The Iola register., 1889-02-22
CHAPTER III.


The gentleman allowed his horses to wall
slowly up the incline while he opened anG
read the note.
CAPTAIN NSTARBIIGHT-Ane eagle watches
the hawk who hovers about the dove-cote
There is such thing as diamond cutting
diamond. Beware how you press the In
famous plot you have concocted to a con
clusion l warn you that you can not sue
ceed, and that unless you desist hemp
cravat may be your portion. JUsTIcE."
A frown mounted the brows of the Cap
tain when he had finished reading. He
crumpled the note in his hand, and was
about to tear it to fragments, when u sud
den thought seemed to strike hin. he
spread out the paper carefully, then folded
and thrust 1t into his pocket.
"That bit of paper may be of use to me
an the future, he muttered, with a clinch-
ing of white teeth.
Before the house he halted, leaped to the
ground and proceeded to open the gate. He
lifted his hat to Mr.. Vandible, who yet sat
on the broad porch, just adding a new
charge to his honest old pipe.
81 am glad to see you, Captain cried
the cracked voice of the old man. "Just
tell Sam to put out your horses. I want
you to stop for day at least. Will you do
iten
"I have hardly the time" returned the
Captain.
"But as favor to me2n
AS favor to you, my dear Vandible, l
will remain" declared the Captain, who
had all along contemplated this very thing,
even without an invitation.
Sam, the colored stable-boy, was sent to
L., q, H. - l.. Al
Captain himself occupied a chair beside the
venerable proprietor Of Lone Hollow.
For an hour the two conversed, then Cap
tain Starbright went in to look for Grace
Penroy. He found her in a cozy room in one
wing of the old house, a bit of work in her
lap, her feet resting on hassock, with a
huge cat crouching near, purring softly. 1t
was pleasant home scene, and the gallant
Captain paused and gaoed through the half
open door with queer smile on his dark
face.
Grace Penroy presented picture of the
most exquisite loneliness just then. The
contour of her face was almost perfect, and
a delicate rose tint in the smooth, soft
cheek, not too pronounced, while q mass of
golden hair fell away in abundant waves to
her shoulders. Evidently she was not Just
the corridor without caused her to look up
with q start.
81 hope I'm not intruding, Grace" said
Captain Starbright, pausing on the thresh-
old.
She regarded him triie fearfully, as he
stood framed in the doorway, the picture of
q handsome man.
Tall, straight as an arrow, with dark
face, heavy mustache, black eyes and in
sinuatlng smile, he was what most women
would denominate handsome. He dressed
richly, sporting a diamond stud, the most
immaculate linen. and the latest style of
tie. Fascinating he certainly was. Few
of the gentier sex could resist his advances.
Up 10 the present time, however. Grace
Penroy might be counted among the few.
1t might be that the honest face of a
young mechanic from Stowfield. a town
some ten miles away, had something to do
with the feelings of indifference toward
Captain Starbright that animated the
breast of Vandibie's heIress.
Mr.. Starbright hesitated but moment
On the threshold of the room. then entered
and stood over the pretty girl in the sew
ing-chair.
Busy as bee he said. laughing. You
would make wife fit for mechanic. so
industrious are you, and yet it seems to me
hardly necessary that you should perform
such work
lit may not be necessary, but one must
do something" she uttered, softly.
''To be sure admitted ne. '.You no
doubt find it lonely enough in Lone Hollow.
wonder at your grandfather bringing you
TO such spot. II seems to me hardly fair
IN ono en- vn,1nc and Trhn ioy-c Sooia-y- en-
WE'LL
81 am not sure that | care to return TO
the city. find this very pleasant place, l
am sure, and I am in duty bound to please
mother and grandfather
"Of course
He attempted TO take her hand, but she
snstched it away and came to her feet
swiftly, standing aside and facing him with
the hot blood flowing in either cheek.
How pretty he calculated. with an
amused laugh al her evident embarrass-
ment. Grace. when win you permit me to
be your friend!"
She said not q wcrd, but started TO leave
the room. His familiarity had evidently
given her deep ofenss.
. The little prUde," he muttered under his
teeth. Then he Laid rather heavy hand
or her own and detained her in spite of her
wishes.
"Grace. see here: this has gone quite far
enough he declared, in d severe tone.
Release me, sir
"Not until YOU look me squarely in the
face and say: Captain Starbright, love
you.'"
captain Starbright hat6 you,'' came
hot from her red lips, and then she managed
to tear herself loose aud sped swiftly from
the room.
CHAPTER ".