The Western news., 1907-12-25
?
CHAPTER v.-(Continued.)


of Hollngton place London. In the soli-
tude of his own chamber Mr.. Zeno per-
mitted himself an accurate and intimate
acquaintance with the French language.
little of it as he allowed himself for his
present purposes to know outside.
Meanwhile things were going more
pleasantly in the garden. Angela, with
little twnge 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-
ed her with this message did not help her
much, for she knew it's holowness. The
major rather dreaded, the advent of a
man who wrote books and regarded Aus
tin as a fellow who: would be likely to
know lot of things and expect other
people to know them also
"Oi'd meek wun of the porty meself"
said Fraser, with his own invaluable sang
froid, but olive need up me moind to
go back tomorrow"
omorrow?" said O'Rourke. That's
little sudden, isn't it?"
Il wish you'd come, O'Rourke," said
Maskelyne. ''But Major Butler is
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 matter which had
puzzled him a good deal. How does your
dreadful Tory's niece contrive to be IA
milar with Dobroski, when a mere Home
Ruler like myself is quite too terrible for
the old gentleman? l call him the old
gentleman with no dishrespect," he added,
with his delightful smile. And, of
course, he may be "a 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 l. can
learn, for years. and was stapch friend
to him. She has known him from child
hood, and has great affection and vep-
Grafton for him. 1t is difficult posi-
ton, for he and her uncle are at daggers
now But Dobroski seems to worship
b."
Eyes, can see that" O'Rourke an
swered "a charming girl" he added,
softly, and 'in'so natural. a way that Mas
selyne supposed him to be ignorant of
his own interest In her. There's ro-
inance in the situation, too" he continued,
in lighter tone. Maskelyne, with mere
nod in answer made move in Angela s
direction. No" said O'Rourke, putting
an arm through one of his. "You don't
escape me in that way. have something
to say to you, and l know that you. will
be shifty and evasive and underhanded
in your ways s1until 1 have said it. Let ms
speak, old fellow. We shall both bt
..,seasier. l can't tell you what | think ant
feel about that splendid loan of yours
l was really desperate. don't know
what | should have done without it."
VERY WE'LL" said Maskelyne. pressin
his companions arm with gesture o
affection, but speaking very dryly; "it i
over now?'
mo, my friend of outward marble an
inward tenderness it is not over. And
never will be-
"Once for all, O'Rourke. bury that cor
founded thing, and have done with it.
"Well, there, the thing is buried. L
say no more till can pay you back agail
But l suppose you don't forbid me
think of it in the meantime2 1t was til
only kindness in that way I ever had {
ever wanted. | sha'n't forget it that
all And now it's buried"
On the following day O'Rourke took
quiet walk by unknown ways across Il
fields He was born townsnan, and hs
but little love for rural tranQuillities
nature, but he was already weary of Il
work of the session, and was glad to G
cape to fresh air and silence for awhil
One gentle little hill after another DIRE
him on. He would see what lay beyol
this gentle eminence, and then he won
see what lay beyond the next, and in tn
fashion he sauntered on until he came
sight Of most exaggeratedly castellat
house of gray stone standing in the mid
of q dark pine woods. The building w
of a moderate size, but its peaks and tt
rets dwarfed it. and from a little d
tance made it look at least as much like
child's toy as a dwelling house for re
people This was the chateau of Route
and the present residence of Major b,
ler.
The wanderer, who had fairly go
taste in most things, stood for nome
to smile at this preposterous edifce. a
then walked on again. 1t was a day
cloudy. soft..light. and the air. was W.
derfully sweet. The woods were in
freshness of their greenery, and the da
hues of the contrasting pines set off
lighter foliage. A few hundred yards
fore him lay the first link Of "a ri,
which went winding I'm htxoupded zigz
until it lost itself to View behind
shoulder of wood-clad hill. - =
AHe strolled down to the river side, a
Mere cast himself upon the grass, a
stared up at the soft motionless clou