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for my living。〃 The duchess turned her grave； half humorous face
towards her。 〃That means you have determined to seek HIM。 Well！
Perhaps if you give up your other absurd idea of independence； I
may assist you。 And now I really believe； dear； that there is that
dreadful South American；〃 pointing to a figure that was crossing
the lawn at Hamley Court； 〃hovering round like a vulture。 Well； I
can't see him to…day if he calls； but YOU may。 By the way； they
say he is not bad…looking； was a famous general in the South
American War； and is rolling in money； and comes here on a secret
mission from his government。 But I forgetthe rest of our life is
to be devoted to seeking ANOTHER。 And I begin to think I am not a
good matchmaker。〃
Helen was in no mood for an interview with the stranger； whom； like
the duchess； she was inclined to regard as a portent of fate and
sacrifice。 She knew her friend's straitened circumstances； which
might make such a sacrifice necessary to insure a competency for
her old age； and； as Helen feared also； a provision for herself。
She knew the strange tenderness of this masculine woman； which had
survived a husband's infidelities and a son's forgetfulness； to be
given to her； and her heart sank at the prospect of separation；
even while her pride demanded that she should return to her old
life again。 Then she wondered if the duchess was right； did she
still cherish the hope of meeting Ostrander again？ The tears she
had kept back all that day asserted themselves as she flung open
the library door and ran across the garden into the myrtle walk。
〃In hospital！〃 The words had been ringing in her ears though Sir
James's complacent speech； through the oddly constrained luncheon；
through the half…tender； half…masculine reasoning of her companion。
He HAD loved herhe had suffered and perhaps thought her false。
Suddenly she stopped。 At the further end of the walk the ominous
stranger whom she wished to avoid was standing looking towards the
house。
How provoking！ She glanced again； he was leaning against a tree
and was obviously as preoccupied as she was herself。 He was
actually sketching the ivy…covered gable of the library。 What
presumption！ And he was sketching with his left hand。 A sudden
thrill of superstition came over her。 She moved eagerly forward
for a better view of him。 No！ he had two arms！
But his quick eye had already caught sight of her； and before she
could retreat she could see that he had thrown away his sketch…book
and was hastening eagerly toward her。 Amazed and confounded she
would have flown； but her limbs suddenly refused their office； and
as he at last came near her with the cry of 〃Helen！〃 upon his lips；
she felt herself staggering； and was caught in his arms。
〃Thank God；〃 he said。 〃Then she HAS let you come to me！〃
She disengaged herself slowly and dazedly from him and stood
looking at him with wondering eyes。 He was bronzed and worn； there
was the second arm： but still it was HE。 And with the love； which
she now knew he had felt； looking from his honest eyes！
〃SHE has let me come！〃 she repeated vacantly。 〃Whom do you mean？〃
〃The duchess。〃
〃The duchess？〃
〃Yes。〃 He stopped suddenly； gazing at her blank face； while his
own grew ashy white。 〃Helen！ For God's sake tell me！ You have
not accepted him？〃
〃I have accepted no one；〃 she stammered； with a faint color rising
to her cheeks。 〃I do not understand you。〃
A look of relief came over him。 〃But；〃 he said amazedly； 〃has not
the duchess told you how I happen to be here？ How； when you
disappeared from Paris long agowith my ambition crushed； and
nothing left to me but my old trade of the fighterI joined a
secret expedition to help the Chilian revolutionists？ How I； who
might have starved as a painter； gained distinction as a partisan
general； and was rewarded with an envoyship in Europe？ How I came
to Paris to seek you？ How I found that even the pictureyour
picture； Helenhad been sold。 How； in tracing it here； I met the
duchess at Deep Hill； and learning you were with her； in a moment
of impulse told her my whole story。 How she told me that though
she was your best friend； you had never spoken of me； and how she
begged me not to spoil your chance of a good match by revealing
myself； and so awakening a pastwhich she believed you had
forgotten。 How she implored me at least to let her make a fair
test of your affections and your memory； and until then to keep
away from youand to spare you； Helen； and for your sake； I
consented。 Surely she has told this； NOW！〃
〃Not a word；〃 said Helen blankly。
〃Then you mean to say that if I had not haunted the park to…day； in
the hope of seeing you； believing that as you would not recognize
me with this artificial arm； I should not break my promise to her；
you would not have known I was even living。〃
〃No！yes！stay！〃 A smile broke over her pale face and left it
rosy。 〃I see it all now。 Oh； Philip； don't you understand？ She
wanted only to try us！〃
There was a silence in the lonely wood； broken only by the trills
of a frightened bird whose retreat was invaded。
〃Not now！ Please！ Wait！ Come with me！〃
The next moment she had seized Philip's left hand； and； dragging
him with her； was flying down the walk towards the house。 But as
they neared the garden door it suddenly opened on the duchess； with
her glasses to her eyes； smiling。
The General Don Felipe Ostrander did not buy Hamley Court； but he
and his wife were always welcome guests there。 And Sir James； as
became an English gentleman；amazed though he was at Philip's
singular return； and more singular incognito；afterwards gallantly
presented Philip's wife with Philip's first picture。
THE JUDGMENT OF BOLINAS PLAIN
The wind was getting up on the Bolinas Plain。 It had started the
fine alkaline dust along the level stage road； so that even that
faint track； the only break in the monotony of the landscape；
seemed fainter than ever。 But the dust cloud was otherwise a
relief； it took the semblance of distant woods where there was no
timber； of moving teams where there was no life。 And as Sue
Beasley； standing in the doorway of One Spring House that
afternoon； shading her sandy lashes with her small red hand；
glanced along the desolate track； even HER eyes； trained to the
dreary prospect； were once or twice deceived。
〃Sue！〃
It was a man's voice from within。 Sue took no notice of it； but
remained with her hand shading her eyes。
〃Sue！ Wot yer yawpin' at thar？〃
〃Yawpin'〃 would seem to have been the local expression for her
abstraction； since； without turning her head； she answered slowly
and languidly： 〃Reckoned I see'd som' un on the stage road。 But
'tain't nothin' nor nobody。〃
Both voices had in their accents and delivery something of the
sadness and infinite protraction of the plain。 But the wom