arbutus blossoms, while she made him uncom
fortable with her ejaculations ot gratitude.
“Why, Mr. Turnip,” she said, “that was the
most horrid creature I ever saw. It frightened
me nearly to death. If lam ever frightened half
so badly again I shall die, I know I shall, I al
ways do. How fortunate that you came along
just when you did. You are so quiet and retiring
that I always thought you a hero and now I
know that you are. What was the name of the
ugly thing that you killed so beautifully ?”
At this question Tiberius was more abashed
“Why—er—er—it was a snake, a—a
—er venomous serpent, don’t you know,” he
answered as he picked up the last of the arbutus
blossoms.
than ever.
“Yes, I know that, but what is its name?” she
“Why, er—er —l believe it is called, er—er, —
that is I believe so, I don’t just know. But hadn’t
you better be getting back to the cottage as it is
getting rather late,” he replied.
“O yes I must go back right away, but I never
can go through those woods alone. You’ll go
with me to the edge of the woods won’t you ?”
she continued as he moved as if to go in the op-
posite direction.
Tiberius felt that it would be ungallant to re
fuse, and so turned and slowly accompanied her in
the direction of the cottage. As they made their
way through the woods he often glanced about
him, fearful lest he should be seen by some chance
member of The 400, for he knew that to be seen
in such a plight meant sure and certain retirement
from that honorable society. It seemed hardly
probable that he would be seen, for it was an hour
when few persons were likely to seek the solitude
of the woods, and he was beginning to think him
self Safe, when a heavy body was heard crashing
through the bushes at their right. Instinctively,
as it were, the girl drew closer to Tiberius and
grasped his arm, as Augustus; the leader of The
400 came in sight. He said nothing, but glared
vindictively at Tiberius for a moment and then
passed on out of sight.
THE FREE LANCE.
Tiberius drew a breath of relief. He knew that
no longer would he belong to “The 400,” yet it
seemed to him that in some way he had regained
a lost freedom and as he stole a glance at the face
of the girl at his side it seemed that life was worth
living after all, and that even a course in chemis
try was not so bad if one could only find con
genial society. The arm had not been withdrawn
from his after the danger was past, and as he
looked from it to the little hand which clasped a
bunch of arbutus, it seemed to him that no more
beautiful blossoms ever saw the light of day, and
the barrens seemed almost an Eden. The only
thing which made him feel uncomfortable was the
fear that she might ask him the name of the snake,
but apparently she did not think of it.
When they reached, the edge of the woods and
were about to separate she said, “now Tiberius—•
Mr. Turnip I mean—what can I ever do to repay
you for yourkindness to me this afternoon ? Is there
not soriie way in which I can show my gratitude ?”
site asked anxiously as Tiberius shook his head.
“O yes, there is something,” said he suddenly
as a thought seemed to strike him, “Promise me
that you will never ask me the name of that snake
again.”
“I will promise that,” she said smiling, “On
condition that you will promise to come to the
cottage next Saturday evening. Now say yes
right away
Tiberius said “Yes.”
Human nature seems instinctively to shrink
from the thought that some day the sun may look
down upon a disappointed and lifeless earth.
Yet such an end of life has ever been anticipated,
and the more the laws of nature have been com
prehended, the greater has seeeme.l to be the cer
tainty of such an end.
Formerly it was thought that this condition
would involve the hurling of planet against planet,
star against star, the confusion of the solar sys
tems and the reign of chaos.
THE END OF LIFE .