The Fighting Chance

And now, above the roaring undertone of the cars, from far ahead floated back the treble bell-notes of the locomotive; there came a gritting vibration of b

e uncut magazine he had been dreaming over and, picking up gun case and valise, followed a line of fellow-passen

itating, leisurely inspecting the flashing ranks of vehicles-depot wagons, omnibusses, and motor cars a

eted expected guests; laughing young men climbed into dog-carts and took the reins from nimble grooms; young girls, extravagantly veiled, made room in comfortable touring-cars for feminine guests whose extravagant veils were yet to be unpacked; slim young men in leather trappings, caps adorned with elab

ed, leisurely manner for anybody or any vehicle which might be waiting for him. His amiable inspection presently b

dexterously into rank with its fellows. "Say, one of Mr. Ferrall's men

familiar livery was kneeling beside a dog's travelling crate, attempting to unlock it, while be

ched the scene fo

rrall's men?" he asked

ooked up, t

, So

Shotover House. I dare say you h

key from his fingers, knelt, and tried the lock. It resisted. F

it; I know you're in a hurry-and we'll have you out in a second-steady

pened, but the young man caught him by the le

by the frantic circling of the dog-"beg pardon, Sorr, but I'll

ot one of Mr.

hadn't anny orders

nything here t

r-I'll lo

the gravel drive where now only a steam motor and a depot-wagon remained. As they looked the motor steamed o

rall expect me?

for Shotover House does ginerally

ve gone on to Black Fells Crossing; Mr. Ferrall wrote me!" T

phayton"-h

t a phaeton

dy says so-beg pardon, Sor

Miss Landis a gues

d joost ask her-the phayto

ecuted side-steps; blue ribbons fluttered from the gl

aeton drew up; the young lady looked inquiringly

characteristic of men of his sort,-and even his smile appeared to be part an

sing," observed Miss Landis, coolly controll

now that such were the

d with more curiosity at the dog. "Is t

is,

with you?" And, to Siward: "There

e?" he ask

more pup, Flynn. Hold him between yo

tacle of himself and an agreeable picture of his driver; then the pretty little phaeton swung northward out of the gravel driv

am, Flynn?" she asked w

id,

ncluding Siward, until the horse began acting badly again. Her slightly disdainful and perfect control of the reins interested the young man. He

nged infinitely in hysterical cresc

ter with him, Fl

should let him r

sing concerning her telegram. She drove on for a while, and might have forg

r a mile or two? Do you thi

a new

wagon-broken, steady to shot and wing-" She shrugged

I try him?" su

you are going t

hink

f he b

ake my

my chances, Mr. Siward. Th

ought

s a horridly expensive creatur

auty of patience; great thing, patience!" He took the leader; the dog sprang from the rumble. "Now, my friend, look at me! No, don't twist and squirm and scr

rd unleashed him, looked down at him for a second, stooped and caressed the silky head, then with a laugh

d-broken," he sa

u think he wi

hink

back over her shoulder at the dog who l

out the moving phaeton, splitting the air with yelps of ecstasy, then tore ahead, mad with the

disappeared far away up the road she turn

, glorious in his new liberty, enchanted with the confidence this tall young man had reposed in him-this adorable young ma

use his voice was pleasant, partly because a vague memory was beginning t

but, absorbed in the overwhelming importance of her tele

the present, and mentally turned to the next and far less important problem-the question of this rather attra

asantly, conventionally, touching idly any topic that might have a bearing; and, under a self-possession so detached as to give an impression of indif

ence to please her, and something listless, at times almost absent-minded, almost inattentive, that might have piqued her had it not inoculated he

d why some ace blinkers. From sport and its justification, they became inconsequential; and she was beginning to

her own kind, self-possession and reserve, if not inherent, had also been drilled into her, an

were advancing

ought to call the

e's had

more pup, dusty and happy came romping back. Siward mot

between us. And you might occupy yourself by pull

't try to lick my face, for that is bad manners

anners, isn't it?"

