The morning call., 1895-03-03
[Continaed.l

Continued.
The lady pursued more leisurely prog
ress. Swinging her hat in her hand, she
made her way through the tangled wood
back to the high road, and turned toward
Mr.. Primes farm. She went slowly along,
thinking, perhaps, of the attractive young
fellow she had left behind her, wondering,
perhaps, why she had promised to meet
him again. She did not know why, for
there was sure to happen at that last meet
ing the one thing which she did not, she
supposed, wish to happen. However, a
promise is promise. She heard the sound
of wheels behind her, and, turning, found
the farmers springcart hard on her heels.
The farmer was driving, and by his. side
sat niceEooking girl dressed in the ex-
treme OF fashion. On the back seat was q
young man in very light suit, with a fine
check pattern, and q new pair of brown
leather shoes. The cart pulled up.
Eve can make room for ye, miss" said
old Mr.. Prune.
Nettie Wallace jumped up and stood
with her foot on the step. Willie Prime
jumped down and effected her transfer to
the back seat. Agatha climbed up beside
the farmer and stretched her hand back to
greet Willie. Willie took it rather timidly.
He did not quite "savvy' (as he expressed
it to himself); his 6ancees friend was very
simply attired, infinitely more simply than
Nettie herself. Nettie had told him that
her friend was "off and on" Ia vague and
rather obscure qualification of the state
ment) in the same line as herself-namely,
court and higb-class 'dressmaking. Yet
there appeared a difference between Nettie
and her friend.
Anybody else arrived by the tramp
asked Agatha.
"a visitor for the court. A good-Iooking
gentleman, wasn't he, Willie?'
Nettie was an elegant creature, and, but
for the gentleman" and that slight but
ineradicable twang that clings like NessuS'
shirt to the cockney. all effort and all edu-
cation Notwithstanding Gt will even last
three generations, and is audible, perhaps,
now and then in the House of Lords), her
speech was correct and even dainty in its
prim nicely.
"Ah!" said Agatha.
"His names Sutton" said Willie "Mr.
Charles-young Mr.. Merceron-told me so
when he was talking to me on the plat
form"
''You know young Mr.. Merceron p, asked
Agatha.
''Why. they were boys together" inter
rupted the old farmer, who made little of
the refinements OF speech. Why in his
youth no one from the lord to the laborer
spoke grammar in the country. Used to
larn TO swim together in the Pool didn't
you, Willie?"
- must have a dip there tomorrow, "
cried Willie and Agatha wondered what
time he would choose. "And I'll take you
there, Nettie. Ever been yet?''
"No. They they say it's haunted, don t
they, Willie?''
"Thats nonsense" said Willie. London
makes g man skeptical. The old farmer
His mother had seen poor Agatha Merce-
rom this was before the farmer was born
q little while before-and the shock had
come nigh to being the most serious to him.
The whole countryside knew 1t.
"Why do you call it nonsense, Mr..
Primer" asked Agatha.
ooh, don't know. Miss"
miss Brown Willie, " said Nettie.
Miss Brown. Anyway, we needn't go
the time the ghost comes"
II should certainly avoid that" laughed
Agatha,
I'll have my swim in the evening"
Agatha frowned It would be partcu-
Iarly inconvenienti if Willie Prime took his
swim in the evening.
''Oh, don't, Willie,' cried Nettie "She-
she might do you some harm
Willie was hard TO persuade. He was
not above liking TO appear daredevil; and
the discussion was still raging when they
reached the farm. The two girls went up
stairs to the little rooms which they occu-
pied. Agatha turned into hers and Nettie
Wallace followed her.
Your Willie is very NICE" sa id Agatha,
sitting on her bed.
Nettie smiled with pleasure.
'And now, that you've other company, I
shall CO."
You're going, Miss?"
Not Miss"
Nettie laughed.
81 forget sometimes" +" she said.
'Wen, you must remember Just over to-
morrow. ] shall go next day. must meet
my father in London"
Nettie offered no opposition. On the
contrary, she appeared rather relieved.
'Ncttie, did you like Nr. Sutton's
looRs?" asked Agatha. after n pause.
Hes TOO black and blue for my taste" p"
answered Nettie.
Willie Prime was red and yellow
"Blue? Oh, You mean his cheeks?"
Yes. But he's a handsome gentleman,
all the same; and you should have seen
his luggage. Such a dressing bag-cost
ESQ, / dare say
"Oh, dear me p' said Agatha eyes, Net
tie, shall go the day after tomorrow"
''Mr. Merceron asked to be introduced to
me, " said Nettie proudly. "And he asked
where you were-he said he'd seen you at
the window"
"Did he ?'' said Agatha, negligently, and
Nettie, finding the conversation beginning
to flag, retired to her own room.
Agatha sat moment longer on the bed.
What a very deceitful young man %
she exclaimed at last. 81 must be very
strict secret, indeed. Well, L suppose
should be"
CHAPTER ".
Mr.. Vansittart Merceron was not quite
sure that Victor Sutton had any business
to call him 'Merceron." He was nearly
twenty years older than Victor, and a man