Evening star., 1922-08-20

boughs. Horace leapt after her. On
the difficult terrain, her superior
nimbleness gave her the advantage;
the distance between them steadily
widened. Once she heard his hoarse
voice painting, stop. 1 tell you, stop"
Now the strange thrill Of the chase.
the throbing excitement of the
quarry. set her blood ahre, She
thought Pursue and love"-and
laughing frantically to herself, flew
the faster. And then. as she sped
across a sweet open space, a glade
no doubt powdered with bright moon
light. she glanced back again, un
wisely. Alas her foot caught in a.
trailing vine and she pitched to the
sward. The misfortune, which wasn't
rectif1ed in a second. cost her her
lead. Releasing herself, rising dizzily.
she found the pursuer almost upon
her-almost, but not quite. She just
eluded his fingers. breathlessly dodg-
ing: she doubled and turned; and %.
in a moment suddenly. she found her
feet set on the winding path again.
and 10, just ahead. was the old land
ing. and beyond, open water.
She had forgotten the water; she
welcomed the sight of it now. She
was quite spent, and those resolute
feet were close behind. Flying over
the loose boards. the harried wife
dived cleanly into the haven of the
lake.
That Horace would follow her in
this maneuver had not occurred to
her He was an indifferent swimmer,
and his sinus, as we know. was sensi-
tive. Never having. seen him angry
before, however, she had no doubt
underestimated the force of his rage.
In fact, the conquering male did not
hesitate an instant. His ponderous
body. flying feet first, broke water
hardly a second behind her own.
Unhappily for her. the lake was
shallow here, a tall man could stand
on the bottom, and Horace was tall.
In fine, while she was still submerg-
ed her foot was roughly seized.
Coming up, spluttering. she found
herself effectually prisoned.
a mermaid. had his way. The
stars looked down upon the odd con-
jugal caress. Upon the woman's
lips, gasping and watery, the lips of
Horace, just as gasping, came water
lily down. Though her heart ham,
mered with a wild excitement, there
was now no strength in her. After
an instant her feeble struggles ceas-
ed. Another instant and, marvellous
ly. resistance seemed no longer of
any Importance. Under this master
full embrace the wife's Yill, her
whole being. indeed, seemed all at
once mysteriously to dissolve within
her.
you witch. I will adore you for
ever" painted Horace wetly.
And then her bare dripping arms,
lifting, went around his neck.
Under the impulse of his great love
the days and the weeks that follow
ed became for the welded pair like a
new and richer honeymoon. Her
elusiveness faded, her reticences and
reserves-all the provocative with
drawals, learned after how much
tribulation, came to seem not only
superiuous, but altogether unworthy.
Since Horace gave so lavishly. how
inconceivably mean spirited to dole
back to him with a thrifty and cal
culating hand!
Willingly young Laurel let herself
60.
The new banns brought their un-
experienced blessing. Now God was
ready. in the old phrase. to smile
upon this union. There came anoth-
er June and then another, and
LaureIs first child was six months
old.
Otherwise perhaps. it would hard
ly have been bearable.
She sat in her room near the
screened open window. nursing her
boy, whom she had no thought of
weaving as yet The sultry after
noon was quiet. From the piazza be-
low fioated up the voice Of her hus-
band, idly exchanging domestic views
with his adoring mother, arrived the
day before for her yearly visit. but
she did not need that sound to make
her remember his nearness. On the
stand beside her lay a note from
Howard Witheredge, who had lately
come into her life" again. She had
just been thinking that nothing could
be more symbolical than that.
Her name came vaguely waiting
up to her.
"LaureTs stoutened." said her
mother-in-law, rocking comfortably.
though with q touch of asthma. ITS
not unbecoming to her. think she
has-settled-somshow. Horace She
has gained IN poies