Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-02-28

CHAPTER Xxx.


Startled and reused him from his
painful reverie. All the way along
he had been going over the incidents
of the miserable evening-the even
ing which he had looked forward 10
with such keen anticipations! Ana
as he thought over it all he could
scarcely realize what had happened.
a whole evening, and they had only
exchanged few words, and those, on
her part, of the coolest! What was
the meaning Of it? What had he
done that she should treat him so?
Had her father, the earl, been put
ting pressure upon her, and per-
suaded her to give him up? Was snc
so tickle that few days absence
had been sufficient to bring her Tor
getfulness?
When he got to The Chequers he
was not surprised to find the little
Inn wrapped in slumber and darkness
He had not expected Mrs Brown or
the maid 10 sit up for him. Two
o'clock a. m. was to the good folks OF
Santleigh an unearthly hour lie
knocked at the door, gently at first,
then, as no response came, more
loudly. He stood there for some min
utes, FIVE or ten perhaps, but II The
Chequers had been a tomb instead OF
an inn 1t could not have been more
silent
The time was going en-, and the
station was some distance. AS he
stood there in the quiet street the
temptation to give up his journey to
Brittany, give up everything, and re-
main to clear up the trouble with
Norah. assailed him strongly; but be
resisted it with all his mental force.
TO turn back now that he had got Gls
hand t. the pillow and the first far
row cut, would be almost unmanlg.
Norah herself would be the first TO
regret Il, II she not even reproaCh
him; and as for Jack Wesley well,
Cyril could almost hear his cynical
voice girdlng at him for throwing
away the st cnance of winning fame
and fortune.
He knocked again presently, then
as the clcck chimed out the half hour
he resolved to leave his tn ngs u
Mrs. Browns care. Ee would write
TO her from London. After all. ne
could procure his artistic tools and
some clothes when he got to town. II
would be rather awkward travelling
IN dress clothes, but he had an over
coat apd he could keep Il buttoled
over his coat and cleaning shirt front.
There was only just time for HIM to
catch the train, and even II he SUI.
cecded in waking Mrs Brown some
time must elapse before she could get
dressed. Yes, II would be much better
to leave his things and catch his
train. Delay was always dangerous
In his state o. mind, exceed ngly SO.
lie buttoned up his coat. and. with
last glance at the windows of rae
cheduers, went quickly dowa he
street
Events were shaping their course
as they have habit of doing, and In
leaving Sanheigh without seeing Mrs.
Brown. or any person who could tes.
tify to his presence there that morn
Ing, Cyril was but blindly following
the dictates of Fate.
The station was to the left of SAINT
leigh Park, and Cyril left me road and
struck into a bypath. AS he did so
he heard the voices of the VILLAGE
folk coming toward santle,gh. but he
did net stop, and went On his way as
quickly as possible.
The night was gloomy the gloom
that precedes the dawn--and Cyril's
MOOD fully harmonized with t. H.
cry yard he put between him ana
Santleigh Court seemed to length
itself ominously, and his spirits fell
lower and lower as he neared the stu.
ton.
There were no voices to be heard
now, and the stillnes of the we. d
hour was only broken by the shrill
screech of a cornerake He seemed
so utterly alone and solitary in rue
stiffness that twas with start and an
exclamation Of surprise that he saw
man halflying. half.sitting against
stile.
Cyril had almost stumbled over him,
and started back. cycling him alm~st
anSrily. II is unpleasant to be
startled.
The man seemed to be asleep, but
wake him or not. he decided the quss.
ton by slowly rising, and shaking
himself very much as Newfound.
land dog shakes himself when aroused
from short nap.
Why, my good fellow. | nearly
tumbled over YOU"
did you?" said tho man quietly.
Il reckon that would have been as
bad for me as for you"
Cyril started He had heard the
voice before somewhere. but he cou |
not recollect for the moment where.
DO l know you. my friena!'' he
asked. peering at him.
III isn't likely sir" he said iniifar