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Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13929, 12 June 1909, Page 1

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CHAPTER Vll.— (Continued.)

Oiko Quoenie had seen Lethbridge'.'y,,i'M> lost upon this ornament, but had m ad nothing from the expression ot hiLite. A man whose mouth is hidden beneath a long moustache has advantages. ''There is a history, perhaps, attached to that rather peculiar pendant." "Yes, but I will not tell it you hoic, or now. Perhaps " "Perhaps « hon wo know each othor hotter \ou may trust me with tho su>r;s 1 Is that it?" and the glaiico bent upon her was one of such interest and kindness that it seemed to trai^figure the rather stern, dark face, ,il though not a feature visibly moved. Yet as she looked at him without answering a sudden smile leaped forth from the steady dark e,\es, and he added, "Pei haps the donor is in some faioff land, a wanderer, an alion and an oxile, and you, as \ou ride across ilx moor with your dogs in attendance spare him a kindly thought, and wonder sometimes when or whether he may return."" Tho bright colour flushed the girl's fate. "How do you know — about the moor — the dogs?" His smile was perfectly free, and just a little baffling. "Remember I travelled homewards with 'your brother. Men returning from exile are wont to dwell on thoughts of home. I heard several stories of the Queen of Hearts. Somo of the blanks I could easily fill — from imagination." Her heart was beating fast, yet how foolish she was becoming! This wis certainly not the fugitive of her childhood's days. And yet his eyes looking down at her with that friendly challenge of good-fellowship and mutu.-.l understanding — what did it mean '•" Was it in imagination only that he had seen her crossing tho moor on horseback, with her big hounds n closo attendance? Was it just her fancy that his face seemed to grr>.\ more and more familiar the longer she looked at it? And yet it was not the same ! "I'm afraid Percy talks a good deal of nonsense when he gets on the sul>joct of home. Men do, don't \ou think, when they have been lon^ awa\ !" "It depends upon tho homo," camo tho answer back, and tho voice ran:: now to a different note ; then more gently he added, "We do not all hav;> tho same happy reminiscences to cherish." That night, before she went to bed, Queonie stood long before her open window. The hum of the streets came up to her in a thick murmur; but it seemed at that moment like the raur- | , mur of her moorland torrents, or the whisper of wind in tlie trees. She had sat out upon the balcony with Mr. Lethbridgo after dinner. He had told her strange things. His voice seemed to raise visions before her e>os as ho talked, and now and again sonic , brief phase would pass his lips which ••eemed to bring them curiously closo i together. Never had Quronie known a like experience. Easy as it was to her to establish pleasant relations with those about her, real intimacy (it ( thought and feeling was rare. She was continually pulled up by an m- . stinct that she would not be understood if sho spoke out the. real sentiments of her heart. Why had she all through ! this evening felt just the loverso? — boon sub-consciously aware that sympathy and comprehension were present, drawing her and her unknown com- i panion together, as though sonio soerot , bond united them. | 'I can't understand 1 I can't un- i derstand!" she said half alond ; but even to herself she did not explain too clearly what it was that baffled her.