Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-03
. CHAPTER II
In Una's Garden


Until David told her that evening in the
y garden at Stoneleigh, Una had not known
that her uncle opposed her marriage. NO
reason was given for his opposition-and
David's attitude was quite as much of puz-
zle. He talked of some shadow in his
past, and on the point of telling Una
what it was. But she stopped him. Their
love. she said, had to de- with the present,
the future; it had nothing to do with the
past. Nevertheless. she wished David had
set himself right with Leighton
why didn't you answer Uncle Harold?"
she asked.
At first he avoided her glance, swapping
his riding-whip nervously among the wither-
ed sunfiower stalks. Then he turned to her.
II don't KNOW" he said.
You knew he wrong
In a way-yes And then. | wondered
if. after ALL he was right: As I said.
can't explain 1t to myself. You stopped my
speaking to you about it. And yet do you
know. after talking with your uncle, con-
vnced myself thought l convinced myself
that I was unworthy Of you that our
marriage would be wrong"
Don't say that! she exclaimed. angrily.
"I-nless your love for me has changed. it Is
the one right thing in the world-as mine Is
for YOU"
Beloved! Let it be So" he said. his dark
mood vanishing. Let the first day of our
new life be the first day of our past. Do
YOU remember that first day? Coming down
the river we spoke hardly a word. You
laughed at me, called me lazy. the boat
slipped along SO slowly. And you were right
Watching you l forgot the stupid business or
rowing. Never before were you SO beautiful
but now you are million times more
beautiful! How l wanted to kiss you! Il
/ had dared kiss just a bit of your dress,
anything blessed by touching you. But
didn't--not then How it all happened after
ward. when we landed at our island Is the
mystery--or, rather the most natural thing
in the world / was tongue-tied as ever.
Not word in the language was in reach OF
meat least, couldn't think of one. Natu-
rally, the dictionary men left out our words
they didn't know you And yet we under
stood Did the birds tell us. / wonder. or
was it written on the trees or whispered IN
the golden air? Love talks without words.
But now he broke off abrupty-"now l
| must answer Uncle Harold"
"Why?"
Il wish I could talk it over with Paoul.'
| he went on. not needing me question.
why with Raoul?"
You don't know Raoul"
"Tell me about him."
10 He understands me, that's all. We have
| been together lot. But what's the use OF
| thinking of him He's in India, probably
| or. maybe. Bogota-yes it must be Bogota-
and will stay there for years.
You are fond of him."
| mo! i can't imagine any being fond
| of him. He fascinates you. He's queer.
| He is my age, yet his hair is white--even
| his eyebrows and his eyelashes are white.
Fancy young man with white eyeiashes! !!
| There's not a hint of color in his face And
| his eyes-you can't tell what they are: neither
| can you avoid them when they stop twitch-
| ing and AK themselves on you Did you ever
| see human being jump out at you from a
| pair of eyes? 1t sounds foolish; but then.
| you've never seen Raoul! Love leaps out of
| your eyes and all the beauty of trees and
| rivers. God made your eyes and put you
! in them just to help people. 1t was the devil
who made Raoul's eyes"
| They fingered at the far corner of the ter
| raced garden where a low hedge Of box over
| looked deep, silent grove of balsams. Be-
| yond at one side, the gray hills OF S:9ne-
| leigh, the square tower bearing aloft single
ray of light, rose indistincty against back
| ground Of frs. The familiar scene. softened
| by the twilight, dspellec their first feeling
| of uneasiness. Everything had changed
| once more the world was frightened by their
love. The touch of Unas hand. the fragrance
| of her hair, the joy of her quvering lips,
We're for David, the only things that mat
| tered.
Since their first meeting. year ago on the
| Derwentwater, in England, love had grown
with these two. On the night before tha
| meeting David had reached Keswick. where
Una was staying,
Skiddaw and Helvellyn. when first he saw
those famous peaks, were dimly outlined
| behind the evening mists. Next morning
the sky was 'cloudless, and although David
and Himalaya, the charm Of this English
landscape touched him deeply. The peace
ful lake, surrounded by steep hills of living
green and holding on its breast thickly wood
ed islands, stirred a new longing within him
These hills. it is true. were not comparable
in height or sweeping contour to the majestic
q attitudes of Southern Asia or. Western South
America Neither. was the DerwentwateI
equal In certain scenic effects, to similar
bodies of water that had won his admira'
tion in distant countries. Here, nevertheless
Nature was revealed In her loveliest mood
and David yielded himself delghtedly to heI
gracious influence.
As he fioated dreamily in his skiff on tn,
Derwentwater. the dip of his oars made the
only visible ripple on the CLASSY surface ol
| the lake. while the rugged outlines of ths
hills drenched in sunlight. seemed to weav,
fairy circle into which the world of ordi
i nary experience might not enter. The seen,
reacted Inevitably on his own emotions. Fo
l. the first time in many months a feeling O
complete restfulness possessed him. moot
ripe for dreams and Ali that hasy kind o
speculation lying on the horderland ef dreams
IN this menffi seAts hs sought one Of tn