Evening star., 1923-10-04

clear voice was heard saying
farewell to Margaret She came
- out into the dusk calling the
lovers.
az want to give Ann Mary a taste
of my cowslip wine,' said Marsare'
who had followed Phillipa TO the door.
..Happen JinIl see Miss Phiilipa
down to the bottom and Ann Mary
can run after
lin led the way down the path IN
silence until Phillipa stopped MIN.
Looking at her. in the faint light' ne
saw that her face was greatly trou-
bled. She laid her hand on his arm.
",Un,," she said. ''Ann Mary told
YOU that I had come purposeiy 70 SEQ
you?" VI,
She remained silent for moment,
and then with frightened LOOK
round drew nearer to him. and spoke
in a lower whisper. Jim, my cousin
has escaped
told him that the mine had blown up.
He drew back, staring At her
Miss Philippa.r he whispered. INT.
Clinton-escaped?"
afraid he's some desperate pro1ect
in coming down here to Mannersley'
to my father-to-to me-, she sag.
Listen, Jim. got a iettef lhLs is
london inclosing one which she SAID
had been sent to her with a most
urgent request that 1t should De sem
on to me under cover or one .ro.n
and found letter FROM my cousin.
lie told me that he had made his
escape and would leave no stone uh-
turned to prove his Innocence: "Ihsre
rDII
against my father, Jim. He vowed
and protested his innocence just as
but you know. Jin1.t So. @.a
"Yes, Miss Phiilipa," said Jim. in q
strained voice, ~ know know"
"And he reiterated all he said about
conspiracies and plots, and so on
means M to come back to ManInersley:
And he'll come to you hrsthsrm tirsti I'M oe-'
IT shouldn't wonder. miss, said
Jim quietly. 'In fact. since YOU told
me that he'd got away that's just
what I've made up my mind to; and
IN thatcase make yourself easy miss
I'll let you know.
Heaven bless you" She said. And
but here's Ann Mary. Come Ann
Mary, we must hurry home.
A minute later Jim Brttten had
kissed his sweetheart, pressed her
Young mistress hand, and was has
tening up the rocky path to the cot
tage. He found his mother 'yawnins
in her chair.
We'll. Jim. lad" she said., II shall
be off to my rest-I expect you'll be
sitting up over your. books, and fig
ures." -..."-. ~
AYE. mother" he answered. Il
shall sit up latish tonight. I've Il
lot to do, and I'm not bit sleepy.
hour after hour, and there was always
a. look of strained attention, of ex-
pectancy, on his face, in spite of the
books. And at last, in the dead
silence of midnight, came what he
had expected-a summons that he had
known In years of old-a curious tap
at the cottage window. Jim Britcen
rose slowly and. turning down the
amp, went over ana unDaf1no the
Out of the shelter OF a holly bush
which f1anked the side OF the cottage
porch a mans figure emerged and
into the living room. In the same
silence Jim barred the door again
and turned to the lamp. The visitor
laid hand on his arm In passing.
Jim turned up the light. 1t fell on
the face and figure of young man OF
apparently twenty-three or twenty
Eour years Of age, handsome Of fea-
But the face was worn and stained.
and it seemed to Jim that the frame
was thin and wasted He hastily
pushed forward chair to the hearth,
and poured out some hot milk which
he had been keeping in readiness on
"sit down, sir. and drink that" he
SRid. you're cold"
Il came through the. woods at the
hack. Jim. All. that's good-thank
you. You didn't expect to see me-
Jim?" ,. .,.
x-iSif infn =. chair. III knew YOU u
''e The " visitor stared at him in sur
prise and half started from. his chair
How did you know?'' he exclaimed
in the papers?"
night, sir" replied Jim quietly.
The young man finished his glass
Of hot milk which Jim had handed
him. and looked thoughtfully at the
fire for a few moments. And while
he was thus occupied Jim furtively
He saw that he was well and FASH
ionably dressed, and scrupuiousiy
groomed, as he always remembered
him being: but he also saw that the
dark. closely cropped haid had streaks
Of silver in IT, and that there were
lines and wrinkles in the almost boy
ish face which had not been there
when he had last seen 1t. And the
figure which he remsmnered as nay
seemed in some indefinite way to
have become warped and crushed, in
spite of the smart suit and fine linen.
Face and figure were those OF q man
who has been into the valley of
bitterness.
Jim" said the visitor. suddenly break.
ing the silence. 'Considertng that all
my thoughts have been fixed on this
place for the last two years, 1t was
only natural that should turn here,
for more reasons than one, even II
L don't stop more than q few hours.
And that's what's in my mind--there
are two people I want to see--must
see-and after that I'm OF.
But, Mr.. Clinton
You needn't mister me, Jim, nor
sir me either" tnterposed the other.
After all. when the truths told. I'm
only an escaped convict"
why, sir. that's just where it is"
said Jim bluntly. They'll be after
you. no doubt
And that's just why I'm safe here