Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-11

~ woman-in distress, at least. that's
my opinion"
Your hope" broke in the other,
drvly "AnderS, YOU know perfectly
well that if she'd a crooked nose or a
s0inch waist. you'd be away over the
skyline without a backward glance at
her"
The boy laughed ruefully. II sup
nose that Is true enough" he an
swered. Nevertheless
Back in the camp they had left
little sparring match was going on.
How long have those two men been
sitting here?" Pathways had asked
her. Richenda tossed her head.
"Oh, not more than a couple OF
hours
"A couple of hours"
such a charming afternoon, Such
a change and such delightful men,
Yes. she would pique him If she could.
Dear me, I'm afraid l was almost
beginning to lose the use of my
tongue
You could talk to me-
"Ah, my friend, but it happens that
/ find no particular delight in talking
to you-now.'
She had brought him to his feet
with that. Triumph mixed with
something like cruelty drove her still
further:
You see. | detest the sound OF
your voice almost as much as l dis
like the sight of your face.
She was a yard away then, walk
ing over the turf to the door of her
tent. vanishing inside lest by quick
retort he should wrest her cheap tri-
umph from her, sitting on the edge
Of her bed flushed with the sudden
battle.
Pathways. a tooth bitten deep in his
lower lip till the beads of blood stood
out upon it, had said no word. But
the fingers of his Sinewy hands had
clenched deep into his palms until
the knuckles showed chalk white
above them.
the little leaf-covered shelter that
served them as a veranda not one
word passed between them.
All the following morning she
wondered if he would keep the en-
gagement they had made with their
neighbors across the valley. She was
rather pleasa ntly surprised when his
voice came outside her tent an hour
before midday:
IF YOU are ready" he said, I'VE
will start"
She paced silently beside him down
the hill.
The impressionable Anders. whose
night dreams had been haunted by
uair Of dark ewes set in an alluringly
tanned face allowances must be made
with regard to the fact that Richenda
was the only woman In his immediate
nei1hborhOod), found her still more al
tractive in the fresh primrose colored
frock, down the front of which
swayed string of jade beads The
faint perfume from her softly shin
ing hair brought queer sudden IN
toxication across his senses. an I'M
yelled admiration into his wide. blue
eyes,
Holdingworth. watching them. frown-
ed a little hoped silently that the
young ass would not make a fool
OF himself
The camp of the two men lay in
q fertile. thckly wooded hollow. be-
yond which was an area OF dense
forest
The meal, with it's inevitable camp
ing menu of native-bred chicken.
native grown mealies and various ODDS
and ends from newly opened tins.
was CHEEKY. Pathways took his share
In the conversation and made himself
distinctly more Companionable than
he had done the previous evening. To
Richenda he addressed exactly enough
direct remarks to prevent their hosts
realizing that between these two a vide
abyss yawned. On her part. however
she took hut few pains to hide facts.
She would not shield this man who
had placed her in such helpless
nosition. Let the onlookers think
iust what they liked. she did not care.
she told herself. She followed the
lead she saw in Anders' eyes. her
smile meeting his, her quick retorts
camping his every remark
After the meal was finished they
drew their chairs further into the
shade of the forest and conversation
grew a little slower as the drowsy
hum of afternoon fell across the heat
ha1ed countryside.
A chattering from the leafy heights
above drew silence upon their lips.
Came the peering Of bright eyes from
comicsl, wrinkled, beaded faces. ths
SXjng Leaps Of spider lmbed bodies