Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-02-09
CHAPTER VII.

Lady Marlow's evenings were a
ways crowded, for she was Il very pc
ular little parsonage. She was II
wife Of a vfscount, rich. almost your
n extremely good natured.
She was a little woman. with n plea
ant countenancc. a pair of bright eye
which saw half way through II brio
wall, and Il tongue sometimes appa
Hngiy frank and candid. She stoO
just inside the drawing room. recei'
ing her guests, and she gave Sir JoI
dan her hand and II smile.
Very good of you 10 come" sh
said, as h made ready TO receive tn
next guest. You have had an excitin
night, | hear, and your fame is goin
the round OF the room"
sir Jordan bowed and smiled wit
polite gratitude for the pleasant littl
speech, and made his way into til
crowd. stopping now and again to ex
change a o with one and another, h
made the circuit of the crowded room
n was returning to the door to tax,
his departure. when a young girl en-
tered.
n was a very pretty girl. tall, fair
with daTs-brown eyes, bright and brim
ming with mierriment one moment, sof,
and melting the next, Her name was
Audrey Hope; she was eighteen. just
out, an heiress, and as the irreveren1
said, Lady Marlow's last and best
lot; for she was an orphan and under
the care of Lord and Lady NARROW,
who Were her guardians.
She was chattering away about
Hamburg, Mont Blanc and Rome and
the rest OF it to the admirin- court
when Sir Jordan came up with his
bland smile and his sereaely composed
fact. n she stopped suddenly, the
brightness fed from her eyes. and she
became for the moment suddenly
grave. Bur it was only for Il mo-
ment: the next she seemed to have re-
covered. from the temporary restraint
and held cut her hand to him, with a
nod.
How do you do. Sir .Tordnn?" she
said, as he bent over her hand. Il did
not expect to see you here. I thought
sou "outu be LOO UuSN. - .
THE House rose earlier than we ex-
pected," he said. Have you enjoyed
your trip"
The others fell back to allow the two
talk, for Sir Jordan and beautiful
Audrey Hope were old friends-or
ought to have been, for the estate
which Audrey had inherited adjoined
the Lynne property, and the Lynnes
and the Hopes had been neighbors for
generations.
sob, yes" she said, and she began
to tell him of her travels, but, some
how, some of the brightness had gone
put Of her voice, and she looked down
1T the ground rather than at his face.
Sir Jordan cTcred iler his arm after
minute or two. and she accepted it,
md allowed him to lead her out of the
crowd to a seat in a recess. thereby
vast discomfort and envy in
many a manly breast.
He talked about the weather, and
the persons who passed them, a great
deal about her ns On the continent,
and a little. a very little, about him
self. But all the while Audrey seemed
to be listening absent-mindedly, and
quite suddenly she said:
Have you heard anything of--of
Neville, Sir Jordan" and as she put
the question her eyes dropped and the
rich color came into her face, making
it look lovelier than ever.
"Tm sorry to say that I have not
lately he replied. in a sad and regret
full tone, just the one an affectionate,
long-suffering man who had been sorely
tried by a scapegrace brother should
use.
The color died slowly away from
Audrey Hopes cheeks, and she stifed
a sigh. a genuine one.
when did you hear last:' she said.
"and what? You know we were such
old friends. your brother and I. Sir
Jordan. We used to play together
when we were little children, and even
after he came home from Elton. and
and-I can " thing of the Grange
this was he name of the country
house which belonged to this lucky
young woman-.without thinking of
Neville"
1T is very natural that you should
remember him." murmured Sir Jordan
sympathetically- 1T would not be like
your kind heart to forget IN cid play
mate. Poor Neville!rr and ne sighed
again.
"Why do you say that?'' she asked.
WAS it bad news YOU heard last.:''
I'm sorry to say that 1t VAS he
replied, graveiy. and with a regretfully
sad and sympathetic voice. poor Ne.
Vile had been disgracing himself. as
usnal-
.Disgracing himself-NevilI4.. she
interrupted Il don't believe it'll
mean-
She stopped and biz her lipS as ii
ashamed of the vehemence she had
been hurried into. Sir Jordan saw that
he had gone rather too far.
Perhaps the term was too strong
he said. I'VE win say that he had col
into one OF his usual scrapes. md lie
had left the place suddenly just before
~ got t!dings Of him; but for that !
should have found him.
II suppose he doesn't know Of his
fathers death:r she said, after a mo
nient or two.
no. I think not : said Jordan.
"Or-or-that-
"Or that my father did not mention
him in his will. said Jordan. NJ
and 1 particularly wish that he should