Prev | Current Page 228 | Next

Buck, Charles Neville, 1879-1930

"A Pagan of the Hills"


Indeed she had realized that almost immediately and her heart had
missed its beat. The man was Halloway himself and he was looking in
another direction just then, so he did not see the fleet, yet instantly
repressed eagerness that flashed into and out of her eyes. It was a
self-collected young woman, with a distinctly casual manner who crossed
the stile and confronted her visitor.
As he turned and saw her, he started impulsively forward, but recovered
himself and also adopted the matter-of-fact demeanor, which she had,
herself, assumed.
"Howdy, Jack," said the girl carelessly. "I didn't know ye war
hyarabouts. I'd jest erbout forgot ye altogether."
"I reckon thet would be a right easy thing ter do," he handsomely
admitted, then each having indulged in the thrust and parry of an
introductory lie, they stood there in the sunset, eying each other in
silence.
But Alexander recognized a transformation in the man's appearance, and
if she seemed tepid of interest, the semblance belied her throbbing
pulses. Halloway was too accomplished an actor to have abandoned his
pose or makeup.


Pages:
216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240