, 1906-06-20
HESPER
By MI GARLAND
Copyright. 1908, by Homlin Garland
tCoNTINUED.l

lII ltlllltil. L Spt oOi'' AIN u "
drag on her. He's been trying to get
her, oh, Il long time"
Raymond's voice was calm as he ask
ed, what is his business?"
Lawyer. He's rich too. II wants
US both to come over to the Kellys' to
dinner. | don't want to go. Dc your
shes the captain" answered Ray
mond. Il reckon we'd better spruce
up a bit"
at makes me tired" the boy went on.
AZ wanted her to marry you, and then
we could all live out here"
A half hour later Ann knocked. "Is
any one mt home?'
Raymond flung open the door. eve
are all at home"
III introduced Peabody, who stood
by her side. and the two men shook
hands rather coldly while she said to
Raymond: "Can you take care of Mr..
Peabody for the night, and will you
come over to dinner? YOu need have
no more scruples, now that Woo is
with us"
At the dinner table Ann studied the
two men with highly amused interest.
Peabody, easy, assured and calmly toll
Grant. did the talking, while Raymond
listened. IA little %su!lenly it seemed to
Ann. The New Yorker was most ad-
mirable in his consideration for Mrs.
Kelly and his interest in everything
about him, AMI yet he did not stir the
one he hoped to please. He had always
-. q. lou, - nj xrnc non
%spicuously so here on the mountain top.
Peabody did not attempt to conceal
his intimate relationship with Ann, and
every tone of mis- voice when addressing
her was torture to Raymond, who be-
gan to talk ut last i'll self defense, adj
dressing himself to Mrs. Kelly as his
hostess, leaving Ann free to listen I'M
reservedly to her eastern suitor. The
girl understood this mood in Rob, and
it touched her.
As they all re-entered the bungalow
Peabody rubbed his hands together in
delight. by Jove, this is something
like! This chimney carries me back
to my hunting lodge in the Maine
woods" He was in h midst of a
SlOIN Alt1 Il hllOCh at lHt NitOi ar
nounced II visitor.
"Come in shouted Raymond, and
Munro entered, entirely ut his ease.
graceful. %iocose. making no account of
the looks of surprise ON the faces of
Raymond and his guests.
"Remain where you are.' he called.
''The house is entirely surrounded and
no nonunion laborer will be allowed to
escape
Raymond mechanically gave him Il
chair. while Kelly nodded curtly. Ann
bowed and said, Good evening. Cap
tain Munro"
Peabody alone smiled. ".Ah. you
were my gnide up the hill! My guard
as well as guide. | take it."
I'D rather have been your eXecn-
%tioner,"
For what reasOng'
Had | known you We're coming to
get the queen Of the peak Your blood
had stained the heather
.DUu heavens. Wll;lt ill escape! ALI
/ quite safe now" lie asked of Kelly.
This fool.ng over, they took seats,
and the conversation ran to the pros
poets OF the camp, and Peabody, with
a feeling that Kelly was the man of
richest experience, persuaded him to
tell something of his wonderful career
us Il trailer of golden pathways.
Raymond sat in silence, While Ann
RWoke to a delicious excitement in the
situation. Before her sat three very
direct and forceful lovers regarding
on.I, ,4Ia,. ill., ti.nr. ;,cti,,at with
hate, yet masking it, pretending to
honor and good will while bitter jeal-
Ousy ragged beneath. She provoked
Munro to the most audacious sayings
merely to see Peabody stare, and she
flung an appealing word at Raymond
now and again as If valuing his opin-
ion above all others, though he made
but curt answers, returning TO his fire,
mHstifed by her gayety and by her
subtlety of byplay. Munro, so far from
being depressed BY Peabody's pres
ence. was carried quite beyond his
usual self, and his reckless compliments
had Il keen edge. In the end Ann re-
GREETED her encouragement of his au-
dacity.
Raymond's guests rose at last, and
Ann and Peabody went away together.
This cut deeper than all else, and
Louis. who took Il very pessimistic view
of the whole affair, did not comfort
him. Shell go back with him. l can
see that" he said. "And she'll want
me to go, too, but l won't"
Munro went away outwardly %jocular,
but inwardly sadder than he had ever