Evening star., 1921-05-29
CHAPTER VII.
THE COLoNELS DAUGHTER.

CHAPTER VII.
THE COLONEES DAUGHTER
After all, the garden party was not
so bad. The weather was perfect, and
the grounds of Shirley House were
large enough to find amusement for
all the guests. Wrayson. who had
made great friends with the coloners
younger daughter. enjoyed himself
immensely. After particularly
through the wide-open French win
dows into a small morning room.
We can rest for a few minutes in
here" she remarked. You can con-
slider it a special mark Of favor. for
this is my own den."
You are spelling me" Wrayaon de-
c,ared. laughing. May 1 SEQ shose
IF you like" she answered. only
you mustn't lie too critical. for I'm
only a beginner. you know. Here's
bookful of them you can look
through while go and start the next
set"
She placed a volume in his hand and
swung out of the room. tall. fresh and
graceful Wrayson watched her ad-
niringly. In her perfect naturalnesS
and unaffected good humor she re-
minded him a good deal of her father.
but curiously enough there was some
other likeness which appe Aled to him
even more powerfully. and yet which
he was unable to identify. 1t puzzled
him so that for a moment or two after
her departure he sat watching the
door through which she had disap
peared, with a slight frown upon his
charming. and yet something in con-
nection with her seemed to impress
him with an impending sense Of trou-
bic. Everything about her person and
manners was frank and g1FIish, and
yet she was certainly recalling to his
Cling all the afternoon to forget: AL
ready he began to feel the 0ouds OF
nervousness and depression stealing
down upon him. He struck the table
| with his clencb ed fist. He would have
none of it. Outside was the delicious
stole in the perfume of the roses
which covered the wall. and mignon-
| ette from the trim borders, and
stocks from the bed fHnging the
lawn. The murmur of pleasant con-
versation was incessant and musical
! For time Wrayson had escaped. He
swore to himself that he would go
| back no more into bondage; that he
! would dwell no more upon the horrors
through which he had lived. He would
| take hold of the pleasant things of
life with both hands, and grip them
his thoughts, not the slave Of unwill-
ing memories. He would choose for
himself whitheP they should lead him !.
he would fight with all his nerve and
will against the unholy fascination Of
those few thrilling hours. He look ed
longed for the return of his late COM
panion that he might continue his
half-laughing filtration. Then he re-
membered the album still upon his
knee and opened II quickly. He had
dabbied a little in photography: he
thoughts from the forbidden plaoe.
And he did indeed hnd something
something which set his heart thump-
! ing and drew all the color. which the
sun and vigorous exercise had
brought. from his cheeks: something
at which he stared with wide-open
eyes. which he held before him with
| trembling. nervous fingera The pic
ture of a woman. The picture of her!
| 1t had lain loose in the book, with
made him turn 1T over. AS he looked
he understood There was the like
ness, such likeness as there may be
tween q beautiful woman, little sad,
d little scornful. with the faint lines
Of mockery about her curving lips, the
| " VI odA itBul III hcT utSI4uI eyes,
and the fresh. ingenious girl with
whom he had been bandying pleasant
ries during the last few hourA He
had felt it unknowingly. He realized
it now, and the thought OF what it
might mean made him catch At his
breath like drowning man. Then
| she came in.
| He heard her gay laughter outside,
a backward word flung to one Of the
tennis players. as she stepped in
through the windows, her cheeks still
| flushed and her eyes agloW.
| We really ought to watch this set. -
| she declared. That is. II you are not
too much absorbed in my handiwork.
What have you got there
He held IL out to her with q valiant
| attempt at unconcern.
DO you mind telling me who this
| is?' he asked.
She glanced at it carelsssly enough.
but at once her whole expression
changed. Tho smile left her lipa, hAE
| eyes filled with trouble.
Where did you md i'll" she salGsd
| in low tone.
In the album" he answered. TT
Was loose between the pages"