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that the personal element was never obtrusive。
When he left Salonika he endeavored to obtain permission from
the British staff to visit Moudros； but； failing in this； he booked
his passage on a crowded little Greek steamer； where the only
obtainable accommodation was a lounge in the dining saloon。
We gave him a farewell dinner； at which the American consul
and his family； with all the other Americans then in Salonika； were
present； and after the dinner we rowed out to his ship and saw
him very uncomfortably installed for his voyage。
He came down the sea ladder and waved his hand as we rowed away。
That was the last I saw of Richard Harding Davis。
JOHN T。 MCCUTCHEON。
THE LOST ROAD
During the war with Spain； Colton Lee came into the service as a
volunteer。 For a young man； he always had taken life almost too
seriously； and when； after the campaign in Cuba； he elected to
make soldiering his profession； the seriousness with which he
attacked his new work surprised no one。 Finding they had lost him
forever； his former intimates were bored； but his colonel was
enthusiastic； and the men of his troop not only loved； but
respected him。
From the start he determined in his new life women should have no
parta determination that puzzled no one so much as the women；
for to Lee no woman； old or young； had found cause to be
unfriendly。 But he had read that the army is a jealous mistress
who brooks no rival； that 〃red lips tarnish the scabbard steel；〃
that 〃he travels the fastest who travels alone。〃
So； when white hands beckoned and pretty eyes signalled； he did
not look。 For five years； until just before he sailed for his
three years of duty in the Philippines； he succeeded not only in
not looking； but in building up for himself such a fine
reputation as a woman…hater that all women were crazy about him。
Had he not been ordered to Agawamsett that fact would not have
affected him。 But at the Officers' School he had indulged in hard
study rather than in hard riding； had overworked； had brought
back his Cuban fever； and was in poor shape to face the tropics。
So； for two months before the transport was to sail； they ordered
him to Cape Cod to fill his lungs with the bracing air of a New
England autumn。
He selected Agawamsett； because； when at Harvard； it was there he
had spent his summer vacations； and he knew he would find
sailboats and tennis and； through the pine woods back of the
little whaling village； many miles of untravelled roads。 He
promised himself that over these he would gallop an imaginary
troop in route marches； would manoeuvre it against possible
ambush； and； in combat patrols； ground scouts； and cossack
outposts； charge with it 〃as foragers。〃 But he did none of these
things。 For at Agawamsett he met Frances Gardner； and his
experience with her was so disastrous that； in his determination
to avoid all women； he was convinced he was right。
When later he reached Manila he vowed no other woman would
ever again find a place in his thoughts。 No other woman did。
Not because he had the strength to keep his vow； but because he
so continually thought of Frances Gardner that no other woman
had a chance。
Miss Gardner was a remarkable girl。 Her charm appealed to all
kinds of men； and； unfortunately for Lee； several kinds of men
appealed to her。 Her fortune and her relations were bound up in
the person of a rich aunt with whom she lived； and who； it was
understood； some day would leave her all the money in the world。
But； in spite of her charm； certainly in spite of the rich aunt；
Lee； true to his determination； might not have noticed the girl
had not she ridden so extremely well。
It was to the captain of cavalry she first appealed。 But even a
cavalry captain； whose duty in life is to instruct sixty men in
the art of taking the life of as many other men as possible； may
turn his head in the direction of a good…looking girl。 And when
for weeks a man rides at the side of one through pine forests as
dim and mysterious as the aisles of a great cathedral； when he
guides her across the wet marshes when the sun is setting crimson
in the pools and the wind blows salt from the sea； when he loses
them both by moonlight in wood…roads where the hoofs of the
horses sink silently into dusty pine needles； he thinks more
frequently of the girl at his side than of the faithful troopers
waiting for him in San Francisco。 The girl at his side thought
frequently of him。
With the 〃surface indications〃 of a young man about to ask her
to marry him she was painfully familiar； but this time the possibility
was the reverse of painful。 What she meant to do about it she did
not know； but she did know that she was strangely happy。 Between
living on as the dependent of a somewhat exacting relative and
becoming the full partner of this young stranger； who with men
had proved himself so masterful； and who with her was so gentle；
there seemed but little choice。 But she did not as yet wish to make
the choice。 She preferred to believe she was not certain。 She assured
him that before his leave of absence was over she would tell him
whether she would remain on duty with the querulous aunt； who had
befriended her； or as his wife accompany him to the Philippines。
It was not the answer he wanted； but in her happiness； which was
evident to every one； he could not help but take hope。 And in the
questions she put to him of life in the tropics； of the life of
the 〃officers' ladies；〃 he saw that what was in her mind was a
possible life with him； and he was content。
She became to him a wonderful； glorious person； and each day she
grew in loveliness。 It had been five years of soldiering in Cuba；
China； and on the Mexican border since he had talked to a woman
with interest； and now in all she said； in all her thoughts and
words and delights； he found fresher and stronger reasons for
discarding his determination to remain wedded only to the United
States Army。 He did not need reasons。 He was far too much in love
to see in any word or act of hers anything that was not fine and
beautiful。
In their rides they had one day stumbled upon a long…lost and
long…forgotten road through the woods； which she had claimed as
their own by right of discovery； and； no matter to what point
they set forth each day； they always returned by it。 Their way
through the woods stretched for miles。 It was concealed in a
forest of stunted oaks and black pines； with no sign of human
habitation； save here and there a clearing now long neglected and
alive only with goldenrod。 Trunks of trees； moss…grown and
crumbling beneath the touch of the ponies' hoofs； lay in their
path； and above it the branches of a younger generation had
clasped hands。 At their approach squirrels raced for shelter；
woodcock and partridge shot deeper into the network of vines and
saplings； and the click of the steel as the ponies tossed their
bits； and their own whispers； alone disturbed the silence。
〃It is an enchanted road；〃 said the girl； 〃or maybe we are
enchanted。〃
〃Not I；〃 cried the young man loyally。 〃I was never so sane； never
so sure； never so happy in kno