The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-10-24
VIXEN
80
BY Miss M. E. Brdddon.

gowan, those two are the best dan
GERS in the room-it's a thousand to
nothing on them"
The final clash of tho hand brought
the captain and his parlner to anchor
at the end of the gallery which opened
through an archway into a semi-cir
cular FARMHOUSE. In the middle of
this archway, looking at the dancers,
stood a figure at sight of which Violet
Tempests heart gave a great leap, and
then stood still.
! 1t was Roderick Vawdrey. He was
standing alone, listlessly contemplate
ing the ballroom, with much less life
and expression in his face than was
in the pictured faces on the walls.
THAT was a very nice waltz
thanks" said Vixen, giving the cap
tain little courtesy.
shall take you back to Mrs. Tenn
pest?"
Roderick had seen her by this time,
and was coming towards her with a
singularly grave and distant counte-
nance, she thought; not at all Rorie
of old times. But of course that was
over and done with She must never
call him Rorie any more, not even in
her own thoughts. A sharp, sudden
memory thrilled her, as they stood
face to face in that brilliant gallery
the memory of their last meeting in
the darkened room on the day of her
fathers funeral
DO In sold RodariNx
with a gush of originality. Your
mamma is here, suppose?"
Haven't you seen herr"
mo, we've only just come"
I'VE" no doubt meant the Dovedale
party, of which Mr.. Vawdrey was
henceforth a part.
Il did not know you were to be here,
or even that you were in England"
I'VE only came home yesterday. or
should have called at the Abbey
House We have been coming home,
or talking about it, for the last three
weeks. A few days ago the duchess
took it into her head that she ought
to be at Lady Almira's wedding
there's some kind of relationship, you
know, between the Ashbournes and
the Southminsters-so we put on a
squirt, and here we are"
Il am very glad" said Vixen. not
knowing very well what to say; and
then seeing Captain Carmichael stand
ing stiffly at her side, with an ag-
grieved expression of countenance.
she faltered: II beg your pardon; /
don't think you have ever met Mr..
vawdrey. Captain Carmichael-Mr.
Vawdrey."
Both gentlemen acknowledged the
introduction with the stiffest and chill
Hest of bows; aud then the captain Of
fered Violet h arm, and she, having
no excuse for refusing it, submitted
quietly to be taken away from her old
friend. Roderick made no attempt to
detain her.
The change In him could hardly
have been more marked, Vixen
thought She had seen Roderick spin
ming round with his cousin. He was a
good waltzer, but not a graceful one
He steered his way well, and went
with a strong swing that covered a
great deal of ground, but there was a
want of finish. Lady Mabel looked as
il she had been carried away by a
maelstrom. And now people began to
move towards the supper-rooms, of
which there were two, luxuriously ar
ranged with numerous round tables.
In the doorway Vixen met Roderick
Vawdrey.
Haven't you kept single dance for
me, violet?" he asked.
'You didn't ask me to keep one"
Didn't 1? Perhaps / was afraid of
Captain Carmichaels displeasure. Ee
would have objected. no doubt"
why should he object, unless /
broke an engagement to him."
Would he not? Are you actually
free to be asked by any one? If had
known that two hours ago! And now
suppose your program is full. Yes.
to the very last gallop; for which. of
course, you won't stop. But there's to
be an extra waltz presently. You must
give me that"
She said neither yes nor no, and he
put her hand through his arm, and led
her up ths room. The band struck up
waltz with fine swing in 1t.
Now for the old three-time," said
Roderick; and they were sailing
smoothly over the polished floor. with
all the fair pictured faces, the Grim
son draperies, the sad Madonnas,
Dutch Doors, Italian temples, and hills,
and skies, circling round them like the
figures in a kaleidoscope.
do you remember our boy-and-girl
waltzes in the hall at the Abbey
House?" asked Rorie.
Happily for Vixen, her face was so
turned that he could not see the quive.
of her lips, the sudden look of absolute
pain that paled her cheeks.
Il am not likely to forget any part
of my childhood" she answered, grave
ly. ut was the one happy period of
my life"
You don't expect me to believe that
tine last two years have been alto
gether unhappy"
You may believe what you like;
you, who knew my father, ought to
know"
The dear squirrel do you think am
likely to undervalue him, or to forget
your loss? No, Violet. no. But there
are compensations. l heard OF you at
Brighton. You were very happy there.
were you not?"
Il liked Brighton pretty well. And
1 had Arion there all the while There
are some capital rides on the Downs"
Eyes, and you had agreeable friends
there"
yes, we knew good many pleas
ant people, and went to a great many
concerts. l heard all the good singers
ever so many times"
They went on till the end of the
waltz, and then walked slowly round
the room, glancing at the pictures -
they went by. The duchess was not
in sight.
1.-The dear old kennels!" said Vixen;
ST have never seen them Since-Since