The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-03-21
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 a 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
brougham, all have been bought by him.
He has perfectly reveled in the choosing
of them, and has perforce dragged the re-
luctant Vera up and down to town, aid
ed manfuly by Griselda, now his wife,
who has also been reveling, 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, deluging 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 leapug 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 a resounding knock, startle her
out of her contemplated repose.
And now there is a little quick rush
through the hall, springing step up the
staircase, the rustic of slken skirts in
the ante-room beyond, a voice that makes
/ h
emily Mrs. Peyton, looking supremely
happy, and, therefore, charming, fings
herself into her sisters arms.
"0h, | 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. "Graee 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, felt | should see you
or die"
"It's selfish, know, but I'm so glad to
have you. Let me take of your furs.
What delicious cOatl You hadn't that
when was down with you, eh?"
"No. It's 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 ! want
to tell you"
"Seaton? To come out such a day as
this to talk of Seaton! But why1 II
must be something very serious" says
Vera, changing color perceptibly.
Vera, | cannot help regarding us-yOu
! -,
fellow, II must have been a blow to lose
everything in one fell swOop, And yet
what more could we have done than what
we did do? To the half Of our kingdom
we offered him, but, as you know, he
would none Of usr
81 know all that. We have discussed
it thousand times"
''The face Is, Seat0n is leaving Eng and
forever, and he has desire, longing be
cannot subdue, and. I'm sure. a most
natural one. to see his old home before
he goes"
"Weny says Vera, eoldly.
"Well," in exactly the same tone, with
little mockery thrown in, that's the
whole Of It, He wants to get last look
at the old place before leaving il for
ever. At least. that is how he puts It
Can he come? that is the question.
really think il would be only decent il
you were to drop him a line and ask him
1t would be the most graceful thing. Al
all events"
An hour later Griselda drives back Il
the Friars with the coveted note from
Vera to Seaton in her hand.
Ito he eonfiuned