Middletown transcript., 1904-04-23
GEOFFRY's INHERITANCE
fcosrrsuED FROM LAST WEEK.

The next morning Sir Jasper was con-
fined to his room with sharp attack of
eout. and Batty, leaving the doctor and
Jennifer in charge OF the irascible patient,
donned a large shady hat and strolled out
with the old pointer Jock into the woods
that skirted the park on the south side
and led by devious paths to the village.
There was no right of way through this
wood, but Sir Jasper. kind and generous
to his people, never interfered with the
footpath they had made or laid any re-
strictions on its use.
Betty, strolling on, looked as ialr .
maid as fancy could paint-in white, as
usual, with roses at her belt and her
plumed hat shading but not concealing
her lovely face. She was reused from
her meditations by Jacks angry bark, to
see a stranger advancing to meet her,
whom she had no difficulty in recognizing
from Sir Jasper's description as the new
tenant of the Dover House. At his heels
followed a nondesoript kind OF terrier
who, hearing Jocks bark of defiance,
lost no time in preparing for battle and
falling tooth and nail on his adversary,
to Betty's rage and disgust.
Don't be frightened frank kindly
voice said hastily. I'll soon separate the
beggars
And, suiting the action to the word,
Tom Archer-for it was indeed he
choked off his own dog with powerful
hands and captured Jock, who, though
quite as ready and willing to fight, had
neither teeth nor strength to cope with
his adversary.
am sorry brought the brute with
me, Tom said. as he got up and looked
remorsefully at Betty. And perhaps I've
no right to be here myself but the trees
tempted me. come from place where
trees are scarce, and manners too, Pm
afraid.
Betty looked up frankly and laughed !;
and Tom, unable to resist the infection,
laughed too-a happy-go-lucky laugh
which placed them both on a friendly
footing as nothing else could have done.
You are our new neighbor at the Dover
House said Betty, looking up into the
frank brown eyes.
I'm Tom Archer, sure enough! was the
quick reply. And you-you are surely
Miss Hilary with glance OF honest
admiration which even Betty could not
resent.
She inclined her pretty head, and said
hurriedly-
T am afraid you found the Dover House
in bad state. No one has lived there
since my grandmother, Lady Anne Hilary
and-hesitating-it has just gone to ruin.
That's easily mended, was Toms cheer
full reply. But I've queer feeling about
the old place. I don't like to have it
touched, because don't see how it is to
be done without spelling everything.
Miss speaking suddenly and with
a flush on his sunburnt face-I-I wish |
knew what to do before my mother came |!
Perhaps she would like to direct the
alterations herself7 said Betty gently.
She would know best what to do.
That's just the difficulty, announced
Tom, raising his cap and letting the sun
light CLINT on his bonny brown hair She
has lived all her life on farm in South
Africa-or, at least, ever since | can re-
member-and I want everything to be
ready for her just as if she were the
Queen.
Something in the speech touched
Betty's tender little heart.
My father is not well to-day, she said
gently. He suffers terribly from gout
but the attacks never last very long. I'll
ask him to 20 to the Dover House il you
like, and he will speedily see what is best
to be done.
The big broad-shouldered young man
before her gazed on the lovely speaker in
mute surprise.
You would do that for-my mother :?
he interrogated somewhat unstcadily.
Certainly l would, said Betty cheer
fully. 1t is very little thing to do but,
such as it is, I will do it gladly.
Here Jeck, weary Of being held by the
collar, made an abortive spring at the
terrier, thereby creating momentary
diversion.
must 20, said Betty. laughing. Come
up to the Manor, Mr.. Archer, as soon as
my father is better. and we will 60 over
the Dover House and do the best we can.
So saying, and with friendly gesture
of farewell, Betty hurried away with thei
refractory Jock, Tom looking after her
with happy light in his eyes and his cap
raised with the Difference he would have
shown to royalty.
When the last gleam OF her white gown
had disappeared, he whistled to his dog.
I've something to thank you for this
Jim, lie said, looking down at |
the animals shaggy coat; SO | won't
thrash you for fighting without rhyme or
reason. / think we've made friend
bless her heart he added, as the dog,
treasured, trotted by his side. We've
made friend-you and land it sha'n't |
be our fault if we don't keep her
CHAPTER III
In a few days Sir Jasper was sufficiently |
to come downstairs, and. cur
iously enough, the first wish he expressed
was to see his new neighbor Tom Archer.
So, when Betty told him OF her en-
in the wood, he requested her to
write and ask ''the boy" to dinner, add
ing that it showed his good sense to take
the advice of his betters, and not to turn
the old house upside down with new
tangled notions.
So it came to pass that the young mill
lionaire sat down TO dinner with the
Hilarys, and could not help noticing the
faded grandeur and carefully concealed
poverty OF the Manor House. Jennifer's
coat was threadbare, and his masters not
\ n.