Evening star., 1932-12-12

got, old ladyl Come on; let's have i'll"
The high embankmentS narrowed
into a blur of rich brown earth, the
arching, plane-treeS focused to tun-
nel-point of obscur1ty no larger than
small round coin, which advanced at
set distance ahead. The gray ribbon OF
the road seemed clear and level, for
when it mounted, the slope became
curiously flattened as soon as the great
car was upon it. Once a high. two
wheeled peasant cart returning from
the halles 1oomed down the green tun-
mel, vast and bulky out Of all proper
ton. The siren roared under Alacta's
expert little hand, and almost instant
" the road ahead of her was clear of
obstacles once more; while behind her
the outraged peasant woman stood
flattened against the wheel of her
cart. Exultant as a young Valkyrie,
Alacia saw the speedometer rising One
hundred and thirty, one hundred and
forty, one hundred and fifty, kilo-
meters an hour. Then distant curve
in the road forced her to slack her
speed, just a little too late.
For beyond the curve stood the gates
of an old chateau: a tall pair of deli
cate iron lacework gates, opening upon
an oYergroWn drive, and leading to one
of those sadly beautiful French houses
which sit so closely upon the damp
green of their lawns as to seem grow
ing out of them; a gray, turreted man
sion. whose shuttered windows and
neglected fountains seemed sorrowing
for the past glories of aristocratic
owners. At the moment of Alacia's ap-
proach an old Ford car, shabby and
decrepit, was in the act of emerging
from this vastness, wheeling its way
hurriedly to the cross road. Its front
wheels we're already on the paved high
way when Alacia saw it, and for
dreadful instant 1t seemed as II disaster
were inevitable. Only highly skilled
driver with a cool head could have
avoided a fatal accident, but Alacia,
bending all her weight on left turn
Of the wheel passed the Ford by
hairs breadth, only to realize at the
same instant that great tree was
destroying her. Something tore her
loose from the wheel, she felt herself
hurtling through space, and then came
oblivion
Out of a purple and black infinity
filed with stars that hurt, Alacla
emerged at last, because voice was call
ing her perSistently. II was not ia
miliar voice, yet she liked the sound Of
it; liked, too, the note OF entreaty in
1t, as though her obedience mattered
greatly to the speaker. So, with an ef-
fort, she opened her eyes. There, a
foot away, was an extraordinarily
man, whose fine brown eyes devoured
her with anxiety. AS her own met
them, he smiled from relief, showing
a fine row of even white teeth, and
crinkling tiny, we'll trimmed NOUS
tache With slow wonder running
warmly through her, Alacia realized
that she was lying in the arms of this
exceedingly attractive stranger. In
| deed, she was so closely held that she
caught a faint aroma OF fine soap, and
the clinging odor of good tobacco. 1t
was astonishingly pleasant, and com
| forting, being there, and she felt
shamelessly disinclined to arise. So
she merely smiled back at him with
out making any serious effort to speak.
! One of his hands slipped up into the
bright folds of her hair, but otherwise
he did not move, and they stayed as
| they were for a long moment, held by
! each others smile until memory crept
! back to her. Then Alacia pushed him
| slowly from her and sat up, very weak
| and dizzy from the shock.
! "Mademoiselle est blessee?" he de-
manded anxiously. "Ah, mais c'est
| affreuse!" Then seeing by her eyes
! that she did not quite understand, he
spoke in perfect English the excellent,
! soft English of an oxford trained
! Frenchman Are you really unhurt?"
he begged of her. Can you feel any
pain? Mop"
Il don't think I'm hurtl" she re-
piled still bewildered. L missed you
all right, didn't ~"
1T was the most sporting thing l
ever saw!" he exclaimed fervently.
| 'And it was all my fault for coming
out of the driveway like that without
blowing my horn If you are injured I
shall never forgive myself"
II think I'm intact!' Alacia said
feeling herself gingerly. Then with his
aid she scrambled to her feet and
caught sight of her car. Only one
wheel had hit the tree, but the radia-
tor was smashed into bank of soft
| earth above which she had presumably
1 landed In plowed field. She tottered
a little at the realization and his arm
went around her instantly. She did
not protest, but permitted him to lead
her to his battered old car and assist
her UP into the front seat.