The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-10-10
CHAPTER /.

d-ey came, gun in hand, after a long
days rabbit shooting.
81 wonder whether I'm too late to
catch herr" speculated Roderick, shit
ing his bag from one shoulder to the
other shes no erd of fun"
Mr.. Vawdrey lad not waited more
than ten minutes when there came the
thud of hoofs upon the soft track, a
fash of gray in the distance, some
thing flying over those forky branches
sprawling across the way, then a half
sweet, half-shrill call, like bird. at
which the keepers children scattered
themselves like brood OF scared
chickens, and now a rush, and gray
pony shooting suddenly into the air
and coming down on the other side OF
the gate, as if he were new kind OF
skyrocket.
What do you think of that, Rorie? -
cried the shrill, sweet voice OF the
gray pony's rider-"a clean jump. eh 2
I'm ashamed of you, Vixen" said
Roderick
She was a slim little thing, in a
short Lincoln-green habit. She had a
small, pale face. brown eyes that
sparkIed with life and mischief, and a
ripping mass of reddish-auburn hair
falling down her back under coquet-
fish little felt hat.
And you're overdue at Oxford, too,
aren't your" cried Vixen, laughing;
you're always due somewhere-never
in the right place. But whether you
are due or not, you're coming up to
the stables with me to give Titmouse
his apples, and then you're coming to
dine with us on your last tight at
home. / insist upon it; papa insists;
mamma insists-we all insist"
MY last night at home, Vix," he
said, remonstrantly; II really ought to
dine with my mother"
Mamma" cried Vixen, half an
hour later, flinging aside tapestry
portiere and bouncing into the draw
ing-room, here's Roderick; and he's
come to dinner, and you must excuse
his shooting dress, please; I'm sure
pa will"
Certainly, my dear Violet" replied
gentle voice from the fire-lit dim
ness near the velvet-curtained hearth.
"Of course / am always glad to see
Mr.. Vawdrey when your papa asks
him. Where did you meet the squire,
Rcderick?"
Upon my word. Mrs. Tempest" fall
tered Rorie, coming slowly forward in
to the rudy glow. Il feel quite awfully
ashamed of myself; I've been rabbit
shooting and I'm most horrid object.
1t wasn't the squire asked me. 1t
was Vixen"
ut was Ro,ie's last night. you see
mamma" apologized Vixen, land
knew you and papa would like him to
come"
Vixen made a pirouette on her neat
little morocco-toed shoes and whisked
herself out of the room, leaving Roder
ick vawdrey to make the best of his
existence for the next twenty minutes
with the two women he always found
1t most ciflcult to get on with, Mrs
Tempest and Miss McCroke.
The logs broke into cracking
blaze just at this moment and lighted
up that luxurious hearth and the two
figures beside it.
1t was the prettiest thing imagin
able il the way of a drawing-room
that spacious, low-ceiled chamber in
the Abbey House.
Il think I'll go to the gentlemen's
room and make myself decent before
the second bell rings" he said finally
DO" assented Mrs. Tempest; and
the young man fled.
He had only time to scramble
feeling very doubtful as to the parting
of his short, crisp hair when the gong
doomed out it's friendly summons. The
gentlemen's room opened out from the
hall. Mr.. Tempest was standing in
front of the log fire, pulling Vixen's
auburn hair. The girl had put on a
picturesque brown velvet frock. A
scarlet sash was tied loosely around
her willowy waist and scarlet ribbor
acid back the loose masses of hel
bright hair.
"A study in red and brown" though
Rorie, as the fire glow lit up the pic
ture of the squire in his hunring-dres.
and the girl in her warm velvet gown
''Rorie Is going up tomorrow-not IL
q balloon. but to Magdalen College
lie CD tel,
I made him come to dinner" explained
Vixen, presently. Il hope 1 didn't de-
wrong"
"Rorie knows he's always welcome
The filberts, bloomy purple grapes
and rudy pippins and yellow William
pears had gone their rounds-all home
produce-and had been admired ant
praised, when the butler came in will
. letter on a salver and brought it
with mufied football and solemn
visage, as of one who carried dealt
warrant, to Roderick Vawdrey.
MY mother" he faltered.
1t was a large and handsome lettel
with big red seal.
May H." asked Rorie. with a trou
bled visage, and having received hi
host and hostess assent, broke thu
seal
Dear Roderick-Is II quite kind o
you to absent yourself on this, you
last night at home? / feel very SURE
that this will find you at the Able.
House, and / send the brougham at ;
venture. Be good enough to come
home at once. The Dovedales arrived
at Ashbourne quite unexpectedly thi.
afternoon and are dining with me OF
purpose to see you before you go bacl
to Oxford. If your own good feeling
did not urge you to spend this las
evening with me, / wonder that MI
and Mrs. Tempest were not Hn'
enough to suggest to you which wa,
your duty lay. Yours, anxiously
Jane Vawdrey."
Roderick crumpled the letter witt
an angry look. That fling at the TEN
pests hit him hard. Why was it tina
his mother was always so ready to fin