Evening star., 1924-11-02

way he would have described hel
thin little body as slender. She wore
| a skimpy, faded green skirt and q
sports coat of-more or lesS-the
same tint.
so you are up against it. toog'
he said, impulsively. II say, won't
you tell me all about it? I'm not
conventional / hate all conventions
I'm going to chuck them. I'm going
to chuck the city and stiff collars
1 want to feel the wind in my hair
and grass under my feet. Men are
mad who stop in cities. bricks and
mortar where there ought to be COW.
slips. I'm going To-
Having once let himself start. he
might have continued in this inspired
strain for quite long time. had
not madame inopportunely entered
with their breakfast. The girl did
not seem astonished at Marcus tirade.
She just whispered "cowslips," and
then again, Il should like to roll in
field all creamy and yellow with
them, hundreds and hundreds of cow
slips--but here. I say"--breaking
sharply off. and calling after the pro-
prietresS of the des Bouleyards-
this rolls got a bite out of it un-
derneath; just take it and bring me
another, will you?" And then, con-
fldentially. to Marcus: Expect she
thought L was SO absent minded that
I'd think I'd done it myself. Oh,
what does it matter? What does any
thing matter?'
About that window and-er-
throwing, you know"-Marcus fun
bled for tact in a slightly embar-
rassed fashion-"you weren't serious,
were your
Well" she Knocked, were you Sc
nous about chucking your job and
just going tramping? You wouldn't t
dare"
Il am going-now. today. in 10
minutes" declared Marcus, vehement
ly, and much startled by his own
decision. Satisfied that he had been
Impressive In her sight, he added,
IF you'll come with me"
An hour later they were seated side
by side on the front seat of q motor
bus which would ultimately deposit
them on the top of Leaf Hill. They
were both in high spirits. They ha d
settled, over the table in the Cafe des
Boulevards, that money was an in
admissible part of the merry adven-
ture which lay ahead of them, and
after paying for his breakfast Mar
Gus had solemnly emptied his pockets
before her, in token of good faith.
hou hVpl oAiS just euOuSn 1OT
their fare to Leaf Hill, so as to start
their tramp straightaway in the real
country. and the rest he had given to
madame to look after for him till
claimed - obtaining receipt, of
course.
DO you think you ought to have?''
the girl had asked II mean, a re-
ceipt's SO businesslike."
One can't forget all at once that
one has been beastly clerk" replied
Marcus. ashamed; but, naturally, !
never will come back to claim the
money, and there1l be no more where
that came FROM" he added, laughing.
I'm bound to get the sack all right
from my firm for not turning up to-
day.
We'll, but you want the sack. don I
you?" had asked the girl, admiring
his recklessness.
20 Lord, yes. No more monotonous
jobs for me, No more regular drudg-
cry. No more 9 am. Every meal VIC
eat now I'll earn as we go along. and
you shall sit on the wall and watch
me- Already in Imagination he spat
upon horny hand and wiped the honest
sweat from his forehead.
Then oughtn't I to work too ~
rather wistfully. Won't 1 feel wfully
out of it 81
He comforted her with promises of
gypsy fires to be lit, and supper to be
cooked "before-before--er before
He checked himself in an enthusiastic
description of bracken beds under the
tilt Of an old barn. not quite sure yet
how she regarded the delicate ques-
tion of free comradeship between d
man and a maid.
Frankly, he was not quite sure how
he looked upon it himself Naturally
he did not intend to do anything un-
chivalrous. On the other hand, it was
perhaps too soon to propose any
ceremonies of marriage. After d week
or two, when she was healed of her
secret sorrow. Meanwhile. perhaps.
they could find two tilts to two old
barns, and thus effect a compromise
between decorum and the pagan gods.
x <
THE motor bus rumbled away, and
l. with it, all the atmosphere of
town. They stood in flood OF
sunshine on top of Leaf Hill, rompt-
ing wind tossed the girls bright
brown hair and stung a glow into her
cheeks.
Il wish 1 could walk for a hundred
miles" she cried, exuberantly.
Marcus started. Truth to tell, he
had been absently wishing that he