Middletown transcript., 1904-01-16
A GREAT PHILANTHROPIST

humanity and kindness in the world! she
added more gently.
Why did you not come to me? You
had my address!
Come to you! Custance echoed scorn-
fully. She did not say more, but for tie
first time Nugent looked as if she had
pierced the armour Of his self control, for
he bit his lip. Oh, know now where |
am! she exclaimed directly afterwards,
with evident relief. You need not come
any further!
You are as grateful as all your sex! he
remarked, with cynical sneer. Well,
some day you shall pay me betterl There
will come time when l sha'n't have to
ask for your kisses, Custance--you will
give them to me. But-he bent and
looked into her eyes-I shall always be
ready.
Nugent raised his cap and, turning on
his heel, crashed the undergrowth Of the
wood. Custance felt thankful when he
had gone. 1t seemed to her like some
evil fate that he should own the next
estate, and, as she hurried home, she cog.
itated whether she should tell Mrs. Stand
ard the whole story of her acquaintance
with Thorn Nugent. A dread of being
disbelieved, engeDdered by her rough ex-
perience of the world, held her back;
but she also remembered that her en-
ployer had hitherto been so charitable
that she would not be likely to think
evil.
By the time the girl walked into the
drswing-room, she had screwed up her
courage to tell her story and implore Mrs.
Standard to believe that she had been an
innocent victim. But she found the old
lady in flutter of excitement over news
of her own.
My son is coming down tomorrow, she
informed Custance. He says the heat in
London is too much for him, and he is
going to stay some days.
I am very glad! replied Custance cor
daily, seeing the old lady's delight. 1t
would be unfair to ask her attention for
my worries now, she reflected. She can
think of nothing but Mr.. Standards ar
rival. Twill tell her some other time
perhaps.
CHAPTER w
The girls curiosity to meet Godfrey
Standard was largely tempered with ner-
vousness. She was afraid lest he should
find some cause of dissatisfaction in her
either that she was too young, or not
sufficiently experienced in illness, for
Mrs. Standard was always more or less Of
an invalid. In spite of that lady's asser-
tions to the contrary, Custance pictured
him like John Standard and fancied that
stern face scrutinising her and finding her
sadly wanting. She had seen no likeness
of Godfrey Standard, so she had only her
own imagination to guide her; and, as the
day wore on, each hour made the mental
presentment more forbidding and Gus
tance more apprehensive.
Godfrey would arrive in time for din
ner, and the girl heard the carriage drive
off to meet him as she was changing her
gown. She had gone to dress early,
thinking that she would be ready in case
she were wanted; but, when she had ar
rayed herself in the plain black frock,
which left her arms bare to the elbows
and was opened to show her firm white
throat, she decided not to 60 down to the
drawing room where Mrs. Standard would
probably receive her son until they had
had time to talk to each other little.
/ know what will do, she determined
Il will 60 out into the garden. 1t is
quite warm, and Mrs. Standard will know
where I am and can call me from the
window if she wants me. lean pick my
self a button-hole too, in honor Of Mr..
Godfrey's presence.
Custance gave queer little smile. 1t
was partly her own restlessness which
was driving her out, but as she wandered
about the great pleasure garden which
lay round the house, and enjoyed the
beauty Of the quiet evening, she felt glad
that she had gone. A bush OF white
Scotch roses which had fowered early
caught her attention, and she picked a
cluster and fastened it into the breast of
her sombre gown. She had strayed round
TO the side of the mansion and had not
heard the carriage return, but the stable |
clock striking seven made her start and |
reused her te the fact that she had been
lettering longer than she had intended.
Mr.. Standard must have been here for |
Custance thought, retracing |
her steps. I suppose had better 60 in.
As she emerged from the shrubbery on
70 the smooth lawn which lay beneath i
.he drawing-room windows, some one
stepped out on to the balcony and, walk |
ing leisurely down the steps, came to
meet her. He was young man in even
ing dress, with closely cropped fair
head, and pleasant good-looking face.
He was rather big fellow altogether and |
walked with the grace and ease Of perfect |
health and training, but he was so en-
tirely different to what Custance had |
pictured Mr.. Standard to be that she felt |
surprised.
Miss Madison? he asked courteously,
holding out his hand. My mother asked |
me to call you in; she thinks it unwise for
you to stay out later 60 early in the year.
Ought you not to have had shawl he
added, with kindly consideration that
made Custance look up at him with in
.tinctive liking.
His was very pleasant face, she de-
,ided - with the gray eyes under the |
broad forehead and the firm square chin.
He had thick soft moustache, which |
vas some shades lighter than his hair
md more golden in hue; and when he |
smiled, which he did frequently, he
showed a pleasant gleam of white teeth.