The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

time. l lE
"You Mr.. peverlll! I'm surprised to
see YOU" she said coldly a. ne held ous
his hand.
He was quite unprepared for this re-
ceptlon, and for the moment i,o had
nothing very clear to say In answer.
Tho lady went on:
After the disturbance you made here
last night should have thought you
would have considered II IN better taste
not TO call here a,gain-for some time, at
any rate"
.i1'm afraid I don't quite understand
what you mean by disturbance, Mrs.
Brown" said he quietly, wondering what
strange things had happened to make
these very friendly people so rigid
"Oh, really, Mr. Deverill, don't
think you can be quite so obtuse as
you pretend" said she with an arti-
flcIal little laugh. "You forced your
self into my daughters presence, spolts
to her In such manner that she spent
the rest OF the evening in tears, and
caused the carly breakup OF the party.
II that is not q disturbance I don't
think / know how TO define one"
1T was nothing I said that made
Maggie cry.'' said Deverlll, quickly
I'm not nnswerablc for what my uncle
may have said, either TO you or to her."
Mrs. Brown drew herself up. She
grace, into one Of the low seats in which
her still pretty figure looked Its best,
but had chosen one OF the taller
straighter chairs, In which she could sit
upright with suggestion OF being url-
willing to detain him.
"sr Wifred," she said icIly, would
never say anything to hurt womans
feelings, I'm quite sure"
More and more amazed, Deverill
4 a. o,,I la M n
swcr to this. He felt much relieved
when the door opened and the Major
came in, with welcome as warm as his
wife's reception had been cold.
''Ah. now this is pleasant surprise,
cried he, holding out his hand and SAX
ing that OF his guest in such a grip
that the young man WINGED. II had
rather notion. do you know. Deverili,
last night, when you went away. that
things were not quite right between you
and Maggie. But now that 800
Really, Hugh. ! don't think you know
what you're talking about. There's
nothing between Mr.. Deverl and OUR
daughter. as you SO strangely put II.
Maggie was much displeased at the way
in which Mr.. Deverill behaved to her
last night as she told me herself And
l think, though It's rather difficult
thing to have to say. that 1t would be
his visits until he understands that Mag
gle does not wish for any mora scenes
like that OF last night"
The Major stared at his wife OPEN
mouthed. But as Deyerill ke2t hta eyesi
fixed steadily, not upon him, bur upon
Mrs Brown, that lady was not able TO
give him any OF the little telesraphlc
messages without which her clun'sler
husband always felt very much at sea-
1 "a r,
creditable to her he would not believe;
stiil-he would have liked to know
And then there was another matter
which required explanation. Maggie mao
threatened to reproach his uncle with
playing the spy at the fiat, and she haa
even taken the daring course OF jumping
into the same compartment Of the train
with him on the evening OF that mem ~.
orable visit. Had she carried put her
threat? And IL so. what had been the
result? Sir Iyilfred, for all his professed
chiyalry, could be very NASTY upon
occasion to any member OF the fair sex
who incurred his displeasure. How had
he treated the audacious Maggie?
Deverill was still aaking himself
these questions. without being able 10 %
decide to call upon his uncle himself
for an answer which the worthy baronet
would probably not have given, when.
canterlng through the park one after
noon. after q ride down to Richmond.
he refined in his horse instlnctively, IN
amazement and something like horror, as
he saw. driving down the road south
ward towards Hyde Park Corner, a smart
victoria containing two ladies'. one Of
whom he recognized as Maggie
She saw him. he was almost sure; but
she turned at once to ner companion
and made no sign. The carriage whirled
past. rounded the corner and drove down
the south side OF the park. while Dew
erill, utterly {, nfounded. re,a:,'nol near
the Achilles statue. wondering whether he
could believe his eyes
But the park in October is not so
full as to allow of the possibility Of
mistake; and. sick at heart, Deverill
waited In the expectation that the car
riage would pass him again, and con-
firm his first impression. y
Although he had not been very near
the railing when the victoria pass,d. he
had received !. distinct impression Of a
smart turnout, not a hired carriage with
down-trodden horse and a coachmaH
with ill-fitting livery, but the sort OF
carriage he would have passed with an
instinctively approving eye. II 1t had not
contained Maggie.
He told himpelf that there was nothing
for him to worry hia head about: the
girl no doubt had friends who took he.
out with them. and perhaps she had moi
seen him after ALL.
Butsthere remained an impression upor
his mind, ugly and vivid, that Maggie
had been dressed better than over. ant
that she had grown red ana then white
while he looked at her.
He heard wheels again; he turned his
horses head, and there, a little way Off
he saw the victoria 1t had stopped
and Maggie-yes. Maggie herself, in he,
pretty fawn cloth costume and with &
beautiful boa and muff-was getting ou
of 1t.
He drew sigh oflrellet and canterec
to meet her; for she had turned in hi.
direction; she knew him; she was comint
| to speak to him.
In a very few seconds he had come
up to her, sprung Oft his horse and wa!
ihnldine ont his hand with tho loYe-ligh