The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-12-27

nIe you make me feel undersiZed."
He looked down at her. a little more
at his ease now by reason of the friend
liness OF her manner, although he had
still the air of one embarked upon an
adventure, the outcome of which was
to be regarded with some qualms. She
was of little more than medium height,
and his first impressions of her were
that she was thin, and too pale to be
good-looking; that her eyes were large
and soft, with eyebrows more clearly
defined than is usual among English
women; and that she moved without
seeming to walk.
Il suppose am TALL" he admitted,
as they started off along the road.
"One doesn't notice it around here. My
name Is John Strangewey, and our
house is just behind that clump Of
trees there, on the top of the hill. We
will do our best to make you comfort
able" he added little doubtfully !;
but there are only my brother and
myself, and we have no women serv-
ants In the house."
"A roof Of any sort will be luxury"
she assured him. II only hope that we
shall not be a trouble to you in any
way"
And your name, please7" he asked.
She was a little amazed at his direct
ness, but she answered him without
hesitation.
my name." she told him. "is Lou
ise."
He leaned down toward her, a little
puzzled.
Louise. But your surname?"
She laughed softly. 1t occurred to
him that nothing like her laugh had
ever been heard on that gray-walled
stretch Of mountain road.
"Never mind! am travelling incog-
nito. Who am, or where am going
well, what does that matter to any
body? Perhaps l do not know myself.
You can Imagine. II you like, that we
came from the heart Of your hills, and
that tomorrow they will open again and
welcome US back"
II don't think there are any motor
cars in fairyland." he objected.
1--WE represent a new edition of fairy
lore" she told him. Modern romance.
you know, includes motor-cars and
even French maids"
"All the same" he protested, with
masculine bluntness, II really don't
see how 1 can introduce you to my
brother as Louise from fairyland.'
She evaded the point.
"Tell me about your brother. Is he
as tall as you, and is he younger or
older?"
HE is nearly twenty years older"
her companion replied. HE is about
my height, but he stoops more than I
do, and his hair is gray. / am afraid
that you may find him little pecu-
liar"
Her escort paused and swung open a
white gate on their left-hand side. Be-
fore them was an ascent which seemed
to her, in the dim light, to be abso-
lutely precipitous.
at isn't so bad us 1t looks" he as
sured her, land 1 am afraid it's the
only way up. The house is at the bend
there, barely fifty yards away. You
can see light through the trees"
"You must help me. then. please"
she begged.
He stopped down toward her. She
linked her fingers together through his
left arm and. leaning a little heavily
upon him, began the ascent. He was
conscious of some subtle fragrance
from her clothes, perfume strangely
different from the odor Of the ghost
like flowers that bordered the steep
path up which they were climbing. Her
arms, slight, warm things though they
were, and great though his own
strength, felt suddenly like yoke. At
every step he seemed to feel their
weight more insistent-a weight not
physical, solely due to this rush of un-
expected emotions.
She looked around her almost in
wonder as her companion paused with
his hand upon little iron gate. From
behind that jagged stretch Of hills in
the distance the moon had now ap-
peared. Before her was garden.
austere-looking with its prim flower
beds, the trees all bent In the same
direction, fashioned after one pattern
by the winds. Beyond was the house
Ia long, low building, part of 1t COW
cred with some kind Of creeper.
As they stepped across the last few
yards of lawn. the black, oak door
which they were approaching suddenly
opened. A tall. elderly man stood look
ling ipuuiringly out. He shaded his
eyes with his hands.
.Is that you. broeherr' he asked
doubtfully.