The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-11-04
CHAPTER XXI

Three months have come and gone.
| Great changes have these three months
! brought. They have unhoused Seaton
| DySart and given his inheritance into the
! hands, the most unwilling hands, of his
| cousin. Hands too small to WELD so
| large scepter.
! But Mr.. Peyton has nobly come to her
rescue. 1t is to him that most Of the
! innovations owe their birth. The hand
some landau, the pony trap, the single
! broNgham, all have been bought by him.
| He has perfectly reveled in the choosing
| of II. I'm, and has perforce dragged the re-
| luctant Vera up and down to town, aid
| ed manfully by Griselda, now his wife,
who has also been reyeling to view the
| several carriages, and give her verdict
! thereon.
| To-day is rich in storm and rain. The
| heavens seem TO have opened Down
| from their watery home come the heavy
| drops. deuging the gaunt strawberries
and beating into the sodden earth such
| presumptuous anemoneS and daffodils as
| have dared to show their faces Vera
has just ensconced herself cozily before
| the leaping fire, book in hand, having
| resigned all hope of seeing visitors to-
| day, when the sound of carriage wheels
on the gravel outside the window, the
echo Of resounding knock, startle her
out of her contemplated repose.
And now there is a little quick rush
| through the hall, a springing step up the
staircase. the rustic of silken skirts in
the anteroom beyond, a voice that makes
| Vera start eagerly to her feet, and pres
emily Mrs. Peyton. looking supremacy
| happy, and, therefore, charming, filings
| herself into her sisters arms.
"Oh, | am too glad to be surprised, =
says Vera, fondly.
You're an improvident person." says
Mrs. Peyton, beaming on her from out
| the masses of furs that clothe her dainty
form. Grace telegraphed for US. to help
her with a dinner party that is to come
| off tonight; so come we did. And being
so close to you, l felt | should see you
or die"
| It's selfish. | know. but I'm so glad to
have you. Let me take off your furs
| What a delicious coat, You hadn't that
when | was down with you. chg
No. It's q new one. Tom gave it to
me. He's absurder than ever. But
| haven't braved the elements to talk
about him. 1t is about Seaton l want
to tell YOU
'Seaton? To come out such day as
this to talk of Seaton, But why? 1t
must be something very serious" says
/ Vera, changing color percepribly.
Vera, | cannot help regarding us-you
and meas in part criminals. Poor. dear
| fellow, it must have been a blow to lose
| everything in one fell swOop. And yet
what more could we have done than what
1 We did do? To the half of our kingdom
| we offered him, but, as you know, he
would none Of u.s.
Il know all that. We have discussed
/ il a thousand times"
| The face is, Seaton is leaving Eng and
/ forever, and he has desire a longing he
| cannot subdue and I'm sure. q most
natural one, to see his old home before
| he goes
"Well:" says Vera. coldly.
| We'll" in exactly the same tone, with
a little mockery thrown in. that's the
/ whole of it. He wants to get last look
! st the old place before leaving il for
/ ever. At least, that is how he puts il.
4 Can he come? that is the question. |
really think il would be only decent if
/ you We're to drop him line and ask him.
/ Ii would be the most graceful thing. at
( all events
/ An hour later Griselda drives back to
/ the Friars with the coveted note from
/ Vera to Seaton in her hand.
Go be continuedl