Evening star., 1924-08-31


houette. A fine figure of a man, she
thought, and her heart lifted still
higher. She dropped him a mischiev-
Gus curtSey. He took her hand
laughing, deep, pleasant laugh.
They sat on the settle at the back Of
the kitchen and got on famously.
John had barely spoken to any sort
pretty woman; he thought her Won
derful. Arethusina had not seen a
presentable man for double that pc
riod; all her stored coquetry bubbled
out. John was only "a. the girl but
10; they were two starved children
sitting down to a square meal.
The brass-studded grandfather
clock tick-tocked, in its corner: the
yellow house cat lay crouched on the
hearth watching the furze kindling
for mice; Selma nodded in her rocker
before the fire, subconsciously keepA
ing time with the beats of the clock.
A whinny of treble laughter came
from the settle, followed by Johns
rumbling bass. then whisperings.
Selma beamed at her vis-a-vis, the
yellow cat. She was elated at the
success of her plans. lt~had been a
good idea to let the girl get to know
John before she could see him. The
blow would be softened when morn
ing came. In Selina's experience OBJ
stacles that appeared insurmountable
at night dwindled to nothing in the
morning light; one came at them with
fresh heart. She was pleased with
Arethusina. The girl was healthy,
practical and ambitious-above all,
ambitious. She might not be able to
do much with John( marred as he
was, but their children would get all
the advantages of the mothers birth.
Selma was sure. The chariot of the
Penhales would roll onward, steered
by small. strong hands.
She glanced triumphantly at the
pair on the settle and curled her thin
lips. Then she rose quietly and slip
ped off to bed. The yellow cat re-
mained, waiting its prey. Arethusina
and John did not notice Selina's de-
parture. they were engrossed in each
other. The girl had the farmer at her
finger ends and enjoyed the expe-
rience; she played on his Sc nses as on
keyboard. He loomed above her on
the settle. big. eager. boyish, with a
passionate break in his laughter. She
kept him guessing, yielded and re-
treated in turn, thrilled to feel how
easily he responded to her flying
moods. What simpletons men were,
and what fun.
John shifted nearer up the settle,
his great. hot hand closed timorously
drew herself up.
La: sir YOU forgot yourself. l
think. will beg YOU to remember
| am none of your farm wencheS. /
l. She shook with indignation.
John trembled: he had offended
lost her o fool. He tried
to apologize and suffered ridiculous
ly He had lost her. The prospect
of facing a lifetime without this de-
1apt n hl ln ftYr hNn Ia l,nI
not bestowed a moments thought
three hours before. suddenly became
intolerable. He bit his nails with
rage at his impetuosity. So close be-
side him, yet gone forever, Had she
gone already? Melted into air"
A dream after all? He glanced side
ways. No. she was still there; he
could see the dim pallor of her face
and neck against the darkness. the
folds of thebombazine dress billow-
ing out over the edge of the Sottle
like d great flower.
A faint, sweet watt of perfume
touched his nostrils. Something stir
Ied beside him: he looked down. Her
hand her hand was creeping
back up the settle toward him. He
heard a sound and looked UP again;
she was crying, Stay, was she
crying? No, by the Lord in heaven
| she was not: she was laughing. In a
flash he was on his feet. had crushed
her in his arms, as though to grasp
the dear dream before it could fade.
and hold it to him forever. He show
cred kisses on her mouth. throat,
forehead-anywhere. She did not re-
sist, but turned her soft face up to
his. laughing still. Tregon and Ur-
sula were safe, safe for both of them
and all time.
At that moment the yellow cat
sprang, and in so doing toppled a
clump of furze kindling over the en-
bers. The dry brush caught and
f1ared, roaring, up the chimney. The
kitchen turned in second from
black to red. and John felt the young
est Miss Tregellas go suddenly rigid
in his arms, her blue eyes stared at
him with horror. her full lips were
drawn tight and colorleSs across her
clenched teeth. He kissed her once
more, but it was like kissing the
dead
Then she came to life, struggled
frantically, battered at his month with
both fists. giving little "Oh! Ohs"'
like trapped animal mad with pain.
He let her go. amazed.
She fled across the kitchen, crash
ing against the table in her blind
hurry, whipped round, stared at him
again and then ran upstairs, painting
and Sobblng. He heard the bolt of
her door click, and then noises as
though she was piling furniture
against it.
John turned about, still amazed, and
jumped back startled. What was
that? that ghours mask lit by
f1ickers of red flame, snarling across
the room? Then he remembered it
was himself, of course, himself in the
old round mirror. After his accident
he had smashed every looking-glass
at home and had forgotten what he
looked like. During the few
hours of fools paradise he had for
gotten about his face altogether
supposed the girl knew :. had been
told. The fatal furze bush burnt out,
leaving him in merciful darkness.
John opened the door, stumbled
across to the stable. saddled his horse
and riding hard, was at Bosula with
dawn.
When the farm girl went to call
Arethusina next morning she found
the room empty and the bed had not
been slept in. Selma sent to the
squire at once, but the youngest Miss
Tregellas had not returned. They
discovered her eventually in an old
rab pit halfway between the two
houses, her neck broken; she had
fallen over the edge in the dark 1t
was supposed she was trying to find
her way home.