, 1922-10-25
Go on With the stcy.
CHAPTER III.

awoke in his bunk. stiff, sore. con-
fused In mind and battered in body.
Wier. hearing him astir. came in.
"How long have you been back,
Did you meet the ladies with your
flivver?" demanded Darragn, impa-
tiently.
II got to Five Lakes station Just as
the train came in. Tho young ladies
were the only passengers who got outn
/ waited TO get their two steamer
trunks and then I drove them to IInr-
rod Place
Where did you say I VAST" assed
Darragh.
."out in the wood somewhere. The
last I saw of them. Mrs. Ray had
their handbags and Jerry and Tom
were s~houldering their trunks
I'm going up there right away
interrupted Darragh excitediy.
In a pathetic attempt to spruce
uD he knotted the red bandanna round
his reek and pinched Salzar's SLOUGH
hat into a peak.
You look like one OF Clnch's
buns remarked wier with native
honesty.
Darragh. ch%agrined, went to his
bunk. pulled the morocco case from
under the pillow and showed it into
the bosom of his flannel shirt.
That's the main thing anyway
he thought. Then. turning TO wier.
he asked whether Eve and Stormont
q awakened.
1t appeared that Trooper Stormont
had saddled up fand cantered away
shortly after sunrise. leaving word
hat he must hurt up his comrade,
Trooper Lannis. at Ghost Lake.
They're coming back this even
ing" added wier. HE asked you to
hook out for Cllnch's atepdaughter.'
she's all right here. Can't you
keep an eye on her, Ralph?'
Very well. sir. But suppose she
takes it into her head to leave"
Darragh called back. gaily: "she
can't; she hasn't any ciothesr' And
away he strobe in the sun
shine of n magnificent autumn day,
all the clean and vigorous youth of
him afre in anticipation of a reunion
which the letter from his lady-.ove had
TRANSPORTED into a tryst.
For. in that amazing courtship of
a single day. he never dreamed that
he had won the heart of that sad,
nAAhCAd1t1H AhAlh illAd III TdBS-
silken tattcrs still stained with the
blood OF massacre-the very soles OF
her shoes still charred by the embers
of her own home.
About half an hour later he came
to his senses with a distinct shock.
Straight ahead of him on the trail,
n corning directly toward him,
moved a figure iii Knockers and belted
tweed.
Flecked sunlight slanted on the
strangers cheek and FURNISHED hair.
dappling face and figure with moving
golden spots.
But T~heodorica of Esthonla had
known him only in his uniform.
As she came oward him. lovely
in her 1.-THE and rounded groce. only
friendly curiosity gazed al him from
her blue eyes.
Suddenly she knew him, went scar
let to her yellow hair. then white;
and tried to speak-but had no con.
troll Of the short, rosy upper lip which
only quivered as he took her hands.
The forest was dead still around
them save for the whisper OF painted
leaves sitting down rom a sunllt vault
above.
Finally she said in a ghost of a
voice: "My-friend. :"
IF you accept his friendship. i.
Friendship is to be shared. =.
DUR mingled-on hat day. /.
Your share is-as much as pleases
you"
"An you have to give me. then"
Take il all 1 have. :"
Her blue eyes met with a. little effort.
All courage is an effort.
Then that young man dropped on
both knees at her feet and LAID his
lips to her soft hands.
In trembling silence she stood for a
moment. then slowly sank on both
knee to face him across their clasped
hands.
So. in the giided cathedral of the
woods. pillared With oliver, n azure
domed. the betrothal OF these two was
sealed with clasp an lip.
Awed, a little fearful, she locked
into her lovers eyes with a gaze so
chaste. go ~oblivious 10 all things
earthly. that the still purity of her
face seemed a sacrament. and ne