Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-11-04
CHAPTER ".
Captain Darvill arrives at Sandy.
croft


Captain Darvill arrives at Sandy
croft.
Colonel Bernage dressed for dinner,
was standing with his back to tho
drawing room fire. waiting for the
rest OF the party none OF whom had
yet made their appearance Although
the day had been warm and sunny the
spr ny was not yet sutfic emily al
vanced TO allow OF fires being dis
pensed with. As 1t happened, Alwyn
Bernage was at this time from home.
Three days before. he had set out on
one of his period cal journeys start
ing after dark with his bro her in the
tilbury and presumably Judging by
the length OF his previous absences,
he would not be back for a week or
ten days TO come Among the SER
wants it was sometimes remarked
what a queer fad" it was on Mr. Al
wyn's part always To travel by night
Just like commerce nj traveller you
know. or a man who had no time dur
ing the day TO call his own.
The colonel had Just looked at his
watch. when the door opened and
Roden Rosworth entered.
well. Roddy. and how's the pic
ture getting on'" inquired the colonel
pleasantly as he moved an inch or
two further from the fire.
only slowly. sir; but perhaps ic
will be none the worse in the end on
that account Sometimes when | IN
in dissatisfied mood | paint out a
mornings work in two or three min
uteS and then it has all to be done
over again"
1T seems a pity you didn't get it
finished in time for one OF tho spring
eAh billions"
That was out OF tho question. sir;
but let us hope it will lose nothing by
the delay. In any case it will be in
time for next year. Then, after a
momentary pause; You expected
Captain Darvill to-day. sir did you
uot?"
Roden. from his eyrie in the
tower had seen the captain arrive.
but he wanted certa information.
and it seemed 10 him that the only
way TO get it was by asking leading
question.
"Darvills here; arrived an hour
ago bringing with him very splen-
did tiger skin. Shot the brute Inn
self so he says. / remember that on
one occasion-but tut tut-if I've told
that story once I've told it twenty
times"
Il saw the announcement of Cap
tain Darvills marriage little while
ago. presume that he has brought
his wife with him TO Sandycroft as
well as the tiger skin"
The colonel laughed. We'll, no.
that's .ust what he hasn't done. IL
seems that they had very bad pas
sage across Channel and that Mrs.
Darvill prefers resting for few days
before going anywhere"
Roden had gotten the information
he desired.
Again the door opened this time TO
admit lvor Penleath.
He was four years older than his
sister Like her he had black hair
and eyes but there the likeness ended.
Instead of beng tall he was rather
under the medium height but his
frame WAS well knit and muscular.
His dark olive complexion. his gilt
tering bla k eyes his thin, curved
nostrils and his small but carefully
curled mustache. caused many people
at first sight TO take him for n Span
lard or an Italian. and that there was
%. -, ~ fTNN nj
in his veins though it might be in
the third or fourth degree even those
WAC knew him best were most inclined
TO believe. Ivor Peneath was one Of
those men who neither forget nor for
give aslight much less an injury, real
or fancied.
We'll. said his uncle to him, have
you finished packing and got every
thing ready for start?"
There was really very little to
pack All my heavy traps will be
sent from my den in town direct to
Liverpool Such things as l have
with me here are all in readiness"
lit is TO be hoped that both you
and Senlac will be able TO give a good
account of yourselves on your return.
BY the way. have you seen the tiger
skin Darvill has been good enough TO
bring meP"
Yes l have seen it" said Ivor
slowly
IL don think ! ever saw n finer
one Must have been an enormous
brute"
Does Darvill say that he shot the
tigor HIMSELF"
Certainly. He would hardly think
OF bringing me pelt that had been
shot by somebody else. But why do
you askP"
FOR no reason in particular except
that one year when we were together
In the north. he gave me the impress