Evening star., 1928-05-03
The linn of the Hawk and Raven
Y GEORGE BARR McCUTC1EN


told me so. Can you believe 1t, Heber?
He told me he loves me-"
"Of course, can believe It," said
Heber. Every fool in the place knows
it. The main point is. do you love
him? No one has ever dreamed that
you-"
Can you keep a secret, Heber2"
What is the sense Of keeping it
secret? Jonifer is bound to find out.
and when he does-well, he will put
He probably will kill him. I am not
saying he should be quite so hard as
that on the poor fellow, but you must
be prepared for the worst. He will
never consent. And why should hep
Peter is not the man for you, Gerane
Most certainly he Is not"
"Peter!" exclaimed Gerane, astound-
ed. What put it into your head that
l am talking about Peter?"
Bless my soul-aren't you?"
Gerane clapped her hand to her
mouth She had babbled like a fool
Heber would tell Elda and Elda
would
"Oh, Heber," she cried a moment
later, you must swear not to repeat
a word OF this. You will do that for
me, won't you? Promise me you will
not tell Soul-not even Elda."
IF it isn't Peter" said Heber. ner-
picked, then who is it?"
Because / am so friphtf1,lIv nm
nappy as 1t is. and it would make me
tnousandfold more unhappy, If
II you we're thousandfold more
unhappy than you look to be at this
moment, Gerane, you would burst with
Joy, said he drily. so it Is Col.
Starcourt. eh?"
Suddenly her brow puckered "ob
heavens! Do you think he was in earn
est Heoer?? You don't mean to saw
ne was only saying it To-"
Nay child, it is bad enough for vo,,
10 lose your heart, but when YOU show
symptoms Of losing your mind. well.
tnere Is no telling what may happen.
Like as not, you would forget yourself
completely and tell him you do not
I must be off," she INTERRUPTED
pausing with her hand on the latch
"Good-by."
She was saying to herself. as she
hurried along the road: Il want you. he
| said. love you, he said / want you,
| ne said. love you, he said"
The swift dusk was falling. She
knew it would be dark before she
reached home The sun had dropped
down behind the towering peaks to the
west: lights were beginning to appear
| in windows. She quickened her foot
StepS-not that she was afraid of the
darkness, but because of sudden, ire
siStible longing to reach the sanctuary
OF her own room.
She was nearing Julius Broadaxe'.
forge when she deserted a figure some
distance beyond, man walking rapidly
toward her. Panic seized her. She
recognized him. Her pace slackened.
she looked about in search of an open
road or path into which she could dart:
she even thought of turning back and
running in the opposite direction Bu.
that would be ludicrouS. He would
laugh at her. She would not let him
see that she was silly coward And
then she realized that she was curiously
light-headed. But on she came, her lips
apart, her eyes wide open, walking
straight into the trap.
He stopped when he came to the
dark. silent smithy. posting himself III
the middle of the road The waninx
light. penetrating the Shadowy interior
Of the low, open shed that fronted tbs
forge, revealed the closed doors beyond
She would have passed him by. ne.
chin in the air, had he not shifted his
| position. intercepting her. There vas
nothing for her to do but stop. Either
| that. or walk into his arms So she
came TO q StandStill, a few feet away
Cone on Gerane.' he said. a little
| unsteadily. Don't stop. It is no use
| darling I shan't let you pass"
She drew back. What do you mean
| --Starcourt." she demanded, raising her
voice. How dare you stop me-"
II am not stopping you," he broke
in, quietly. Il am asking you 70 come
on. shall stand here till you do
come"
Tt never heard of--of such In
science" she faltered oh" looking
around wildly, lis there no one TO help
me? Where is my father-JuliuS-
There is not soul in sight" cried
he triumphantly What are you afraid
Of, Gerane. dear? OF me? Surely you
are not afraid of me. ! love you with
all my-Oh, my darling. don't cryl''
She had covered her face with her
hands. He heard the catch in her
breath--and thought it was q sob.
''Oh. you--you must not she cried
out chokingiy-and found herself
clasped tightly in his arms. She thought
her heart was going to burst. He was
whispering something. his lips close %
her cheek-but there was such tur-
moil in her ears that she could net
understand a word he was saying HIS