The Red Cloud chief., 1897-01-01
VII.
My engagement with Edith wa.

4 INV NV nv NAlG lN'CN hoDc WI y
covering the lost diamond. and when
| told Sir Edmund my reasons
for desrairing. he did not attempt to
conceal his satisfaction with regard
to my determination.
"a man should never be dependent
on his wife. IL must necessarily DO
n source of humiliation to him; and
no irau suffers humiliation without
in tine loosing his own self-respect.
That will never. | hope, be your loss,
Bernard. Poor girl. it will be n
great grief to her; for though she
has known you but a little while,
she has found in you a great deal 10
admire and love. and her affection IS
so tenacious that | doubt II she viii
ever cease to love you"
| have purposely abstained from
dwelling upon my love affairs, for II
/ entered into them at all, my feelings
would lead me to dilate upon the
delights of my brief wooing. to the
exclusion Of graver matters which
form the subject of this story. For
the same reason ] shall pass ovor thu
bitter grief Of our parting. l wili
only say that Edith's last words
awakened courage in my sinking
heart.
could form no satisfactory theory
with regard to thor Geat Hesper rob-
berry. but ] was disposed to regard
Van Hoeck as the least culpable
agent concerned in it.
1t Is impossible to tell how tho
robbery affected this mysterious
a As have said, during the In
vestigation he sat perfectly motion
less and perfectly silent. His face
wore the inscrutable expression Of u
death-mask.
Sir Edmund had no sympathy with
him after learning from me the par
ticulars relating to the adventures
OF the morning.
When we entered the library from
the dining-room, where our inter-
view had taken place. we found Van
Hoeck sitting where we had left him.
al have ordered the carriage to be
at the door in half an hour, Mr.. Van
HOeck," said the baronet ''Be good
enough to make your arrangements
for departure by that time.
Van Hoeck inclined his head.
al shall be glad If you will redeem
your o U at an early date" the
baronet added sternly.
Van Hoeck put his hand in his
pocket, drew out a purse, and ex-
tended it. l took it, seeing the
baronet's repugnance. and placed it
on the table.
/ accompanied Van Hoeck to
Southampton. Neither OF us spoke
on the way-indeed, / had not heard
a word pass his lips since we parted
in the early morning.
took "a for him at q hotel,
and when the servant who lead us to
it was gone. ! said
IL am going to leave you. Van
Hoeck."
A gesture OF Indifference was his
only reply.
Have you nothing to say--no en-
PLANTATION TO Offer" l asked.
What do you mean?-speak plain
ly," he said.
al saw you discussing with Brace
what should be done with the case that
held the diamond before he secreted
it,"
'If you know that we were discuss
ing that, you know all. II Is useless
to make an explanation that you
would not believe. l have nothing
to say"
He CROPPED his way to a chair and
threw himself into it.
l put a packet OF notes on the table,
and told him that il he had need Of
further help he might write to me,
addressing his letters to the care OF
Sir Edmund. Then | left him.
had a vague idea of purchasing
q partnership In some business where
| could find active employment. and
with that view ! took lodgings In
London, and began to look about me.
/ had been engaged in this pursuit
about a week when l received q let
ter from Sir Edmund.
al enclose" no wrote. "a cutting
from n OF the weekly papers. Vine
growing. as IL is here described,
seems to be the very thing that
should suit a man OF your disposition
and taste; ii would suit me. IL | were
Thirty years younger than / am. AS
it is, nothing would please me better
than to see you q prosperous fruit
farmer.
That Edith might have some-
thing to look forward to, l have pro-
posed that our next summer holiday
trip should be to San Diego. She
thinks she would find California no.
tells insupportable. Perhaps you
will! be able to offer something more
acceptable than hotel accommoda-
tions. In any case. my dear fellow.
you can give me no NOR acceptable
testimony of your affection than in
availing yourself freely and fully Of
my pecuniary assistance"
The cutting referred to vine-grow-
ing and Horticulture in Southern
California; but before ! read a line
OF it l had made up my mind to be
at San Diego to receive Edith and
her father in the