Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-12-18
CHAPTER XVII.

1 complete How bright the world
md how fair the future.
The only disagreeable incident mar
ing the utter joy of existence, and
hat only for an instant, was his en-
ounter with Langdon at Mrs. Ather-
ey's pretty fiat in Mount street.
Grenier, endowed by nature with an
retrospective glimpse of 81
aobler character, read him correctly
when he said that Arson would never
condescend to name the intruder in the
presence OF the woman he loved.
But he did ask Il servant who it was
With whom he had just been con-
yersing in the entrance hall, and the
girl said tie gentleman was a Mr..
Lnngdon. No; Mrs. Atherley did not
know him well. He was brought to her
lat home" on previous. Wednesday
by friend
Obviously Evelyn could not have
more than IL passing acquaintance with
the man or she would have recognized
him herself. Her agitation that night
in the park, the terror of Il difficult
situation, was enough to account for
her failure in this respect, nor was
Philip then aware that at her previous
meeting with Lady Morland's son she
entertained a curious suspicion, in
stantly dispelled by his glib manner,
that Langdon was the man who sought
to thrust his 'unwelcome attentions
upon her.
Mount street-how came Mrs. Ather-
ley and her daughter to return to the
precincts of Mayfair? That was lit
tie secret between Philip and Lord
Eanstone
When Evelyn slyiy endeavored to
make her new admirer understand that
there could be no intimacy between Il
millionaire and a young lady who was
enlbarking on professional career
she thought so, he it recorded: this is
no canon of art-hc seemingly disre-
gnrded the hint, but interviewed Lord
Vanstone next morning.
The conversation was stormy Oh one
side and emphatic on the other Philip
had heard sufficient of Mrs. Atherley's
history by .iudicious inquiry to enable
him to place some unpleasant facts bn-
fore his lordship.
When the facts had been thrust
down the aristocratic gorge Arson
turned to pleasanter topics. He in
formed Lord Nanstone, who bore the
title as the third son of marquig,
that his niece's future was more i'm
portant than his lordships dignity.
He must eat mud for her sake, and
willingly withal.
Various firms of solicitors set to
work, and, marvellous to relate. Lord
Vanstone was able to write and inform
his half sister that certain speculations
in which he had invested her fortune
We're turning out well. A cash pay
ment of $4,000 would lie made to her
at once, and she possessed an assured
income of at least G1,500 per annum
during the remainder of her life.
The poor lady had heard these fairy
tales before. Indeed. some such story
Of more gorgeous proportions had con-
verified her consols into waste paper.
But a lawyer, not Lord yanstone's,
sent her Il check for the larger amount
and at a subsequent interview affirmed
the statements made by her unreliable
relative.
So she went back to her caste, and
her caste welcomed her with open
arms, and the dear woman thanked
Providence for the decree that her
daughter might now accept the atten-
tons of any man, no matter how rich
he might be. for she saw the drift of
;s.I,
married to him, surely all their pre-
vious trials might be deemed fortunate.
She little dreamed that imperious
Philip had ordered matters his OWL
way.
1t was not to his thinking that his
bride should come to him from the
genteel obscurity of Mazda Crescent
He would give her Il great position
worthy of the highest in the land, and
it was better for her that he should
WOO and win her from the ranks OF
her order.
1t should not be imagined that he
was hasty IN his decision. To his mind
Evelyn and he We're known to cacl
other since they We're children. 1t was
not by the maynard caprice of chance
that he met her on the night of tho
meteor's fall nor again that he came
to her assistance 4 second time after
the lapse of years.
1t was his mothers work. He wa;
faithful to her memory = she to hel
trust. Never did his confidence WAIVER
On the day that Evelyn consented tt
marry him he showed her his mother;
photograph and told her his belief.
The girls happy tears believed thu
picture.
"a good son makes good husband,
she murmured. Mamma says l have
been a good daughter, and will try tt
be n good Wife. Philip"
Apparently these young people hat
attained the very pinnacle of earthly
happiness. There was no cloud, no OBJ
stacle. All that was best in the worlt
was at their feet.
Some such thought fitted through
Philips active brain once when Evelyn
and he We're discussing the future.
''Of course we will be busy" he said
laughing. "You are such an industri
Gus little woman-wllat? Well. sucl
an industrious tall woman that tn,
days won't be long enough for all yol
will find to do. AS for me, l suppos
/ must try and earn Il peerage, just t,
give you your proper place in society
and then we will grow old gracefully
"Oh. Philip" she cried, placing he
hands on his shoulders, Eve met ono,
rs children for few minutes! Fat
ordained that we should meet again
under strange circumstances. We were
separated for years. Can fate play III
any uncanny trick that will separate
us again!"
well, sweetheart fate, in the shap
Of Vale, is coming for me at 6. Tn
less you wish me to send for my MAJ
and dress here
Sometimes l cannot quite credit III.
good fortune she said softly. "rel
me. dearest, how did you manage t.
live until You We're twenty-five with
out falling in love with some othe
girl"