Evening star., 1918-08-25

want to 60 up Long Hin and be
set down at the first GROSS road she
said. my baggage is here" And she
that space was empty; she had no
baggage. She had dropped both bag
and umbrella at the side Of tho road
after one Of her long climbs under
atful moon and had not so much as
thought Of them sinoe.
Now she remembered and flushed as
she met the eyes Of the man looking
In at her with his hand on his whisk-
ers. smoothing them thoughtfully
down but saying nothing. though his
an sna s%st
II any smiles remained to her from
the old days. now was the time for
one; but before she could twist her
dry lips into any such attempt he
had uttered cheerful "All right"
and turned away to Chamber up Into
The relief was great. and she set
tied back, rejoicing in the fact that
they would soon be moving and that
she was likely to be the sole pas
this fact, for the driver wanted to
talk and even made many abortive
attempts that way. But she could not
fall In with his mood. and seeing this.
he soon withheld all remarks and
bent his full energies. to the task Of
incline.
Houses. at which she scarcely look
ed, disappeared gradually from view.
and groups Of spreading trees and
deepening into the forest as they ad.
vanced. When halfway up, the far
ther mountains, which had hitherto
been hidden by nearer hills. burst
into view. Behind them the sun was
getting. and the scene was glorious.
OF pleasure or even of admiration. Her
head. which she had held straight up
Tor the nrst quarter OF mile, sank
lower and lower as they clambered on;
% yet she gave no signs Of drowsiness
seemed to attack the very springs OF
life. The pomp and pageantry Of the
heavens. burning with all the pig
ments OF the rainbow. failed to APP
peal to . soul shut within dungeon
ling to the eye and stirring to the
imagination held no story for
hers. she looked neither to the
right nor to the left while the beauty
lasted. much less when the last CLEAN
aaG e.aaa FADED y from on the mountain tops and
from the east. added their shadows to
! those Of premature night.
Tho driver. who had been cycling
these clouds for some, little time, felt
that he ought to speak II she did not.
FuiNng up HIS horses as though to
give them = breathing apell. no re-
@ssKeo nsss; =, over. o his shoulder with q
hope your friends live near the
TOP OF the hill, miss. A storm 10 COM
Ing up and it's getting very dark.
Will you have to walk far?' .-s'-5 =
No. no.. she assured him with q
quick glance up and around her. "a
l9ttlA ev@s.
she became quiet and absorbed, again.
i've got to 60 ton." no broke in
again a. the top of the hill came IN
sight I've q, passenger for. the 3;90
Train waiting for, me more than d mile
sSas stter 5ns s.f San da shall to leave you
That's right; I expect that. can
take care Of myself-don't worry, Not
nut what you're very kind" she add
ed after moment, in her cultured
voice. with just enough trace Of ac-
cent TO make 1t linger sweetly In the
: Then here we are.". he called back
q moment later. jerking hts horses to
q standstill and jumping down into
the road. Coin east or goin' weatY'
ne asked as he took another gIancsAa
her frail and poorly protected figure.
This way" she answered, pointing
east.
He stopped and stared at her.
Nobody lives that way" he said,
that is, nobody near enough for you to
reach shelter before the storm bursts.
You are mistaken" she said.
bringing involuntarily as the first big
clap Of thunder rolled in endless
echoes among the mountains. And
turning about, she started hurriedly
into the shadows of the narrow cross.
road.
He gave one glance back at his
horses. the twitching of whose ears
showed nervousness, uttered some
familiar word and launched out after
the woman. Pardon me. missus." he
cried, but is 1t Miss Browns you
meap?
The widow stopped. glanced back at
him over her shoulder, made a quick,
protesting. gesture and dashed on.
With shake OF his head and .
muttered, We'll, women do beat the
devil" he retracted his steps; and she
proceeded on alone.
ond clap Of thunder seemed to bring
heaven and earth together. She
scarcely looked up. She was ap-
preaching q, little weather-beaten
house nestled among trees on the
edge Of q deep gorge. As her eyes
fell on 1t, her footsteps quickened,
and lifting hasty hand, she pulled
on her veil. A change quite inde-
scribable, but real for all that, had
taken place in her worn and waxen
features. Not joy,, but a soft ex-
pectancy relieved them from their ex-
treme tension. II friend awaited
her. that friend would have no DIM