The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-10-02
CHAPTER ".
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consultations with the elder members
of his firm as to the advisability of a
new and important undertaking, to
which Glynn was entirely opposed,
that he had no time for deliberate
thought respecting Lambert and his
mysterious acquaintance with Deer
ing. Yet the subject was never quite
out of his mind. A vague, unreason-
able anxiety about Elsie haunted him,
and he was strangely eager to return
to Paris.
The earliest spare moment he could
find was devoted to Lady Gethin.
Now then, have a little iced self
ger and milk, it is quite warm this
evening"" said Lady Gethin; and let
us have a long talk-that letter of
yours whetted my curiosity. What in
the world has kept you away so long?
every one has been asking for you!"
Partly business, and partly Curl
osity."
"What about"
" Whereupon Glynn described. his
meeting with Elsie and her father,
not emitting Vincent, the curious con-
trast between Lambert and his
daughter, the temperance of Deer
ing on the scene, his homogeneous &C
Quaintance with Vincent and Lam
bert, and the evident establishment OF
each on recognizing the other. He
only suppressed or softened the cir
cumstances under which he had
known Lambert, and the fact that he
had changed his name. When he
ceased, Lady Gethin, who had listened
with profound attention, exclaimed:
"a very pretty mystery, upon my
word. That Deering is a fend! He
knows something against Lambert,
and he is going to use his knowledge
to help him with the daughter. 1
never liked Deering. He is a smooth
tongued, sneering hypocrite, and has
many queer corners in his life, or l
am much mistaken"
Il never heard anything against
him; indeed, he is rather liked among
men. Even To- I scarcely think he
can be capable of any evil designs
against a girl like Miss Lambert.
What struck me at first was the sort
of fierce, uneasy curiosity he dis
played concerning her. He certainly
admires her very much"
$50 does some n else" returned
Lady Gethin, with a knowing nod. Il
trust and hope that the beautiful
eyes, and lovely voice, and attractive
mystery will not draw you into max
Ing a fool Of Yourself"
But, Lady Gethin!" cried Glynn,
amazed at her penetration and quite
unconscious how much he had be-
trayed, you do not imagine that at
my age I should be so weak as to be
drawn into an entanglement-a mar
riage Of which my Judgment disap-
proves"
Il wouldn't give five minutes pur-
chase for your judgment, Hugh.
Take my advice, don't go back to
Paris, let them manage their mystery
themselves. You will be let in for
something unpleasant and risky
don't go back"
"Oh, I must go back. I promised
Lambert 1 would; besides, I want to
see the play out; and you alarm your
self unnecessarily. I admire Miss
Lambert. I think her as good as she
Is charming, but I am as aveTse to a
marriage with her as you can be.
Moreover, I have a safeguard in her
Indifference, for she treats me with
frank confidence as her fathers old
friend, nothing more"
This is worse and worse" said
Lady Gethin gravely. How do you
know what profound tenderness her
Indifferent airs may mask?"
do you think / have never looked
into any eyes, nor learned their Ian
guage, before l saw Miss Lambert's,
that l should be so mistaken" asked
Glynn laughing.
"Oh, I dare say you are learned
enough in such matters. Pray be
guided by me, put the Partisan cpl
sode out of your head, and make up
your mind to marry that nice piquant
little daughter of Pearson's. I asked
them on purpose to meet you. He
will give her ten thousand pounds,
and he is a rising man; he will be on
the bench in a year or two; they are
people of good family"
MY dear Lady Gethin! I don't
want to marry any one, and so I will
bid you goodnight. A thousand
thanks for your good advice"
Take care" vas her valediction.
The next day brought Glynn a few
lines from Lambert, which struck him
as expressing more uneasiness than
was intended.
Il have no right to ask you to re-
turn if it does not suit you," he
wrote, "but I hope you will. I feel
in need of your counsel. 1 have had
wonderful luck for years, and now
I'm afraid it's turning. Then I am
not as young or strong as 1 used to
be; and one way or another it would
cheer me up a bit to have a talk with
you"
Had Glynn had any hesitation as tc
1<visiting Paris this letter would have
decided him. He sent a few lines in
reply, and then applied himself stead
lily to clear up all business engage
ments as far as possible, to secure a
long holiday.
He called on Deering at his club,
and was told that gentleman was
travelling abroad, and that letters adj
dressed to his town house would be
forwarded. Lady Gethin was not at
home to receive his adieux, but wrote
him a quaint, characteristic line Of