Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-03-05
CHAPTER XVII.
A LOYAL Heart.

MedUNHiit, a 6uDtISI sCSHes yet al
most as exciting to the persons con-
cerned, was enacted elsewhere.
Lady Frances had been dancing with
a schoolboy cousin, a little younger
than herself, and very much devoted
10 her. All the time she was conscious
Of the presence OF dark. somber figure
that lounged with folded arms against
the wall Of the room and that reused
itself presently to wander away into
the conservatory, where oriental lamps
cleaned softly among the spreading
palms.
Gus" said Lady Frances, abruptly
will you take me into the conserva-
tory?"
Delighted" said the boy, who was
an Etonian, and had, as everybody said,
quite charming manners. 1.-THE very
thing ! was longing for, but I thought
you might not care about It,"
81 am going to do very rude thing,
said Frances. with most bewitching
smile. 'T am going to ask you to take
me there and to leave me for little
while want to speak to Col. Van
brugh, II can manage it"
"Ohw The Etonian was evidently at
loss. "Of course I'll do anything you
wish, but can't save you the trouble
know Lancelot very we'll and If you
want to know about him"
81 don't want to hear about him
ever again" Then she remembered
her promise to her mother and pulled
herself up. 81 want to speak to Col.
Vanbrugh himself that is ALI If you
don't want to take me, Gus, I will go
back to mother"
But Of course | will take you, said
Gus, greatly wondering why this ex-
plosion of wrath had descended upon
him, for Lady Frances was generally
serene enough. Come this way. Don't
you see the old duffCr under that
clump of palms?"
Lady Frances detached her arm an
grily from his and gazed on him with
unspeakable wrath
"Old duffer, indeed" she CALCULATED
at length. why Col Vanbrugh is one
of the most distinguished men in the
service and he is not at all old Really.
Gus, you schoolboys are very vulgar
She walked away with her pretty
brown head in the air and Gus was
left to whistle softly to himself and to
wonder how it was that a brown-faced
colonel with hair that was actually
turning gray, could inspire enthu siasm
in the heart of girl like Lady Frances.
Roger Vanbrugh was not in a So
ciable mood. He had seated himself in
a basket chair in a secluded corner Of
the FARMHOUSE and was wishing him
self back in his study at Aldersleigh,
when he saw the little figure of his
old friends daughter approaching him,
with outstretched hands and a smile
kpon her lips. He started up and gave
her an answering smile as he shook
hands.
why are you alone? l saw you
dancing just now"
yes. with Augustus Alymer. he IL
the door. | saw YOU here and wanted
to come and speak to you"
THAT was very kind of you" said
Col. Vanbrugh, in the grave, benignant
tones that he reserved for Frances Ally
mer and one or two young favorites,
to whom he had something of a father
ly feeling 81 have not seen you for a
long time. Will you sit down here?
SO you have left school and are quite
grown up, are you not?"
Il am not nearly so grown-up as
Constance" said Lady Frances, with a
smile.
mo. one would certainly think that
Constance was some years your senior"
"She is about Lancelot's age" she
constrained herself to bring Lancelot's
name into conversation.
yes. You know that Lancelot is in
London now?"
I'll know" she faltered. How
quietly he spoke Was it possible that
he did not take Lancelot's departure at
all to hearth"
L ndu nopeu IHdt ne WOulu coIne
home for the shooting, but he seemed
to prefer staying in London"
"You must miss him." said Frances,
clasping and unclasping her nervous,
little hands together and looking anx-
iously into his face.
"Oh, little, we have not been much
together Of late years and we had, per-
haps, scarcely got used to each other
when he went away"
"Then you don't mind? You are not
unhappy? 1t is not as people say
that he ran away from home Against
our wishes and that you will never
speak to him again?"
Col vanbruehs dark face changed
color A light came into his eyes and
his brows contracted little.
us that what people say?' he ex-
As IL involuntary; then he
folded his arms and turned away his
face.