The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-08-31


at was my ward who kept me away"
he said, as though he had offered the
most natural explanation in the world,
and one that she would instantly under
stand. ''She is a most exigent young
woman, and holds me as perfect slave.
She insisted upon my taking her out;
and, as the poor girl has so little pleas
ure, am obliged to indulge her. 1t is
not my wish for her to go into society. l
like her to retain her own individuality"
Lady Arlington frightened her lips
with indignation. How coolly he offered
his reason for failing her! She looked
quickly round. They were in a deserted
part of the room. She placed her hand
on his arm and looked into his eyes.
do you love this girl?" she asked,
quickly. She saw his face change, the
hard lines melt. He seemed almost
boy again-more like the old Vernon
YES" he answered, simply, with
wonderful note of tenderness in his voice.
She is the only being have in the world
to love!"
Lady Arlington felt her heart tighten
as if steel band were closing round it.
And so would you" he added, ''if you
knew her. She is so willful and yet so
lovable, impetuous and yet bewitching
in her sudden repentances. l should so
much like you to be her friend"
Lady Arnington's lips trenbled.
you will excuse me-" she said, slowly,
"but l fear that am not interested in
girls"
The man gazed at her with an odd, re-
gretful expression. How you have
changed" he said simply.
when it comes to speak of, change"
she said, "look at home frst.'
Two days later, in Bond street shop,
she saw this girl with Wyndham Man
ners. Her face wore a subdued look of
quiet rapture which Lady Arlington
could read as book 1t was plain that
she loved this man, and she probably re.
garded Edward Vernon morei in the light
of father.
Lady Arnington's heart rejoiced.
What if her love should 60 unsatisfed?
His would also. Presently he would
suffer what she was suffering now. When
next Lady Arlington spoke to Vernon
she mentioned having seen his ward, and
in whose company.
''She is beyond my control" he said.
81 have tried to do my best for her; but
it is mothers love she lacks, womans
care she wants.
II forbade her to know this man
when first discovered that he had forced
his acquaintance upon her at a hotel. l
am going down to the Midlands-to
Birmingham-on business which can
not put off. But when l return in a few
days, shall take her out of London.
She has chaperon companion, but her
influence evidently counts for nothing"
Again the bitter feeling of jealousy
came back to Lady Arlington.
Two mornings later she was at Vic
toria station. She had decided that she
would leave London, and go on the con-
tinent before Edward Vernon returned.
Filled with dreary thoughts, she
vaguely observed a mans form before
her at the booking office. 1t was not
until she heard him ask for two tickets to
Paris that she recognized Wyndham
Manners.
AS she turned away from the station
she wondered who would be Wyndham
Manners companion. He had apparent
ly given up his pursuit of Vernon's ward
Of
She caught her breath sharply. Her
intuition told her that she had hit upon
the truth. Edward Vernon was away,
and Wyndham Manners was inducing the
girl to elope with him.
She tried to dismiss the idea. Then
feeling of momentary triumph came to
her. That girl away. Edward would be
free-perhaps to turn to her! She would
postpone indefinitely her visit to the con-
tinent.
And then a sudden wave of revulsion
at her own selfish calculations swept
over her. She heard Wyndham Man
ners inquire about the night train. There
was yet time to save this girl from utter
ruin-if she took action at once.
She wondered at which Birmingham
hotel Vernon was staying, and decided
to wire to the six principal ones, warn
ing Edward that she feared his ward
was in peril An hour later she got a
reply:
"Am starting for London at once"
She glanced at the clock. He would be
here at g. That would be time enough.
She stayed quietly at home that night.
Somehow she knew that he would come
to her. And about 9 80 o'clock he called
The careworn face looked sad and dis
pirited yet there was relief upon it.
Cecile Arlington went forward to greet
him.
"Were you in timer" she asked. "Were
my suspicious right?"
He nodded.
81 don't know how you guessed it,"
he said "But found the girl almost at
the point of departure. Thank heaven,
l was able to prevent that. l stripped
the villain who had stolen her fancy of
his heroic guise, and made her shudder
at the devil she had wrongly worshiped
as a god. And now" he added, looking
at her with the old tenderness in his eyes,
II want you in the future to help me
guard this difficult charge!"
She glanced up at him with puzzled
eyes.