Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-08-30

| fond of him to let that last.

ASAN Va nm " AGL ludI last
You must have a chat with Gus when
he comes back, and until then, dear, look
upon me as your banker" she said, gent
iy.
Dear Aunt Agatha ~ Beverley MUIR
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
gat1 never doubted it for a moment.
You will be a 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 aud awkward
crises. II must tell you Ill about my
plans tomorrow, Aunt Agatha. Are those
the Lights of Dinglewood? l had an idea
IL was much further away. What a
fine property it is! Miss Fraser is a
lucky young woman. Is she appropriated
yetP'
There is no definite engagement; but
| don't think 1 am far wrong IL / say
Sheila's fancy leans toward Lord John
GlendurwOod. 1 think you met him
wheh you were here before"
A grim look settled on Beverley Roch-
forts handsome face; his lips compressed
themselves into a tight, ugly line
eyes, / know Glendurwood," was all
he ssid; but keen listener might have
detected something hard and strange in
his voice. He is very decided prig,
Aunt Agatha"
Mrs. Thorngate made no reply to this,
Tor, truth to tell, she had a weak spot
in her heart for Lord John, and was one
Of his warmest admirers.
II hate prigs 1 knew one out there
with comprehensive nod backward at
some unnamed bourne-''to whom l took
fancy" Beverley laughed softly. "He
was the surliest chap 1 ever came across,
out what a plucky one! We knocked
against each other pretty often. l felt
sorry for him, somehow; he seemed al
ways so glum. He gave me packet to
bring home to some lawyers here, and
MADE me swear l would honestly deliver
1t. he called himself John Marsh, but
! am quite sure that was not 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. A strange
combination never saw 1t before"
why, that's just what flat child is
like" cried the rector's wife.
what child?"
Miss Fraser's maid, and protege Of
Gus! Such a lovely little creature.
wish 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 Dingiewood
House.
Miss Fraser was dispensing tea to her
grace the Duchess of Marlborough and
one OF two other people. She received
Mrs. Thorngate in the werm, pretty
fashion she always assumed before Jacks
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
fairting fit l did not wait her to go,
but she would do it. Mr. Rochfort,
will you come and sit mere? Dear god
mamma, may l introduce Mr. Beverley
Rochtort to you? He has JUST come back
from foreign parts, and will entertain
you. am sure !"
The duchess moved her arrple skirts
so that Beverley might SIT down. Lord
John was speaking very plalnly and earn
estly-
"sheils," he said, as he drew the girl
apart from the rest for a moment, "hoW
comes that man herep
"What man? Oh, Mr.. Rochfort?
| L l.. 49,.
Stupid Jack, as If you did not know
! that"
81 did not know it, or I should not
have asked the question. J have never
seen him down here before, and l have
never heard Mrs. Thorngate speak of
him"
"Oh, he is her joy and her beloved I
cali him handsome, don't you? But, of
course, no man ever aumires another; l
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 !"
mir. Thorngate has nothing to do
with him. I doubt if he would ever let
HIM Inside his house if he Fnew as much
about him as l do"
Beverley was in the best of spirits.
| lie had carefully noted chat whispered
conference at the fire, just as he had
noted that Lord John Glendurwood did
not vouchsafe him any greeting. He was
much relieved as Sheila came ur to them
and treated him to a smile. He did not
quite understand her expression, but he
studied it well 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 Point it well
and make it more palataole. His voice
was so pleasant, his bearing so grace
| full, and his face so hands )me, that he
Won everybody's heart.
you must come to Craigiands," cried
the duchess, with decision.
Meanwhile Jack Glendu-wood was
striding through the chill February af-
ternCon; a slight frost and rail- of snow
had prevented the meet that morning,
and he felt a trihe bored.
By this time he was at The stables,
and, going in, he examined Sheilas mare
Diane and gave a word of praise to the