Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-01-10

CHAPTER VI.


Mrs. Thorngate the following afternoon,
as the wears wife was returning from
some of her parochial ministcrings-
What is wrong with her?' she asked
DIR. Sentance. anxiously, as SIZE met him
riding homcward.
Il confess she puzzles ne" he answer
cd. II sounded the heart tLis morning,
md, except for extremely weak action, |
can trace no definite signs of malady."
Il think | will go on to Dingewood
and see her." Mrs. Thorngate said to
herself, as she was alone again. Con
stance Fraser and she were warm friends.
4 want to see how that child is getting
on, tco."
She was just passing her own gate as
she thought Of this, and was suddenly
astonished by being confronted by a
young man, who proceeded to fold his
arms about her and kiss her cheek most
heartily.
well, Aunt Agatha, here l am once
again, you see" said a soft, singularly
pleasant voice.
beverley, my dear boy How you
startled me! On, dear" md poor Mrs.
Thorngate fairly gasped for breath.
Poor Aunt Agatha What shame
| am awfully sorry, dear. l thought you
saw me. Come in and sit down, you
GEAR old thing. Where's Uncle Gus?
Mrs. Thorngate allowed herself to be
led VI to the rectory by the strong arm.
Her surprise was vanishing and only
pleasure remained. Beverley come home
once again She could scarcely believe
it. Beverley, that dear, handsome, scape-
grace son of her dead and gone, yet still
beloved sister, Margaret! Mrs. Thorn
gates child-bereft heart CLING to this
young man with the tenacry of an ivy
plant. He was, after her husband, her
dearest and most treasured possession on
earth. Once inside the coy dining room
she embraced him warmly.
Let me look at you, darling, she
SAID. holding him off at arm 5 length and
feaSting her eyes on his extremely hand
some face, with its dark orOs olive skin,
clear-cut features and short-cropped
beard. "Oh, my dear! | am glad to
see you once more. You bad creature,
never to have written me a line all these
months And now you want something
to eat, and there is nothing decent in the
house"
You will sit down and take your ease.
have already ransacked the larder, and
VITA very good results. Yo1r cold beef
was beyond reproach, my lear aunt.
Mrs. Thorngate laughed.
How good it is to see you in your
ola chair" she said, tenderiy. How l
wish Gus was at home
He will be back in a few Gays, l sup
posei" Beverley Rochfort observed cas-
ually after having learned the reason
of his uncle being away. To an onlooker
il might easily have been perceived that
the young man had no very great regret
in the rectors absence; but Mrs. Thorn
gate did not observe it.
And now you will make up your mind
10 stay with us, will you not, my dearest!
! can assure you we are not very duli
down here, now; we nave the Duchess of
Marlborough, with the Marquis of lverne,
and Lord John Glendurwood at Craig
lands The Frasers are at Dinglewood;
the Everests settled in Glaston for the
hunting: no end of smart people one
wa. and another"
Beverley smiled compacently and
stroked his short, silky BEARD. Since
necessity would force him 20 make the
rectory his headquarters for at least
some few months, he was not at all
averse to hearing his aunts Icws.
II am not surprised :hey should come
here it is a good country. l don't
know a better. and l have Travelled
through a good many in my line. sup
pose | can get sort of mount in either
Gaston or Monterrey"
mo need to go so far" smiled Mrs.
IhorEgate Your uncle has two hunt
ers in the stables, and he Will be inf
nitely obliged to any one who will give
them little exercise, more especially
as he cannot be here to use them himself.
Would you like to go and nave n look at
them. my dear boy? You will find Pot
ter still in the stables; in fact, very
little is changed in the year and a half
So2 have been away"
you off to-"
Mrs. Thorngate explained her reasons
Tor going to Dinglewood.
Il think | will leave the horses. and
accompany you" he said; lit is just as
we'll to resume acquaintance ship with the
fol- around"
And so, chatting languidly in his soft,
musical voice, Beverley Hochfort walked
through the muddy lanes 20 Dlnglewood.
He remembered he had made a distinct
impl ession on Sheila Fraser when lie met
her before and, although he lad no def
3ite plans in his mind, he felt he should
hc wise to renew the friendship with this
extremely wealthy young woman.
%, W.
run on. and was not very ,omm unicative
about himself.
Just back from the Cape" he OBJ
served, when his aunt pinned him on
this point, "and an uncomfortable time
have had of it. Gold mines, indeed
More like treadmills. Never worked so
hare in my life. and nothing for it y
He laughed softly. Aunt Agatha. |
have come home with empty pockets :"
\ slight shade passed over Mrs. Thorn
gates face.
we must not let that last. Beverley. y
she replied then a little more hurriedly,
VOC still have your small ii come, of
oourse?"
= am sorry TO say, dear aXnt, that
NJ income is a thing Of :he past. |
realized the capital when l was in Eng.
land before. | had absolute reed of the
money, and there was nothing else to do
i thought l told you of this
Mrs. Thorngate uttered quiet NO
dear, you did not and somehow the
Lame grew misty before ler. She recall
Ell how hard her sister had struggled to
keep this small amount Of money safe
for her boy. Beverley's Indifferent tone
Jared on her 4 little, but she was Toe
fond of him TO let that 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
il.
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
ga 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
lin through disagreeable aud awkward