The Glasgow courier., 1916-09-15

bless YOU"
Night came and with it the silvery
glow of moonlight across the hoary
headed queen of the Oberland When
Robin came out from dinner he seated |
himself on the porch, expectant. eager
and vastly lonesome.
She came at last--and alone. Stop |
ping at the rail not more than an arms |
length from where he sat, she gaZed
pensively up at the solemn mistress Of
the valley, one slim hand at her bosom,
the other hanging limp at her side. He
was in thralldOm. "Bedelia." he
whispered softly.
She turned quickly. to find him
standing beside her, his face aglow
with rapture. A quick catch of the
breath. sudden movement of the
then she smiled-a wavering, uncer-
tain smile that went straight to his
heart and shamed him for startling
her. II beg your pardon" he began
lamely. IL startled you"
She held out her hand to him, still
smiling. II fear l shall never become
accustomed tc being pursued" she
voice. ut is dreadful to feel that
some one is forever watching you
from behind. am glad it is you,
however. You at least are not the
secret eye that never sleeps!!'" She
gently withdrew her hand from his
ardent clasp. "Mrs. CASTOR told me
that she had seen you. I feared that
you might have gone on your way re-
joicing."
"Rejoicing?" he cried. "Why do
you say that?"
"After our experience in Paris l
should think that you had had
enough of me and my faithful watch
dogs
"Then you are being followed?"
She smiled again. and there was
mischief in her eye. "If so have led
them a merry chase. We have been
travelling for two days and nights.
Mr.. Schmidt, by train and motor, get
| ting off at stations Unexpectedly,
hopping into trains going in any di-
rection but the right one, sleeping in
strange beds and doing all manner of
queer things"
81 see that your retinue has been
substantially augmented" he re-
marked, trace of jealousy in his
voice. "The good looking Mr.. White
has not been eluded."
"Mr. White? Oh. yes. see. But he
is to be trusted, Mr.. Schmidt" she
said mysteriously-and tantalizingly.
ale will not betray me to my cruel
monster of q father"
81 saw you this morning riding with
him." said he glumly.
She turned her face away and for a
moment was silent. "Shall we take
those chairs over there, Mr.. Schmidt?
They appear to be as abandoned as
we" She indicated two chairs near
the broad portals.
He shook his head. "If we are look
ing for the most utterly abandoned
allow me to call your attention to
the two in yonder corner"
"It is quite dark over there" she
said with frown.
"Quite," he agreed. (Which ac-
counts, no doubt. for your failure to
see them"
"Mrs. CASTOR will be looking for me
before she began hesitatingly.
"Or Mr.. White, perhaps. Let me re-
mind you that they have exceedingly
sharp eyes"
"Mr. White is no longer here" she
announced.
His heart leaped. "Then l. at least.
have nothing to fear" he said
quickly.
She ignored the banality. "He left
this afternoon. Very we'll. let us take
the seats over there. l rather like the
shall say shadows?"
"Now. tell me everything" he said.
"From beginning to end. What be-
came Of you after that day at st.
Cloud, whittier have you journeyed
and wherefore were you SO bent on
coming to this now blessed Inter
laken?"
"Easily answered. Nothing at all
became of me. journey thither, and
I came because had set my heart on
seeing the Jungfrau."
"But you had seen it many times"
"And | hoped that l might find
peace and quiet here" she added
quite distinctly.
"You expected to find me here
didn't you?"
Yes, but did not regard you as
disturber of the peace"
"You knew | would come, but you
didn't know why, did you. Bedelia?
He leaned a little closer.
Eyes. knew why" she said calmly
emotionlessly. He drew back instant
ly, chilled by her directness. "Yo,
came because there was promise Of ar
interesting adventure. which you nov
are on the point of making impossible
by a rather rash exhibition of haste"
He stared at her shadowy face il
utter confusion. For moment h
was speechless. Then rush of pro
testing sincerity Surged up within him