked suddenly.
"My NAME" said. us Peter"
Yes" she nodded, with her eyes still
| on mine.
"Peter-Smith," I went on, land by
that same token, I am blacksmith-very
humby at your service "
"Peter-Smithv she repeated, as though
trying the sound of 1t, hesitating at the
surname exactly as 1 had done. Peter
-Smith!-and mine is Chairman, Char
mian-Brown." And here again was a
| pause between the two names.
Yours is very beautiful name eaid
| !, especially the CharmianW
And yours, she retorted, 'is a beauti-
fully-ugly one!'
"Yes2"
Especially the-Peter!"
Indeed, quite agree with you," said I
rising. "And now. If may trouble you
for the towel-thank you" Forthwith
/ began to dry my face as well as |
might on account of my injured thumb,
while she watched me with a certain
elusive merriment peeping from her
eyes, and quivering at me round her
lips, an expression half mockng, halt
than once already. Wherefore, to hide
from her consciousness of this, 1 fell to
towelling myself vigorously 50 much so
that forgetting the cut on my brow.
set 1t bleeding faster than ever.
'Oh, you are very clumsy she cried
springing up, and snatching the towe
from me. she began to stanch the blood
with It. "If you will sit down. 1 will
bind 1t up for you"
INJURED.
"Quite" she said sis there anything
will serve as bandage?"
"There is the towelr' L suggested.
mot to be thought OFF,
"Then you might team a strip of the
sheet" said l, nodding towards the bed
"Ridiculous" said she, and proceeded
to draw a handkerchief from the bosom
of her dress, and having folded 1t will
I
she tied 1t about my temples.
"There-that is more comfortable, ism
it?" she inquired. and with the word
she bestowed a final little pat to tn,
bandage, a touch so light-so ineffabll
gentle-that 1t might almost have beel
the hand Of that long-dead mother whom
had never known. THAT is better, ism
it?" she demanded.
Thank you-yes, very comfortable!
4 h. w1 1Afk
glance by accident encountered the pisto
near by, and at sight of it sudden ange
came upon me- for remembered that bu
for my sudden Intervention this girl wal
a murderess; wherefore, would fail
have destroyed the vile thing, an,
reached for it impulsively but she wa
before me and, snatching up the weapon
hid 1t behind her as she had done ono
before.
"Give it to me-" said /, frowning, 81
is an accursed thing!"
"Yet 1t has been my friend tonight,
she answered.
y "Give II to mel" repeated. She threy
up her head, and regarded me with dis
dainful air, for my tone had been i'm
perative.
3 Come" said /, and held out my hand
l So for while, We looked into eac
others eyes, then, all at once, sh
) dropped the weapon on the table befor
me ana turned neT Dhch 10 me
'I think" she began. speaking wit
her back still turned to me.
J "Well?" said /.
that you have"
"Yes?" said /
y very unpleasant-eyes"
'I am very sorry for that" said
d dropping the weapon out of sight benin
/ my row of books, having done which
8 drew both chairs nearer the fire, and In
| yited her 20 sit down.
Z "Thank you, / prefer to stand" sal
she loftily.
o "As you wil," I answered, but eve
while / spoke she seemed to change he
y mind, for she sank into the nearest chail
+ and, chin In hand, stared into the fire.
: "And So" said she, as / sat down or
posite her" and so your name is Pete
q Smith, and you are blacksmith
: Eyes, a blacksmith"
"And make horseshoes3"
d Naturally. yes"
4 "And do you live here7"
''Yes."
" "Alone7"
quite alone"
e sand how long have you lived her
8 alone2"
v mot so long that am tired OF It,"
"And Is this cottage yoursY'
- "Yes-that Is. IL stands ON the Sefto
1 n ..VN. ka.N nAtgh hAr hnss