The Red Cloud chief., 1907-07-05
CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XIII.

Win unseen ana Irresistible forces. l
never seemed to have Il chance. In
plain words, | have failed utterly"
The two men were sitting in a room
impossible of classification. 1t might
have been a study, smoking or
gun room. The walls were adorned
with stays heads and various trophies
of the chase. There were guns and ri.
ties in plenty in a rack by the chimney.
piece, n row Of bookcases along the
north wall, golf clubs, cricket bats and
foils everywhere. A pile of logs ready
for burning stood in the open CRATE,
and magnificent rugs were spread
about the floor. Nowhere was there
the slightest trace of a woman's pres.
ence, for Dunoombe had no sisters, and
his was entirely a bachelor household.
Duncombe himself and Andrew Pei.
ham were seated in great easy chairs
in front of the open window. 1t was
his first fine evening at home, and he
was drinking in great drafts of the
fresh, pure air, fragrant with the per-
fume of roses and great clusters Of
wallfowers. Paris had seemed to him
like n great oven. All the time he had
been half stiiled, and yet he knew very
well that ut a word from Spencer he
would have returned there at al hours
notice. He knew, too. that the home
which lie had loved all his days could
never be quite the same place TO him
again.
Andrew reused himself from rather
a prolonged silence.
You were a brick to go, George he
said. 1t is more than any II else in
the world would have done for me-
Duncombe laughed Il little uneasily.
He knocked the ashes from his pipe
and retlled it slowly.
Andrew he said, Il don't want to
seem Il fraud. | daresay that | might
have gone for you alone, but didn't
His friend smiled family.
"Ah!" he remarked. Il had forgotten
your little i%nfatuation. 1t hasn't worn
off yet, them
mo, nor any signs of it," Duncombe
answered bluntly. It's an odd posi-
ton for a matter of fact person like
myself, isn't it? | tell you, Andrew,
I've really tried TO care for some OF
the girls about here. The place wants
Il mistress, and I'm the tenth baronet
in the direct line. Ones got to think
about these things, you know. I've
tried hard. and I've never even come
near it,"
1t will wear Off" Andrew said. "It
-, d, ,,,,, Oh, ,,n;,r I;ttIn cnnnu a n,ppi
delightful bit of sentiment, George, but
with nothing behind it it can't last"
Perhaps not" Duncombe answered
quietly. "All that know is that it has
shown no signs of wearing off up t
now. 1t was in Paris exactly as it II
thought it would do her the least hi
of good l would start back to Paris OIL
10 the end of the world tonight"
II must readjust my views of you
George" his friend said, with milt
satire. Il always looked upon you a.
fair game for the Norfolk dowager'
with their broods of daughters, but
never contemplated your fixing you
affections upon a little piece of paste
board"
Rot! 1t is the girl herself" Dun
combe declared.
But you have eve seen her"
Duncombe shrugged his shoulders
He said nothing. What was the use
Never seen her! Had she not fouR,
her way into every beautiful place hi
life had knowledge Off
"If you had" Andrew murmured
"Ah, well, the picture is like her!
remember when she was a child. Sh
was always fascinating, always d.
lightful to watch"
Duncombe looked out upon the gal
dens which he loved and sighed.
IF only Spencer would send for IN
20 go back to Paris" he said, with
sigh.
Andrew turned his head.
"You can imagine now" he sale
what | have been suffering. The d'
sire for action sometimes is almo:
maddening. think that the man VIII
sits and waits has the hardest task"
They We're silent for some tim,
smoking steadily. Then Duncombe r,
verted once more to his wanderings.
you remember the story they toll,
me at the cafe, Andrew" he said. 81
was a lie, of course, but was Mis-
Poynton anything of an artist?'
ITO the best Of my belief" Andrey
answered, ''she has never touched
brush or pencil SINCE she left school,"