The Washington herald., 1918-12-16
THE LOVE AFFAIR OF A HOMELY GIRL
By JEAN LOUISE DE FOREST

The little man said to his COM
panion:
II see her. Mr.. Lewis, she Is the
only one here besides the man who
drives the hotel bus. She has on a
white dress and she has red hair
She is down by the car step. We
must have passed right by her."
rs she pretty?" aueried Martin.
Some might say So" replied Philip
discreetly.
mode Of expressing his opinion.
well, Philip" he said, watch
close. She will realize before long
that we are her expected guests. As
she comes toward US, give my arm a
squeeze Just when she is near enough
for me to raise my hat and speak.
Now do exactly as I say"
1t was one Of Martins small COM
pensations to act as though he could
see.
Only the Conductor.
"she is looking at us, SIR" said
Philip, "She can't believe as how we
are the parties she's after. There.
she's got up into the car. She must
think we're hiding under the seats,
he laughed, because you can see
from the outside as how there's no
one there but the conductor. Now
she's looking again. Here she comes.
She thinks it's a mistake"
Then came a grip on Martins arm
that almost made him vince. Philip
invariably became excited over the
exact moment for the signal. as>many
times as he had given It,
"Is this Miss" Vanderpool?" Martin
gracefully raised his hat and smiled.
His laughing brown eyes looked
straight into Rebecca's. though that
was the result of accident.
She flushed a vivid brick color. She
was SO angry that she could scarcely
take the outstretched hand and an
swer: ... .-8
Yes, and this is Mr.. Lewis?" Her
first thought was that Maud had de-
ceived her, and that her guest was
not blind at all. Possibly he did need
rest and recuperation. but he was not
blind. This was another of Maud's
tricks to cheat her into enduring the
society OF a man. And Martins next
words did not tend to inform her. .
"What>s wonderful place this is!"
he said The air makes me feel al
most as though I had been drinking
wine. 1t really is the summit Of
things, isn't b?-not a mountain in
sight, just horizon and treetops. and
| clouds" =
He looked about him and breathed
deeply.
Rebecca's red changed to white. She
had never been so completely angry
in her life. But what could she do?
He was a gentleman. She could not
pack him and his man back upon the
| little car, and anyway the car would
not return for two hours.
I'VE are on plateau" she made an
swer icily. Shall we proceed to the
carriage?"
without another word she walked
away. leaving the others to follow.
So 1t was that she missed for a second
time the careful manner in which
the small man steered his companion
to the large, comfortable vehicle await
ing them.
| head, and began to remove the halter,
while Philip placed his masters hands
upon the two iron rods that supported
the carriage cover and his foot upon
the step. She turned just in time to
see him rise gracefully to a level with
the carriage floor and establish him
self easily in the back seat. Philip
| followed. Without a word. she took
her place in front and chirruped to
the horse.
| For once in her life. Rebecca had
forgotten to shrink away from the
ugliness OF her blush. She forgot
everything-the cows with their
tinkling bells, the waterfall. the wait
| by the pine grove, the shrubs-and
drove straight home the shortest way.
She even forgot to stop for the mail.
How sweet everything smells out
here" said Martin cheerfully, wonder
ing at her silence.
She made no answer.
1T reminds me of the town where I
lived when was<a boy" he continued.
1T was high like this. only We could
see hills about us. and we had just
such woods as these"
Rebecca stiffened. How did he know
| that he was in the woods il he could
| not see? She began to compose in
her mind the letter that she would
/ send to Maud.
To be>eontinued tomorrow.