ing affec

d admitt

agamore? But never mind; I'll break

Siward's knee, looking h

"Mr. Siward! You are hugging him! This amo

e conspiracy," he said. "There's

ered recently kissi

agamore, give the y

e whip to her left hand, held out the right. And very gravely

rmured the girl,

ed for membership in our association for the promotion of ba

sorts of things because

ourse

tilted. "I never kissed a baby in all my life-and ne

more than

atural in me to feel that way about babies? And about people, too; I simply cannot endure demonstrations. As for dogs and horses-well, I've admitted how I behave; an

y features, anxiously; "

people. It is rather horrid of me I suppose to be like those silky, plumy, luxurious Angora

, but he did not know her well enough to pu

tion, and she sensed the laugh in his silence, and liked him for

s of gayest understanding presently, she gossiping about the guests at Shot

the time," she said-with the very faintest hint of challenge-too delic

ou sh

s;

led to the sh

vil of you. Sometimes I

ld I-som

n are waiting for you to start out after grouse perh

lau

ble dummy when every other living man will be off

! I need i

thing wrong with yo

ck her whip, but at her first

n't fit," obs

emembered; it is shameful to drive a horse improperly bitted." And, af

e uncomfortable it worries me. It's

e was very friendly. "Why doesn't a nic

he outlook at Shotover House had been unpromising with only the overgrateful Page twins to practise on-the other men collectively and individually boring her. An

out selfishness?" she asked. "O

tain

"Selfishness is so si

it?

e. That covers everyt

ion is weakness-isn'

case for

ppose we

u may take it

loved a man!"

beware! W

ld distress your fami

ive hi

u love

orest excuse for self

ruin your happ

lfish love than in love itself," announced Miss Landis

f you really do find more happiness in renouncing love

not acute. A woman is always an opportunist. Whe

u want to marry t

I probab

rry

sh

you won't,

the horse to a walk at

too fast," said M

g too f

iving, goin

you m

e on all sorts o

ntry, you k

d friends one makes at a week's end. But it has

think it over," he sugges

e to consider a suggestion made to her by a Mr. Howard Quarrier. The last week at Shotover permitted reflection; and while her telegram was no co

know Howard Qua

tion he replied: "Yes-a

o know

at-the

the L

x-and the

stranded on the shoals of an engagement to marry Howard Quarrier. Then her thoughts, errant, wandered half the world over before they returned to Siward; and when at length they

is I have heard about you," sh

ve on, lips compressed, following an elusive train of thought which vaguely, persistently, coupled his name with something indefinitely unpleasant. And she could not reconcile this with his appearance. However, the train of unlinked ideas which she p

lacking definite detail, lacking circumstance and c

the unruffled and very sweet profile of a young girl. Composur

were my five wits? Siward!-Stephen Siward!... He is very young, too... much too young to be so horrid.

andis,"

ly. It was her way to b

are beginning to remember wher

f a child, but the lovely eyes were troubled. His smile

l to ask me," he said, "after the

l is a dear,"

tured: "I suppose you

mpletely forgotten it

ave ventured to remind you that-that per

to me! Why shouldn't I be amiable? It was-it was-I

ty ba

er

y sa

your opinio

ry verge of laughter. What was it in the man that disarmed and invited a confidence-scarcely justified it appeared? What was it now that moved her to overlook what few overlook-not the fault, but

that meant social absolution. As far as that went she also was perfectly ready to absolve him if he needed it. But perhaps he didn't care!-She looked at him, furtively. He seemed to be tranquil enough in his abstraction. Trouble appeared to slide very easily from his broad youn

g up to encounter her clear eyes,

ing toward the vast pile of blackish rocks against the sky, u

k? Oh

blows rained upon the ramparts of

e subtle change in his face-the white worn look, then the old listless apat

ar the sea

ment to the top of th

r fascinated and repelled him-always wrinkled, always in flat m

" he said, unconscious

e s

g for a man to fight.... There are other tides more per

ch of colour; and, without understanding exactly how, she was aware, presently, that they had insensibly slipped back to their light badinage

as they came to the crest of the la

aid mockingly; "and now your

rs, Miss

herself, thinking of the teleg

sides, her theories and preconceived plans for the safe and sound ordering of her

th a 'Yes.' However, he was coming from the Lakes in a day or two. S

observed Siward, as the phaeto

e said, "but he belo