Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-03-28
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iy.
Dear Aunt Agatha" Beverley mur-
INJURED, pressing her hand. His gratitude
was entirely assumed, since he had set
tied this arrangement in his mind before
he left Port Elizabeth; but Mrs Thorn
ga never doubted it for a moment.
You will be rich man some day,
Beverley, you are so clever. Brains like
yours always succeed"
They certainly have served me very
Well so far" agreed Mr.. Rochfort. There
was a curious smile on his face as he
recalled how often his brains had carried
aim through disagreeable and awkward
crises. Il must tell you I'll about my
plans tomorrow, Aunt Agatha. Are those
the | ghts of Dinglewood? l had an idea
il was much further away. What a
fine property it is. Miss Fraser is
lucky young woman. Is sne appropriated
YETI"
There is no definite engagement; but
| don't think l am far wrong if | say
Shela's fancy leans toward Lord John
Glendurwood. l think yol met him
when you were here before
;. grim look settled on Beverley Roch
forts handsome face his lips compressed
themselves into a tight, ugly line.
les. | know Gendurwood," was all
he said but a keen listener might have
detected something hard AMI strange in
his voice He is a very decided prg,
Aunt Agatha"
Mrs. Thorngate made no reply to this.
Tor, truth to tell, she had a weak spot
how hoo ord TOhp M, raS ono
% his warmest admirers.
~ hate prgs. l knew one out there"
with a comprehensive nod backward at
some unnamed bourne-''to whom l took
fancy" Beverley laughed softly. He
was the suriest chap | ever came across,
out what plucky one! We knocked
against each other pretty often. | felt
sorry for him, somehow he seemed al
ways so glum. He gave me a packet to
bring home to some lawyers here, and
mace me swear | would honestly deliver
it. He called himself John Marsh, but
! am quite sure that was ncc his name.
He must have been a good-looking fellow
when he was younger, with eyes as blue
well, as your large sapphire ring. Aunt
Agatha, and coal-black hair. strange
combination. I never saw it before
why, that's just what tLat child IS
like; cried the rector's wife.
What child?"
Miss Fraser's maid, and a protese of
Gus. Such a lovely little creature. |
visn you could see her, Beverley"
Il never waste my admiration on ser
wants." he said as they reached the low,
wide porch-like entrance of Dnglewood
House.
Miss Fraser was dispensing tea to her
grace the Duchess of Marlborough and
one OF two other people She received
Mrs. Thorngata in the wf rm, pretty
fashion she always assumed before Jack
mother.
'How good of you to come! Dear
mamma will be so pleased to see you
Thanks, she is really better this afternoon
at least | hope so. Oh. she frightened
me terribly when she fell down in that
fairtng fit. | did not want her to go,
but she would do it. Mr.. Rochtort,
will you come and sit lere? Dear god
mamma, may l introduce Mr. Beverley
KocLiort to you? He has just come back
from foreign parts, and vii entertain
you. | am sure !"
The duchess moved her arEle skirts
so that Beverley might SIT down. LORD
John was speaking very plalnly and earn
estly.
"Sheila," he said, as he Drew the girl
apa1t from the rest for a moment, how
comes that man here?
What man? Oh, Mr.. Rochfort?
VIII he is dear Mrs. Thorngate's nephew.
Stupid Jack, as if you did not know
that"
u did not know it, or I should not
have asked the question. J have never
seen him down here before. and | have
never heard Mrs. Thornglte speak of
him"
"Oh, he is her JOY and her beloved. |
cali him handsome, don't you? But of
cou1se, no man ever aumfres another; |
forgot"
whoever he may be, I know him as
one Of the greatest blackguards it has
ever been my lot to meet"
GOOD gracious, Jack, how awful; and
Mr. Thorngate a clergyman, too.'
"Mr. Thorngate has nothing to do
with him. doubt if he would ever let
hln. Inside his house if he Fnew as much
about him as | do
Beverley was in the best Of spirits
He lad carefully noted that whispered
conference at the fire, just as he had
roted that Lord John 'IlendurwOod did
not vouchsafe him any greeting. He was
much relieved as Shela came ur to them
and treated him to a smile. He did not
quite understand her expression, but he
studied it we'll and determined to think
it over. He was a most amusing man:
he could tell an anecdote with just enough
disregard for the truth as to TCint it well
ana make it more palata0le. His voice
was so pleasant, his bearing so grace
full, and his face so hands )ne, that he
wor everybody's heart.
lou must come to Craig,ands," cried
The duchess. with decision.
Meanwhile Jack Glen1u~wood was
stricrng through the chill February af-
teracon; a slight frost and lali of snow
had prevented the meet that morning,
and he felt a trifle bored.
Bv this time he was at 'he stables,
and. going in. he examined Sheila's mare
Diaic and gave a word of praise to the
head groom. As he was sauntering
across the court yard he -an against a
man hurrying in from a side avenue.
which was the servants entrance and
exit from Dinglewood and the village.
What. Downs, you mere. Is Lord
Ivcyn, ill, or what is the Elatter:" he