The Washington herald., 1918-12-25
THE LOVE AFFAIR OF A HOMELY GRl,
BY JEAN LOUISE DE FOREST.

and unattractive as TO feature, be
mouth was az large. her nose a. email
and upturned as ever. her eyes tAs1
usual size: the freckies as well wen
all there; but she had gained twg
qualities which no mere beauty cas-
take the place OF. and these wers
youth and magnetism She looked
Young. younger than ever IN her life
for even IA a child she had been Old
Tor her years and pale and shrinking
Now the healthy blood which happi-
ness had sent coursing through hea
| cheeks had filed them out and turned
| them pink. There were two unnais
taxable dimples when she laughed.
What do you most desire, o mn
servantT' she asked.
To see what you would have rns
4 see" replied Martin, and this tirnx
! there was truth behind the mock hus
mility Of his words. ---
Come" said Rebecca, takinr hii
arm, Il will show you where we are
going. You are 10 have a new expert
/ ence."
Together they walked around the
house and out to the throne in tbs
Queens Gardens" as Martin slvsyf
: called them
] ~@SShH ENtbtNC6 t1GAhlfueQ. ArOi
( up toward the woods. of In the die
tance across the meadows. We arr
! going up there. / told you about them
when We first sat here four week.
ago. how they appear dark and shso-
oWy from a distance. but how. when
one is under them. they are aI pools
of golden sunlight, and warn th ana
sweet scents."
| Yes, i understand how that may
oe," said Martin. He was thinking OF
/ his blindness and Of the blessed pools
Of sunlight to which Rebecca had Led
him.
But the greatest surprise Of all 4
! cannot tell you until we are there
You are TO carry a huge basket. J
am glad that you are so stnsng."
! A picnic" he hazsrded
Partly" Rebeccs laughed. 'but yos
can never guess the rest"
Come on, then" Martin spoke ssy-
ly and rose TO his feet Il can wait no
longer. But first let me behold you II
is past nine O'Clock. and you have
! kept Your Royal Highness cloud-hid-
den until now. 1 am looking straight
at you. What DO sect"
You see.' began Rebecca. but shs
stopped suddenly. Her throat coo-
tracted and she dropped her face into
I her hands as a great wave Of pity
swept over her.
Il see" reminded Martin. his face
all eager and boyish. his sightIess
( eyes fixed expectantly upon her.
| Just plain. very ordinary EirL.
clad in a short gray walking skirt
I answered Rebecca huskily, as she
dashed the tears from her eyes, "and
high tan boots. and a white waist
made like a middy's blouse. The neck
is little open for the sake OF com
fort and is fastened together with a
broad black silk tie"
Martin smiled. Now let US 60" he
I said in a satisfied voice.
| Where is the basket
We viii stop for Il at the kitchen
I door" said Rebecca
Slowly they made their way through
Z the long green arbOr 20 the house
| Bridget saw them coming and was
/ ready to greet them.
Aye. but its like a stone. she vol
unteered.
Rebecca put her finger TO her own
/ lips TO enJoin silence. lest Bridget
! should divulge the secret. To the bas-
Ket WAS attached a long strap.
Is that too heavy?' she asked as
she slung It over Martins shoulder
No" he laughed Can't you give
me something more2 This IL a mere
trifie'
The other basket is small. ] VIII
carry it" As she spoke Rebeccs
picked il up and then they started.
| Bridget beckoned to the other two
maids. who came at that moment into
! the kitchen.
The retreating figures were watched
by no less than six pairs OF kindly
| eyes. MIS-. Nanderpool stood in the
| library window, safely hidden behind
the curtains; the three maids occupied
| the kitchen door. their arms around
each other. while Roger and the gar
dener raised their heads from their
| respective occupations 70 nod. man
fashion. and then glance after Martin
| and RebeCca, who were deep in con-
versation before they left the shadows
| Of the house.
To he continued tomorrow.