The Obstacle Race

to reach his destination before it broke. But it was nearer than he thought, and the first dull roar of its coming reached him soon after he had passed the gates. He shrugged his shoulders at t

hunder that he realized that he had no time to spare if he hoped to escape the threatening deluge. He broke into a run, covering the ground with t

n the distance, he suddenly heard a voice call to him from the deep shadow of the trees, and checkin

without a moment's thou

liet. "And there's going to be

tter?" he said,

to warrant my extreme selfishness in stopping you. I have given

arm!" s

face still bravely sm

ee

ard!" h

imping, to the road, Columbus, th

" she said. "We shall

sky. "It may hold off for a

g to see you

ook came swiftly t

n it happened, but I heard all about it when Mrs. Fielding c

And you started straight off to

ds. It isn't fair," pleaded Juliet. "There was probably some extenuating circumstance in the back

ade that does it? No, I haven't punished him at all. As you say, we must be

said J

ve traced it to its source

" ejacula

her. "With the result that Robin, not hampered by convention as are the rest of us, lies in wait on forbidden ground for a glimpse of his

hat was very unnecessary of your broth

things," said Green drily. "And he never

nces!" Juliet's voice was quick wi

Green, and laughed. "

life at t

now-I am rather? They ha

een. "Are you sti

up to-morrow,

staying on

m. "Don't you wa

sentiments,

et caught her breath. There followed a burst of thunder

eld her back. "Better not. You'll only hurt your

e to show the white feather in your presence. Oh, look at that!" She shra

de further speech impossible. He awoke to the fact that Juliet was clinging to his arm wi

eper darkness fell. Great drops o

bly-reach the house now. There is an ar

a shrubbery. The rush and roar of the coming rain w

e them. Again the thunder crashed. They fo

dness!" ga

arm forward to catch her. He almost lifted her into shelter. Th

ot hurt?"

-and-and-stupid," she answ

It closed about her, ver

ot utter

stones beat upon the laurels around them with tropical violence. The nois

ng arm, her eyes closed against the leaping lightning, her two hands p

his heart. The storm raged on about them, but they two stood, as it were, alone, wra

ed. The downpour lessen

t sti

ed. "I'm not generally so foolish a

And then suddenly he stayed her. He took her hand, a

r, very gently she spoke. "Mr. Green, please-don't be so terribly in earn

wing behind the storm-clouds, revealing his dark clean-cut featur

s. I shan't ask you to be chief mourner either. I've always considered that when a man makes a fool

alking of-funera

for a moment upon hers. "I tho

d storm-light. "I think there are a good many names fo

r name than that. But you don't want to hear it. I believe you

sound as if laughter and tears were striving together for the mastery. "But I'm trying-so dreadfully hard-to be-discreet.

t you realize that I passed th

" she said quick

sure you are far too sensible-discreet, I mean-to let that worry you. And anyway," he smiled abr

sarcastic,"

n which I encase myself. I hope it doesn't offend you. I can al

somewhat dubiously. And at length h

"And I don't want to hurt you. You understand t

rfectly,

one was baffling. "And you do

his voice that pierced straight through her. "I love you all the better for it." Then, before she cou

er. The raindrops glittered in the growing radiance. The whole earth seemed transfo

h a free and faun-like spring that seemed to mark him as a being close

self that there was little of midsummer madness about this man's emotions. Jest as he might, she knew by instinct that he was vitally in earnest and she had a s

forbearance of his gave him a greatness in her eyes to which no other man had ever attained. And gradually a sense of sec