The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-02-06

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Everard, interrupted Ardell. ~ fancy
you are aware, my dear Philip, tina
my great wish is 10 see my nephew anC
niece united before die-not only be
cause | am attached to yoa, but boti
and each would then be benefited
equally by what | may be enabled {,
beJueath."
"And desire nothing 80 ardcntly, y
cried Philip, ''as To call her my wife
In fact, | have loved her ever since sh,
came from school to reside here"
~ have suspected il, Philip. ! have
suspected il, returned his uncle, play
ing with the double eyegIass which
hung from his neck. "But, my dear
boy, am not so sure Of her"
al am not without hope, if only nc
one comes between us.r There was a
long pause, each being occupied with
his own hopes and fears for the future.
Suddenly Blount exclaimed. "CouId
one drive from Paddington to Charins
Cross in half an hour, with a minute
or two 50 spareY'
"Ies, if the streets We're not crowded,
and the horse good one Why do
you ask?"
''Oh, ah, only wanted your Opin-
ion. That is, my dear uncle, 1 have
an awful dread of that fellow Everard,
and it's curious, but this morning /
saw note from him saying he was go
ing to start for the continent this even
ing, or some time tomorrow. Could il
be-" he stopped abruptly.
''Be what ," asked Mr.. Ariell, put
ting on his glasses to gaze at the speak
er.
Don't laugh at my jealous fancy,
but-but suppose he persuaded Gwen
toaccompany him ~
''Impossible, sir = was the indignant
answer. "Yo1 show your ignorance OF
my niece by such suspicion"
But, uncle, women are 80 queer and
fiighty, and-and just see how this
wire gives color to my idea Why
need she send it at all? Ii would have
been no great matter if James had gone
20 meet several trains. Was il not cal
culated To keep the whole afternoon
free ? See, there are only three trains
in the day from B, and EveTard
could have met her and started 10y the
mail train for Paris, or God knows
where. He had some power over her.
| heard him say" and ne repeated
the story OF the ball which he had told
Marling in the morning.
At first Mr.. Ardell was indignant
and incredulcus, but as Blount persist
ed and insisted on the wcakness, gulli-
bility and fancifulness of women, e.
pccially young ones, the elder man
grew restless, irritable and clustering.
"Time viii show, sir - cried BlOunt
nj last, looking at the heavy classical
bronze clock over the fireplace 'and
haven't lcft myself too much time to
get to the station by l0:2O. God grant
/ may bring back Gwendolin safe and
sound to you. may exaggerate things,
bat hardly hope 10 find her?'
Nonsense, Philip. | believe you
are out of your mind; but YOU have
made me very uncomfortable" return
ed Mr.. Ardeli ringing the bell. "Come
back as fast a. YOU can. Whistle a
cab for Mr.. Blount," he continued, as
James appeared in answer TO the bell.
''YOu must not agitate yourself too
much, my dear uncle" said BloJnt
rising and feeling some compunction at
having worked up his host To such a
pitch of uneasiness, and he left the
room.
\ hansom already awaited him, and
he was soon rattling toward Padding
ton.
BY this time he had reached a c9ndi-
ton Of mind which induced him to
seek comfort 10y recapitulating his un-
cle's arguments against himself.
Suppose the horrible suspicious prov
ed true Mr. Arlell would certainly
cut of Gwen with 4 shilling-or, per-
haps farthing-possibly all his uncle's
fortune might come to him. II have
always been fond Of her. There's such
Il good style about her, and just lately
she has been - sweet and friendly.
What bright, mischievOus brown eyes
she has. There's no girl in our set fit
to tie her shoes. No, all they money
wouldn't be worth much, at least not
now, if Gwen slipped through my fin
gers. Hullo, the arrival platform.
Cabby, mind what you are about. |
want to meet the l0:20 from R
and its 1917 now.
In few seconds he had alightcd and
was pacing the platform.
The rush and bIstlc of the early
evening trains Were over. The great
station looked gloomy and deserted
very few porters were about and the
10:2) was evidently thing of no i'm
portancc.
Blount paced slowly up and down
revolving the Possibilities of his posi-
tioI.
Gwen was certainly what is called a
girl of spirit. not to say slightly head
strong and there was no saying what 3
young woman of that description might
could or would do. What motive had
she in sending that mysterious tele-
gram, if il were not TO mask her move
ments? 'Here, porter; isn't the 1929
from b behind time ~
"Well, it often is-but it signaled
now sir"
\ few more uneasy, miserable mill
utes and the painting engine was along
side the platform, while the parters
were opening and hanging the doors.
The train was fairly full of better class
'Arrys and 'Arriets who had been
boating, plump mothers with numer-
Gus olive branches returning from cX-
cursions along the river, lover-like
couples of higher grade, eager to
Jump into hansoms Is if fearful of being
behind time men in llaHnels, girls in
muslins and shade hats, for il had been
a glorious summers day. But no sign
of the tall distinguished figure he
sought for 50 feverishly. His keen eyes
searched every carriage and scanned