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illimitable book of youth； the breaking up of what she now felt had
become a monotony。 In fact； she was not quite sure she had ever
been satisfied with their present success。 Had it brought her all
she expected？ She wanted to say this to her husband； not only to
comfort him； poor fellow； but that they might come to a better
understanding of life in the future。 She was not perhaps different
from other loving women who； believing in this unattainable goal of
matrimony； have sought it in the various episodes of fortune or
reverses； in the bearing of children； or the loss of friends。 In
her childless experience there was no other life that had taken
root in her circumstances and might suffer transplantation； only
she and her husband could lose or profit by the change。 The
〃perfect〃 understanding would come under other conditions than
these。
She would have gone superstitiously to the window to gaze in the
direction of the vanished ship； but another instinct restrained
her。 She would put aside all yearning for him until she had done
something to help him； and earned the confidence he seemed to have
withheld。 Perhaps it was prideperhaps she never really believed
his exodus was distant or complete。
With a full knowledge that to…morrow the various ornaments and
pretty trifles around her would be in the hands of the law； she
gathered only a few necessaries for her flight and some familiar
personal trinkets。 I am constrained to say that this self…
abnegation was more fastidious than moral。 She had no more idea of
the ethics of bankruptcy than any other charming woman； she simply
did not like to take with her any contagious memory of the chapter
of the life just closing。 She glanced around the home she was
leaving without a lingering regret； there was no sentiment of
tradition or custom that might be destroyed； her roots lay too near
the surface to suffer from dislocation； the happiness of her
childless union had depended upon no domestic centre； nor was its
flame sacred to any local hearthstone。 It was without a sigh that；
when night had fully fallen； she slipped unnoticed down the
staircase。 At the door of the drawing…room she paused and then
entered with the first guilty feeling of shame she had known that
evening。 Looking stealthily around she mounted a chair before her
husband's picture； kissed the irreproachable moustache hurriedly；
said； 〃You foolish darling； you！〃 and slipped out again。 With this
touching indorsement of the views of a rival philosopher； she
closed the door softly and left her home forever。
CHAPTER II
The wind and rain had cleared the unfrequented suburb of any
observant lounger； and the darkness； lit only by far…spaced； gusty
lamps； hid her hastening figure。 She had barely crossed the second
street when she heard the quick clatter of hoofs behind her； a
buggy drove up to the curbstone； and Poindexter leaped out。 She
entered quickly； but for a moment he still held the reins of the
impatient horse。 〃He's rather fresh；〃 he said； eying her keenly；
〃are you sure you can manage him？〃
〃Give me the reins；〃 she said simply。
He placed them in the two firm； well…shaped hands that reached from
the depths of the vehicle； and was satisfied。 Yet he lingered。
〃It's rough work for a lone woman；〃 he said； almost curtly。 〃I
can't go with you； but； speak frankly； is there any man you know
whom you can trust well enough to take？ It's not too late yet；
think a moment！〃
He paused over the buttoning of the leather apron of the vehicle。
〃No； there is none；〃 answered the voice from the interior； 〃and
it's better so。 Is all ready？〃
〃One moment more。〃 He had recovered his half…bantering manner。
〃You HAVE a friend and countryman already with you； do you know？
Your horse is Blue Grass。 Good night。〃
With these words ringing in her ears she began her journey。 The
horse； as if eager to maintain the reputation which his native
district had given his race； as well as the race of the pretty
woman behind him； leaped impatiently forward。 But pulled together
by the fine and firm fingers that seemed to guide rather than check
his exuberance； he presently struck into the long； swinging pace of
his kind； and kept it throughout without 〃break〃 or acceleration。
Over the paved streets the light buggy rattled； and the slender
shafts danced around his smooth barrel； but when they touched the
level high…road； horse and vehicle slipped forward through the
night； a swift and noiseless phantom。 Mrs。 Tucker could see his
graceful back dimly rising and falling before her with tireless
rhythm； and could feel the intelligent pressure of his mouth until
it seemed the responsive grasp of a powerful but kindly hand。 The
faint glow of conquest came to her cold cheek； the slight stirrings
of pride moved her preoccupied heart。 A soft light filled her
hazel eyes。 A desolate woman； bereft of husband and home； and
flying through storm and night； she knew not where； she still
leaned forward towards her horse。 〃Was he Blue Grass； then； dear
old boy？〃 she gently cooed at him in the darkness。 He evidently
WAS； and responded by blowing her an ostentatious equine kiss。
〃And he would be good to his own forsaken Belle；〃 she murmured
caressingly； 〃and wouldn't let any one harm her？〃 But here；
overcome by the lazy witchery of her voice； he shook his head so
violently that Mrs。 Tucker； after the fashion of her sex； had the
double satisfaction of demurely restraining the passion she had
evoked。
To avoid the more traveled thoroughfare； while the evening was
still early； it had been arranged that she should at first take a
less direct but less frequented road。 This was a famous pleasure…
drive from San Francisco； a graveled and sanded stretch of eight
miles to the sea and an ultimate 〃cocktail；〃 in a 〃stately
pleasure…dome decreed〃 among the surf and rocks of the Pacific
shore。 It was deserted now； and left to the unobstructed sweep of
the wind and rain。 Mrs。 Tucker would not have chosen this road。
With the instinctive jealousy of a bucolic inland race born by
great rivers； she did not like the sea； and again the dim and
dreary waste tended to recall the vision connected with her
husband's flight； upon which she had resolutely shut her eyes。 But
when she had reached it the road suddenly turned； following the
trend of the beach； and she was exposed to the full power of its
dread fascinations。 The combined roar of sea and shore was in her
ears； as the direct force of the gale had compelled her to furl the
protecting hood of the buggy to keep the light vehicle from
oversetting or drifting to leeward； she could no longer shut out
the heaving chaos on the right from which the pallid ghosts of dead
and dying breakers dimly rose and sank as if in awful salutation。
At times through the darkness a white sheet appeared spread before
the path and beneath the wheels of the buggy； which