The San Francisco call., 1907-02-10

drizzling rain, when a two-wheeled
trap overlook me, and Mr.. Moyat
Shouted out a gruff> greeting. He
raised the waterproof apron, and /
clambered in by his side.
Been to Sunbridge?" he inquired
cheerfully.
II have been to London" answered.
You haven't been long about It," he
remarked. IT saw YOU on the eight
twenty. didn't I?"
l nodded.
My business was soon over l said.
i've been to Sunbridge,' he told
me. Went over with his Grace. My
girl was talking about you the other
night. Mr.. Ducaine'
''Tndeed?" / answered.
/ started.
Seemed to think he continued,
that things had been growing BIT
rough for you, losing those pupils after
you'd been at the expense OF taking
the Grange, and all that. you know
1T was rather bad luck ] admitted
quietly.
I've been wondering he continued,
with some difiidence, whether you'd
care for bit of work in my ONCE.
just to carry you along till things
it that I should ask you anyway. OF
course. you being college young gem
tleman might not care about 1t, but
there's times when any sort of job
is better than none, eh?''
1T is very kind of you, Mr.. Moyat,"
I answered. and very kind of Miss
Blanche to have thought OF it. A week
ago | shouldn't have hesitated But
within the last few days have had q
sort of offer-I don't know whether
1t will come to anything. but it may.
Might I leave il open for the presentg'
l think that Mr.. Moyat was little
disappointed. He hickcd the cob with
his whip, and looked straight ahead
into the driving mist.
Just as YOU say" he declared. "I
amt particular in want of any one. but
I'm getting TO find my own bookkeep-
ing bit hard, especially now that my
eyes amt what they were. or course
1t would only be thirty -bob-a-woek
job, but / suppose you'd live on that
all right. unless you were thinking Of
getting married. eh?
l laughed derisiveiy.
Married, Mr.. Moyat." ! exclaimed.
why, I'm next door to pauper."
There's such thing" he remarked
thoughtfully, IF ones steady sort OF
chap. and means work as picking up
girl with a bit OF brass now and
then"
Il can assure you, Mr.. Meyat,'' said
as coolly as possible, that anything
of that sort is out of the question so
far as / am concerned. / should never
dream of ever thinking of getting
married till ] had a home of my own
and an income"
He seemed about to say something,
but checked himself. We drove on in
eli We Ia Nil ><
buildings standing a little way back
from the road. He moved his head
toward it.
They tell me Braster Grange is took
after ALL he remarked Mr.. Hull
shaw told me so this morning"
I was very little interested. but was
prepared to welcome any change In
the conversation.
'Do you know who is coming there?'
l asked.
An American lady, I believe, name
of Lessing. / don't know what strang-
ers want coming to such Z place. I'm
sure"
! glanced involuptarily over my
shoulder. Braster Orange was q long
grim pile of buildings, which had been
unoccupied for many years. Between
1t and the sea was nothing but empty
marshland. 1t was one of the bleakest
spots along the coast--to the casual
observer nothing but an arid waste OF
sands in the summer, wilderness OF
desolation In the winter Only those
who have dwelt in those parts are able
to feel the fascination OF that great
empty land, fascination potent
enough, but of slow growth Mr.
Moyst's remark was JUSTIFIED
We drove into his stable yard and
clambered down.
You'll come in and have a biz OF
supper" MIR. Moyat insisted.
hesitated. / felt that ii would be
wiser to refuse. but I wss cold and wet
and the thought of my fireless room
depressed me- SO / was ushered into
the long, low dining room. with its old
hunting prints and black oak furni-
ture, and, best of all, with It's huge log
fire. Mrs. Moyat greeted me with her
usual negative courtesy. ! did not think
that / was a favorite OF hers, bat what
ever her welcome lacked In impfessive-
ness Bianches made up for. She kept
looking at me as though anxious that
] should remember our common secret
More than once was almost sorry that
/ had not let her speak.
You've had swell callers again. she
remarked, as we sat side by side at
supper time. "A carriage from Row
chester was outside your door when /
passed
All, he's good sort is the Duke. ?