He bowed three times like a disjointed foot rule and then retired to

charge up the wear and tear to his backbone under the head of "special

attendance."

"H-m-m!" sighed Sanderson, as the door closed on the bowing form of the

proprietor, "that fellow's presence reminds me that we are not

absolutely alone in the world, and you had almost convinced me that we

were, darling, and that by special Providence, this grim old earth had

been turned into a second Garden of Eden for our benefit. Aren't you

going to kiss me and make me forget in earnest, this time?"

"I'm sure, Lennie, I infinitely prefer the 'White Rose Inn' with you,

to the Garden of Paradise with Adam." She not only granted the

request, but added an extra one for interest.

"You'll make me horribly vain, Anna, if you persist in preferring me to

Adam; but then I dare say, Eve would have preferred him and Paradise to

me and the 'White Rose.'"

"But, then, Eve's taste lacked discrimination. She had to take Adam or

become the first girl bachelor. With me there might have been

alternatives."

"There might have been others, to speak vulgarly?"

"Exactly."

"By Jove, Anna, I don't see how you ever did come to care for me!" The

laughter died out of his eyes, his face grew prefer naturally grave, he

strode over to the window and looked out on the desolate landscape.

For the first time he realized the gravity of his offense. His crime

against this girl, who had been guilty of nothing but loving him too

deeply stood out, stripped of its trappings of sentiment, in all its

foul selfishness. He would right the wrong, confess to her; but no, he

dare not, she was not the kind of woman to condone such an offense.

"Needles and pins, needles and pins, when a man's married his trouble

begins," quoted Anna gayly, slipping up behind him and, putting her

arms about his neck; "one would think the old nursery ballad was true,

to look at you, Lennox Sanderson. I never saw such a married-man

expression before in my life. You wanted to know why I fell in love

with you. I could not help it, because you are YOU."

She nestled her head in his shoulder and he forgot his scruples in the

sorcery of her presence.

"Darling," he said; taking her in his arms, with perhaps the most

genuine affection he ever felt for her, "I wish we could spend our

lives here in this quiet little place, and that there were no

troublesome relations or outside world demanding us."




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