The Washington herald., 1918-12-28
CHAPTER XII-Continued.

him again.
Suddenly the song ceased with a
frightened cry. He heard loose stones
slipping, and then came a muffled
sound as of some one falling on soft
earth.
Miss Vanderpool." he called sharp
ly. There was no reply.
Miss Vanderpool" he shouted.
Then a sort of madness fell on him.
and for the first time since he had
come 10 HuddIesford he felt the full
extent Of his disaster. Blind. while
the woman whom he loved lay un-
conscious only a few feet away,
How deep was the brook in this
place? Had Rebecca fallen into the
water7 Had she twisted her ankle
| and tainted? Martin did not dare to
walk upright lest he too fall, so he
began 10 crawl on his hands and
knees toward the place from which the
sounds OF the brook arose. II had
seemed song, now it was more like
hoarse laugh OF derision.
He reached the incline, and began
slowly TO descend along the moist soil
which sagged under his weight. Down
he went TO the very brink. Then he
/ turned and worked laboriously up
again to the top.
Here he paused for breath before
making a second descent.
Again he crawled down the mossy
slope, his eyes almost bursting out Of
their sockets in bis endeavor TO see.
He reached the water. then started
up once more. His face was scarlet
with a mingling OF exertion and re-
straint. This time his hand missed
hers by less than an incn. Every now
and then he called her name.
"Rebecca-Rebecca-
touched hers.
Seises Her in His Arms.
In an instant he had her in his
arms. He seized her as a mother
| sometimes seizes her child who has
fallen and bruised itself. and crushed
J her against his breast.
Rebecca seemed very small TO him.
very light and girlish.
He laid his finger upon her pulse.
and then rained kisses upon her face
and mumbled incoherent caresses. He
smoothed back gently the hair out OF
her eyes. As he did so he became
aware that her forehead was wounded
above the temple and that it was
| bleeding.
He laid his handkerchief over il.
and then. realizing that she had only
| tainted, lowered her head and waited,
staring down into her face as through
the blackness of night
But consciousness had returned be-
! fore he had ceased speaking.
Ere she understood the significance
OF the words. she heard him CRY out
in the agony OF his soul. and with a
| lack Of restraint which only their
| isolation. her own misfortune and his
| helplessness could have made possible
''Oh. my God, my God, Blind-blind, ,
I cannot-cannot-bea IT, God have
| pity on me and her. My-little love.
my little-love"
Slowly the meaning OF il all came
to her She remembered in a flash.
but she lay very still in the strong
arms that held her. scarcely daring
TO open her eyes lest he should know
! that she had heard his cry. And then
he kissed her again, full on the lips.
When RebecCa was sure that he
would say no more she stirred a little
voice was perfectly calm and collected.
She did not answer. She wanted him
! TO be quite sure that she had not
heard him.
Miss Vanderpool." he repeated
Yes" she answered, stirring again.
Thank God" said Martin fervent-
| ly. Lie still until you are able TO sit
up. You struck your head. You must
have tainted"
! Yes" answered Rebecca. 7 faint
easily, but it never amounts TO any
thing. l Tecove- quickly"
She moved as though to rise. and
Martin loosened his arms
You are sure?'
Yes" She rolled out Of his arms
and sat up. holding one hand over
| the handkerchief. She rested against
the trunk OF a tree. her face dropped
upon her free palm.
| Faintne,s PaxSess on.
! There" she said. after a few mo-
ments the faintness is passing OF
How stupid of me, never did any
thing quite like that before 1 must
have stepped on loose stone. I will
dip the handkerchief in the brook and
bathe the cut"
She crawled down TO the waters
edge. and washing out the bandage,
applied it again and again to her
| forehead.
Then for the first time she took a
good look at Martin. Weak and
shaken as she was. she almost laughed
outright. 1t was as though it were
he who had fallen.
And I must wash your face. too,
I he
hands. You have blood on them You
soiIed your hands, you see. when you
put your handkerchief on my head,
and then carried them TO your own
face"
She spoke naturally, and the red Of
modification which sprang to Mar,
tins face at her words died, but a
tender little smile kept cUrving Re
becca's lips as she made her waverinC
way down to the brook again and
dipped her own handkerchief into the
water The brook had played a very
considerable part in the days doings
When she had completed her task
she took his hand. and together they
clambered up to the scene of their
late festivity.
"As soon as you are sufficiently
rested. Miss Vanderpool. would it not
be well to return" he asked.
Yes" ReheCca placed his hand or
the broad rock and he seated himself
as when they first arrived.
You had better sit beside me-" ht
said. 'I am afraid to have you toe
far away"
She took her previous position al
his side and leaned heavily against
the tree. She forgot the green mat.
tress and the hair pillow, where sht
might have rested in comfort. Sh,