The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-09-28

by his side. For the first time in my
life you make me feel understood"
He looked down at her, little more
at his ease now by reason of the friend
illness of her manner, although he hac
still the air of one embarked upon al
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 I am TALL" he admitted
as they started off along the road
zone 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 a little doubtfully
'but there are only my brother and
myself, and we have no women serv-
anus IN the mousse.
"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, please?" he asked.
She was little amazed at his direct
ness, but she answered him without
hesitation.
"My name," she told him, sis LOU
ise."
He leaned down toward her, 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 1 am, or where 1 am going
well, what does that matter to any,
body? Perhaps 1 do not know myself.
You can imagine, if you like, that we
came from the heart of your hills, and
that tomorrow they will open again and
welcome us back
81 don't think there are any motor
cars in fairyland," he objected.
'We represent 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, 81 really don't
see how l 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
olderT"
"He is nearly twenty years older"
her companion replied. "He is about
my height, but he stoops more than
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-
utely precipitous.
"It isn't so bad as it looks" he as
sured her, land 1 am afraid it's the |
only way up. The house is at the bend |
here, barely fifty yards away. You
IAN see a light through the trees"
"You must help me, then, please"
The begged.
He stopped down toward her. She
linked her fingers together through his
eft arm and, leaning a little heavily /
lpon him, began the ascent. He was
conscious of some subtle fragrance
rom her clothes, q perfume strangely
Iifferent from the odor of the ghost
Ike flowers that bordered the steep
ath up which they were climbing. Her
rms, slight, warm things though they '
we're, and great though his own |
trength, felt suddenly like yoke. At
very step he seemed to feel their i
yeight more insistent-a weight not
hysical, solely due to this rush of IN (
expected emotions. Ii
She looked around her almost in +
'onder as her companion paused with Y
Is hand upon a little iron gate. From J
ehind that Jagged stretch of hills in 9
le distance the moon had now ap-
cared. Before her was a garden, I
with its prim flower
eds, the trees all bent in the same y
rection, fashioned after one pattern S
Y the winds. Beyond was the house v
"a long, low building, part Of it COW t
ed with some kind Of creeper. n
AS they stepped across the last few C
lrds Of lawn, the black, oak door t.
hich they were approaching suddenly
,ened. A tall, elderly man stood look
& inquiringly out. He shaded his "
-es with his hands. h
"Is that you, brother7" he asked d
'ubtfully.