The Red Cloud chief., 1907-07-12

D away his host was talking to
the servants who had brought
down luncheon. The rest Of the party
were only just In sight a field or two
of.
"Have a glass of sherry before lunch,
ward him.
Nothing to drink. thanks. I'd like
a cigarette IL you have one
Lord Runton produced his case, and
a servant brought them matches. They
both leaned over the gate and watched
the scattered little party slowly com
ing toward them.
"Who Is your friend, Fielding?' Dun
combe asked a little bluntly.
Fellow from New York." Lord Run
ton answered. lies been very decent
20 my brother out there. and Archibald
wrote and asked me to do all we could
for them. The girl Is very handsome.
You'll see her at dinner tonight"
Here for long?"
NO, unfortunately" Lord Runton
answered. Il had very hard work to
get them to come at all. Cicely has
written them three or four times, I
think, but they've always had engage.
mcnts. They're only staying till Mon
day, | think. Very quiet, inoifensive
sort of chap, Fielding, but the girls II
ripper. Hello! Here they are. I'll
Introduce you"
a groom had thrown open the gate
of the field across which they were
looking, and Lady Runton from the
box seat of q small mail phaeton
waved her whip. She drove straight
across the burrows toward them Il little
rccklessly, the groom running behind.
by her side was Il girl with coils OF
deep brown hair and IL thick black veil
worn after the fashion of the travel
ing American.
Just in time, aren't WEI" Lady Run.
ton remarked as she brought the horses
to u standstill. Help me down, Jack,
and look after Miss Fielding, Sill
George. BY the bye, have you two met
YETI"
Duncombe bowed-he was barehead
ed-and held out his hands.
II saw Miss Fielding for q moment
last night" he said, "or, rather, l didn'j
see her. We were introduced, however
What do you think of our maligneI
English weather, Miss Fielding?" 1t
asked.
She raised her veil and looked at hin
deliberately. He had been prepared
for this meeting, II yet it was Will
difficulty that he refrained from d
start. The likeness to the photograph
which even at that moment was in his
pocket, was wonderful. She looked
little older perhaps. There were shad
ows in her face of which there were
10 traces in the picture. And yet the
likeness was wonderful.
To-day at least Is charming" she
said. But. then, l am quite used t.
your climate, you know. / have LIVED
in Europe almost as much as in Amer
lea"
She certainly had no trace of any &c
cent. she spoke a little more slowly
perhaps than most young Englishwo
men, but there was nothing whatevel
in her words or in her pronunciation
of them to suggest a transatlantic or
lgin. She stood by his side, looking
about her with an air of interest, an,
Duncombe began to wonder whether
after all, she was not more beautiful
than the photograph which he hat
treasured SO jealousy. He became con
scious of a desire to keep her by hi
side.
lis your father shooting, Miss Field
1pg?"
She laughed softly.
''You don't know my father, 81
George" she answered. "He hates ex
ercise, detests being out of doors, an
his idea of paradise when he Is ava,
from business is to be in a large hote
where every n speaks English, wher
there are tapes and special edition
and an American bar"
Duncombe laughed.
Then l am afraid Mr.. Fielding wi,
find it rather hard to amuse himsel
down here" he remarked.
"Well, he's discovered the telephone,
she said. Hes spending the mornin
ringing up people all over the countr!
lie was talking to his bankers whe
we came out. Oh, here come the res
OF them. How tired they look, poe
thiugs-especially the baron! Natur
never meant him to tramp over plowe
fields, | am sure. Baron, ! was jus
saying how warm you look"
The baron took off his cap, rave u