Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-17

dN'iES; ana though she was 1ot Vet
reaiiy old. her hair was white, in fine
contrast with the calm dar li bruws
she. for ship acquaintance of Mr..
darkness. was remarkable enough;
but her companion-a young girl WHO
could hardly inc twcnty-was bcwiIder-
inR.
Christopher had never seen IL girl
like her. She was a princess ,ut OF
fairy tale; not just a f1esh-and blood
hrncess who had strayed into 4 story
or fairies because i; was convenient
I" have her there. but a princess born
o. = fairy spell
This fancy did actually prasen. it
self to the young mans mind. 40 COM
pletely was lie swept off his feet
by the appearance OF MIR. Harkaess's
young friend; and though he was US
urll% ashamed il he found himsel.
10y chance hcirG sentimental the girl
was SO cNquisitely romantic u figure
that he did not stop 10 check his cx-
t'.rsSant simiI"s.
Miss Dalrymple-Miss Nourma
bankruptcies me present Sir. Race"
ratified off the American, pr,uly and
conscientiousIy. "This Is the auiomo-
BIZ. I've bean talking u you about
\ ieauty. isn'i she"
Then having discharged wha. lie
cunsi,!c:ed his duty, he iussad over
tne iUsHaRc rs II came Out from the
hotel. and fused good deal more
aG"u; setting the ladies' Comfortably
SEATED, tuckins q light rug OF his own
over IL, siri and roun1 the girl, as IL
size I'D been ah earl" crocus 10 lie
rtc;cCtru from some blightinc furry
Of .n"w
They started. and as Race was not
carrying a chauffeur. Hardness pro-
posed TO sit beside him on the front
fl@l, -
asked for his company in the tonneau,
and he accepted the invitation, shyly,
deli Ehtedly. as if it we're a favor be.
slowed by royalties. Christopher heard
him telling one or two funny, typically
American stories. which evidently
amused his guests: and if ever a silence
fell. 1t was darkness the girl whu
broke 1t. never the elder of The tive
women whom Nourma Dairymplc call.
ed Aunt Constance"
Christophcr's simple conception OF
James darkness had now suddenly and
completely changed. The naive. yet
brisk. little business man had assumed
In his eyes the Importance Of a mys.
terry. But. after all. was not the mys.
tery rather All obvious one-ioo oh.
rious" Race asked himself on second
thoughts.
The weather was perfect. and each
day That came TO take the place OF its
the last. Christopher was cordially in.
vited TO have his meals with his pas.
senSers-sometimcs charming picnic
meals. in which the aunt or niece per
formed dainty miracles with some.
what battered tea basket. sometimes
meals at delightful. old IA shioned ho-
tells or country inns. Occasionally
Christopher had Nourma Dalrymplc 10
himself Tor half AN hour at a time
on some short excursions: and il seemed
To him that her mind, her nature Wac
as wonderful as her face She had
thoughts high and clear and light-Eiy-
inE rs tho stars, and she spoke them
out with apparent frankncss. yet at
the end OF week Christophcr had
drawn no nearer TO the solution of the
mystery which had assembled this
strange party than in the hour of start
ing.
lie aid not even know anything about
IN" palrymples. aunt and niece, ex.
ccpi that the girl had spent most. ~
not All. OF her life in India. and that
the elder woman had or less
latelE--sonc out there 10 visit her
brother. who was Nourmas father
Who the father was. what he did in
india. or where was his home in that
"idc land OF enchantmcmts, Christopher
uid not hear; nor did he hear why
Miss Dalrymple had taken her niece to
America. lie knew that they had been.
only because James darkness had met
them on tn" ship coming back; and
this was the girls first sight Of Eng
land. as II WAS that OF her new friend
Whatever she admired, he admired n
She so much as said OF place "1h
should like 10 sec it," her host was
not happy unless the vague wish could
be quickly Eratificd. lie watched over
her even more anNiously than did the
evidently devoted aunt. lie was dc
pressed II she appeared absent minded.
as she did occasionally. or III her Inns
dropped, or II she had a faraway look
IN the dark eyes. which were almost
startingiy beautiful under the soft
frame OF moonlieht-on. wheatNeld-coI
ored hair
There were always flowers for both
laoies every morning. even AT the most
out-"f-the- stopping places. and
there were sweets, and any book which
Nourma DalryInple had ~ id 10 her aunt
or Observation-Disclosures knew little
about books-that she would care 10
read.
so matters went on until they had
heen gone for fortnight. all hut ono
daN. ana were on their way back 10
s s.o,non' "h'ch they would reach the
following evening. They had returned
by STAFFORD on Avon. and wanderin.
about tho beautiful! old town. Christie
pher had N"urma Dalrymplc beside
MN. she was even moro than usually
sweet aud gentle in her manner that
DAY. though thoughtful. and Christie
pner ought 10 have been enjoying each
moment in the society Of such a uuiuue
ana radiant girl: yet somehow he fclt
troubled and restless. as sensitive
women do when the air is cracking
with electricity before Thunderstorm
IL could not think Of things worth
saving. Though lie would have liked to
b" brilliant. and instead Of looking =.
MS "orlpa ANTON he found himself CON.
unually watching the pair who walked
ahead-lauI"s darkness and Miss Dali
rymple.
They were absorbed in som, yery
grave discussion. that was clear. So.
completely absorbed that they might as
we'll have been staring At London
HEARINGS as gazing upon the beautiful
n""ued walls of Shakespcar-'s birth
place" once when Christopher hap
r"ned !" catch glimpse OF the Amer
can fac" II" was startled. Tho little
man looked AZ If he had been stric)>
dcathhlow- But aftcrward his ewes lit
up with f"vcrish cxcit ,ment or hope.
and spot OF color burned on each @,
ms rather high check bones
That night as Race sat IN his room,
Al the hotel. smoking pipe before GO
NIX {" bed. and wondering what had
happened. some orc lnorl, 90, a, niy