Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-07-18
Aunt Catherine

You are late" said Hamlyn. "I
have been waiting impatiently for
you"
Am l. reallyT' replied Alice. What
Is the time. thenT'
He pulled at his watch chain me-
chanically, forgetful OF his escapade.
and disclosed the bare swivel He col
ored slightly AS he realized his mis-
take. and felt her eyes upon him, but
answered lightly:
About 20 minutes past 1, 1 fancy"
She was walking round the room.
glancIng at the ponderous looking
books and the papers tied with pink
tape. getting. as she expressed 1t, the
atmosphere" OF the place
ut must be Just lovely to work
here" she said. Everything seems so
old and historic. believe l should
only have to sit here a few hours a
day and should become n lawyer by
breathing the air"
which reminds me-" said Hamlyn.
that I have been breathing air quite
long enough and want lunch. Where
shall we go?'
Alice Valentine hesitated.
Look here" she said at last "I want
To say something to you. You have
been taking me about such a lot, and l
have done nothing for you. feel real
mean | want you 10 let me stand you
lunch today"
lie shook his head laughinCly. "You
forget" he said. that you are nv
guest But | want you to say where
you would like to go"
10 l.
In Piccadilly. where she knew the
prices were runous.
NO" she said; don't let us go
there VIII YOU take me to one of
those little bohemian places YOU told
me Of WHERE YOU get table d'hote
lunch for IL pence should love to
20. II would be Il new experience"
You loo. too smart" Le replied.
glanCing al her admiringly. but tell
You what I viii dove will split the
difference ami 20 To n kind Of semi
fashionable place where you shall see
all sorts ami conditions Of people and
hear band"
once ar twice during lunch. when
conversation Tagged. Hamlyn noticed
again the thoughtful expression on her
face. At last he took the matter up.
Tell me-" he said. what you are
thinking Of"
Il was thinking" she replied slowly.
''of how ! could help some one who has
been very good 10 me-"
Not difficult matter. surely. for
you"
1T is very difficult" she said. "un-
der the circumstances. The person
want TO help Is poor and. think. very
proud"
She was looking down at the table
cloth and studiously avoiding his eyes.
Can l he OF any assistanceg" he
said
You? Why She laughed. Yes,
perhaps YOU can. Will think about it
and let you know"
There was new sympathy in her
voice and manner. and Hamlyn felt a
mad desire TO take her there and then
in his arms and cover her face with
/ kisses.
But there was no opportunity then to
tell her OF his love. Immediately after
/ lunch they were obliged to hurry off to
meet Miss Stafford at matinee, and
Hamlyn had no further chance of n
/ tete-a-tete with Alice, but he arranged
/ satisfactorily a meeting for Monday
/ afternoon. when he determined TO put
! his fate TO the test.
You will not forget" he said at
/ parting. Ito let me help you in the mat
ter You mentioned?"
NO" she replied, with a singular
look on her face; Il will not forget"
! AS Everard walked home he recalled
her tones. her face, the fair. flushed
cheeks; sweet mouth, earnest brows
and eyes of sOftest fire. There was that
In her look which satisfied him.
He was awakened from his reverie
by an urchin inquiring what o'clock II
was. For the second time that day he
mechanically tugged at his watch
chain.
"COnfOund itY' ne exclaimed as he
realized his loss. II never knew that
IT was such n nuisance to be without a
watch. l must get it out first thing on
Monday morning"
The urchin. grasping the situation
ran away. grinning.
On Sunday Hamlyn again bethought
himself of the watch.
II had better study the ticket" he
said. "and see what l shall have tC
pay"
He fumbled In his waistcoat pocket
1t was not therei He tried the others
with the same result. With growing
uneasiness he searched in every pocke'
OF the clothes he had worn on the Sat
urday. but the pawn ticket was not L
be found.
81 must have left II ut my chambers,
he decided at last. at is very careles:
of me. hope my clerk won't find it.
On Monday morning he got up earli
er than usual and drove down to the
Temple In hanson. His clerk haC
already arrived. Hamlyn searched al
over the table carefully. then in all the
drawers. but could not find the ticket
Finally he summoned the clerk.
'Have you moved any papers?" b,
asked rather irritably
''NO, sir; | haven't touched a thing"
"You haven't by any chance found &
ticket, ] suppoSe?" pursued Hamlyn.
mo. sir What kind OF a ticket hav.