Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-09-12
CHAPTER XIX.

If Fraser had been given to the analy-
sis of his own spiritual symptoms, he
might have been little surprised to dis
cover how aromatic and tonic a draught
he had imbibed in learning to hate
O'Rourke.
-"Tve bit of news" he said one day
To Maskelyne. Maybe yell be able to
guess why l bring it. O'Rourke's going
to be married"
Yes" said Maskelyne, quietly. Fra
ser's bit of news was like stab to him,
but he was not the sort of man to make
a show of his pain.
Hes engaged to a friend Of yours"
said Fraser. 1T was you that introduced
him TO her"
L think not" returned Maskelyne.
'.'Ye did. though" cried Fraser. Il got
the news from Mrs. Farley, and she got
1T from the lady herself"
Il introduced O'Rourke to an Ameri-
can lady here" said Maskelyne, rising
from his seat involuntarily-"a Mrs.
Spry."
That's what I'm telling ye" said Fra
ser They're going to be married. Mas
keIyue sat down again without word.
Hector O'Rourke is going to be married
10 the Mrs. Spry to whom you introduced
him a month or two ago. There's no sort
tof humbug or nonsense about it, for it's
"a fact"
Il can hardly believe it." returned
Maskelyne.
~Ye don't seem to be woildly delight
ed" said Fraser, ''after all. l thought
ye'd skip like a young he goat upon
the mountains"
II am very much obliged to you, in
deed" Maskelyne answered. II will go
and see O'Rourke," he added, with an
air of sudden decision and awakening.
WELL" said Fraser, rubbing his hands
and beaming. "the interview ought to be
a pleasant one. I'll not keep ye from it
moment. I'll say good-morning."
The two shook hands on the pavement
In front of the hotel, and Fraser stood
there to watch Maskelyne as he stepped
into a cab and drove away.
Now" said Fraser, nodding and smil-
ting to himself, that's not moy oydoyal of
au ardent lover. But there's spoke num-
Der nine in your wheel, Hector, me boy
and there's another or two In the course
of manufacture"
Maskelyne wandered about In his own
nome made labyrinth until he had quite
made up his mind that there was no
way out of 1t, or through it. But finally
ne packed up a portmanteau, took the
sEsSaI train and carried his cobwebs to
Brusseis There they were just as strong
and unbeatable as ever, and even when,
"a day or two later. he carried them to
Janenue, they seemed to bind him in like
strands of steel. But being actually at
Japenne, he found that he had added a
new perpleIity to the old ones. He was
still as far as ever from seeing bis way
TO Houfoy, but he saw quite clearly that
it was impossible not to go.
The day was inclining toward Its close
and there was a sense OF ease In the
wide fields to which he was not alto
zrtber insensible, foolishly broken up and
down In spirit as he was. The fields
xv-rs more inviting than the road In many
WAYS. not least perhaps, because they
Offered fewer chances Of encounter.
Sauntering ia this downcast and irres-
ojufe mood, he found himself suddenly
charged by a troop of half a dozen dogs,
who all leaped and bayed about him,
with demonstra tons of welcome. Follow
snx them, a gun under his arm, appeared
the ma jor, and behind the major an at
tendant, who bore the dead bodies Of a
pair Of well-grown foxes.
"Hillo" cried the major cheerily, while
vet a hundred yards away. How are
-vou old feIlowf Upon my word, I'm glad
a. see you. How's O'RourkeT
He vas In health when | saw him
aast- said Maskelyne. on whose nerves
th. mention Of bis wicked rival grated