Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-03-22

II must not keep you any longer, Ne
said somewhat stiflly.
Sir John rose also.
Il dare say you are tired; you need
rest. In some ways you look stronger,
in others you look tagged and pulled
down"
at is the result of my Illness" said
Jack. Il am really quite strong"
He paused, standing on the hearth
rug, then suddenly he held out his
hand.
Good night" he said.
Good night"
Sir John allowed him to go to the
door, to touch the handle, before he
spoke.
Then he said, and Jack paused.
'Then we are no further On?"
I'm what way?"
''In respect to the matter over which
we unfortunately disagreed before you
went away"
Jack turned with his hand on the
door.
II have not changed my mind in any
respect" he said gently. Perhaps you
are inclined to take my altered circum-
stances sinto consideration, to modify
your views"
II am getting rather old for modified
ton" answered Sir John suavely.
"And you see no reason for altering
your decision?"
None"
"Then am afraid we are no further
on" he paused. Good night" he
added gently as lie opened the door.
Good night"
Lady Cantourne was meant for hap
piness and a joyous motherhood. She
had had neither; but she went on be-
ing meant" until the end-that Is to
say she was still CHEEKY and capable.
She had thrown an open letter on the
little table at her side-a letter from
Jack Meredith announcing his return
to England and his natural desire to
cali and pay his respects in the course
Of the afternoon.
$50" she had said before she laid
the letter aside, "he is home again-and
he means to carry it through?"
While she still sat there the bell
rang. When Jack Meredith came into
the room she rose to greet him with
smile of welcome.
Before l shake hands," she said,
"tell me if you have been to see your
| father"
81 went last night--almost straight
| from the station. The first person |
spoke to. in London, except cabman."
So she shook hands.
"You know" she said without look
ing at him-indeed. carefully avoiding
doing so-"life is too short to quarrel
with ones father. At least 1t may
prove too short to make it up again
that is the danger"
1.-THE quarrel was not mine," he said.
81 admit that ought to have known
him better. l ought to have spoken
to him before asking Millicent. 1t was
a mistake"
Lady Cantourne looked up suddenly.
"What was a mistaken"
"Not asking his-opinion first"
She turned to the table where his
letter lay and fingered the paper pen
sively.
81 thought, perhaps, that you had
found that the other was mistake
the engagement"
NO" he answered.
"Millicent will be in presently" she
said; "she is out riding"
They talked of his life in Africa, of
his success with the simiacine, Of which
discovery the newspapers were not yet
weary, until the bell was heard In the
basement and thereafter Millicent's
voice in the hall.
Lady Cantourne rose deliberately and
went downstairs to tell her niece that
he was in the drawing room, leaving
him there waiting alone.
Presently the door opened and MILL
cent hurried in. She threw her gloves
and whip-anywhere-o the floor and
ran to him.
ooh, Jackr' she cried.
1t was very prettily done. In its way
it was a poem.
"And, Jack, do you know" she went
on, "all the newspapers have been full
Of you. You are quite celebrity.
And are you really as rich as they
say?"
II think 1 can safely say that / am
not" he answered.
Lady Cantourne left them there for
nearly an hour, in which space Of time
she probably reflected they could build
up as rosy q future as was good for