Washington State journal. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1907-1911, 1907-12-26
CHAPTER v.-(Co..tinued.)

BtdirS ana tnepe, locked IN nlS own room,
he wrote q letter which was destined for
st. Petersburg, but travelled in the first
instance to the care of one DR.. Brun,
of Hollington place, London. In the soil
tude of his own chamber Mr.. Zeno per-
mitted himself an accurate and intimate
acquaintance with the French language,
little of 1t as he allowed himself for his
present purposes to know outside.
Meanwhile things were going more
pleasantly in the garden. Angela, with
little twinge of conscience, had informed
Austin that Major Butler would be de-
lighted to meet him and had expressed
his great regret that he had been unable
to make the call he had contemplated that
day. The fact that the major had charg-
Cd her with this message did not help her
much, for she knew its hollowness. The
major rather dreaded the advent of u
man who wrote books and regarded Aus
tin As fellow who would be likely to
know a lot of things and expect other
people to know them also.
"Oid meek wun of the porty meself,"
said Fraser, with his own invaluable sang
froid, "but olive need up me moind to
60 back tomorrow"
Sdlu " TSOurk0s 4UAC y
little sudden, isn't it?"
Il wish you'd come, O'Rourke," said
Maskelyne. But Major Butler is a
dreadful Tory, and am not sure that
you'd care to meet each other"
Major Butler might convert me. per-
haps," said O'Rourke. "No. no. Clearly
l am impossible" He spoke with so per-
feet gayety and good humor that he
hurt nobody. But little later he con-
trived to get Maskelyne apart, and to
question him about a matter which had
puzzled him good deal. "How does your
dreadful Tory's niece contrive to be IA
niliar with Dobroski, when a mere Home
Ruler like myself is quite too terrible for
the old gentleman? call him the old
gentleman with no dishrespect," he added.
with his delightful smile. And, of
course, he may be young gentleman.
and still be the lady's uncle, though,
again, he is her guardian, and probably
elderly"
"Dobroski and Miss Buffers father
were dear friends" said Maskelyne re-
peating what he had heard from Angela.
when Dobroski escaped from Siberia
he landed in England without funds or
friends Miss Buffers father found him
out. maintained him, SO far as I can
learn, for years. and was a stanch friend
10 him. She has known him from child
hood. and has great affection and ven
Grafton for him. 1t is difficult posi-
ton, for he and her uncle are at daggers
now. But Dobroski seems to worship
her."
Eyes, can see that" O'Rourke an
swered. "a charming GIRL" he added,
SOFTLY, and in so natural a way that Mas
kelyne supposed him to be ignorant of
his own interest in her. "Theres ro-
nance in the situation, too," he continued,
In lighter tone. Maskelyne. with mere
nod in answer, made a move in Angela 8
direction. "No," said O'Rourke. putting
an arm through one of his. you don't
escape me in that way. l have something
to say to you, and know that you will
be shifty and evasive and undetermined
in your ways until have said it. Let me
speak, old fellow. We shall both be
easier. can't tell you what think and
feel about that splendid loan of yours.
I was really desperate. don't know
what I should have done without it."
"Very WE'LL" said Maskelyne, pressing
his companions arm with a gesture Of
affection, but speaking very dryly; ut Is
over now?"
mo, my friend Of outward marble and
inward tenderness, it Is not over. And it
never will be-"
"Once for all. O'Rourke, bury that con-
founded thing, and have done with it.
"Well, there, the thing is buried. I'll
say no more till can pay you back again.
But I suppose you don't forbid me to
think Of 1t in the meantime? 1t was the
only kindness in that way l ever had or
ever wanted. | sha'n't forget it; that's
all. And now it's buried"
On the following day O'Rourke took a
quiet walk by unknown ways across the
fields. He was born townsnan, and had
but little love for rural tranquillities by
nature, but he was already weary of the
work of the session, and was glad to e.
cape to fresh air and silence for awhile
One gentle little hill after another drew
him on. He would see what lay beyond
this gentle eminence, and then he would
zee what lay beyond the next, and In this
fashion he sauntered on until he came in
sight Of a most exaggeratedly castellated
house Of gray stone standing In the midst
Of q dark pine woods. The building was
of moderate size, but it's peaks and tur.
rets dwarfed it, and from q little dis
lance made it look at least as much like q
ckild's toy as a dwelling house for real
people. This was the chateau of Roufoy
and the present residence of Major But
fer.
The wanderer. who had fairly good
taste in most things, stood for a moment
to smile at this preposterous edifice, and
then walked on again. 1t was a day Of
cloudy soft light, and the air was won
derfully sweet. The woods were in thu
freshness of their greenery, and the darl
hues of the contrasting pines set off the
lighter foliage. A few hundred yards be
fore him lay the first link of a river
which went winding in rounded zigzaa
until 1t lost itself to view behind the
shoulder of a wood-clad hill.
He stroled down to the river side, ant
there cast himself upon The grass, ant
stared up at the soft motionless clouds
The stream ran through narrower banks
than common near where he lay, and kept
up pleasant drowsy gurgle. Listening
to this, he lay there enjoying all the de
lights of leisure after labor in every
fiber of his body, until he fell into light
doze. From this he was awakened by O
rustic and the sound of an execratior
gently breathed. Sitting up he was aware