Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-27
CHAPTER vi.
An Adventure in the Park.


with me tomorrow night, you know.
1t is very much to be regretted that
you have an engagement, but ! hope
that you will remind him of his to
me-"
II will do so, certainly" Wildred
returned. mot that any reminder
could be needed, for Farnham is one
of your most enthusiastic admirers,
1 should say"
We were vastly polite to each other
during what remained of the converse
ton, far more tremendously so than
we should have been likely to be had
there been any solid liking on either
side under the thin veneer of friendli-
ness.
In a few moments I had got away,
despite Wildred's repeated request that
/ should remain and share his lonely
Christmas dinner with him. Somehow
a mounthful of food taken in that
nouse would have choked me, and l left
with the echo of that awful cry had
heard still ringing in my ears. l half
expected that Farnham might look in
upon me. as Wildred had suggested,
and therefore srent what remained of
the evening, after my return to town,
at the hotel. But he did not come, and
shortly after midnight l threw down
the book in which had been able to
retain no great interest, and went to
bed.
1t was ridiculously early when
woke, and my first conscious thought
was a joyous one, that now only one
day interviewed between me and the call
/ promised to make at Lady Tressi-
dy's.
/ had endeavored to explain to my
own satisfaction the presence of por-
trait which 1 believed to represent Miss
Cunningham at the House by the Lock
There were many ways in which il
~--o.--t-- S4 os4o' P4osuHe-e srs.u
Carson Mildred. 1t might have been
an Academy success which he had pur.
chased. 1t might be even that the re.
semblance was merely one of chance.
Still, try as might to settle the
doubts, which no matter how often dis
carded, invariably came crowding back
to my brain, was already far too deep-
ly plunged into love to remember nv
glimpse of the canvass under the dram
cry with calmness.
Ut course, it would be impossible for
me to refer to it in talking with LADY
Tressidy or Miss CUNNINGHAM. if were
lucky enough to see them On Sunday:
put IN some indirect way | might be
able to induce one of them to mention
It, | could refer to my visit to the
House by the Lock, perhaps, touching
lightly upon my impression of the
striking decorations in the studio. or
smoking-room, and then, if there were
nothing to conceal and Miss Cunning
ham were aware that Mr. Wildred pos
sessed her portrait, it would be very
natural that word or two in regard
to 1t might pass her lips.
AS was on my way down to break
FAST, little after ten, met one of the
bell boys with telegram, which he
had been on the way to bring to nv
door.
1t was long and elaborate message.
and, glancing down to the end of the
seven or eight lines, l read Farnham's
name. / then went back to the begin
ming again.
so sorry not to have seen you yes
terday," the words ran. "Wildred has
come to town, bringing my luggage.
on receipt of wire from me, saving
l have just heard important financial
business calling me to America at once.
Has told me of your visit. Very vexed
can't keep engagement with you to-
night, and that this must after all he
as am leaving Immediately
for Southampton by boat train. Good
bye and good luck to you Will write
you soon from other side, addressing
Savoy Hotel.-Yours, Harvey Farm
ham,"
| cannot say I felt very deep disap-
pointment at the thought that / would |
not see my friend from the States
again. liked him, and had found him |
| pleasant companion, but had it not |
been for the strange and unpleasant
lream which had somehow gifted him
With an artificial Importance in my
mind, should have cherished few re-
,rets Ut his sudden fitting. AS it was.
had curious sense Of uneasiness,
md an inexplicable impression that in
ONE underlined way had done him an
or been careless of his in
erests, though, In reality, was very
ure had done nothing of the kind.
Still, / could not shake off the feeling
nd with an odd restlessness upon me
started almost Immediately after
reakfast for long walk.
For some time went on without
aging very much attention to the di- !
ection ! had taken. but, mechanically.
mad passed along the embankmeut.