The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-08-30

CHAPTER vi.


Mrs. Thorngats the following afternoon,
Is the vicars wife was returning from
sene ct her parochial ministcTings.
What ID wrong with herr" she asked
Or. Sentance, anxiously, a. she met him
riding hemeward
II confess she puzzles me-" he answer
Cd. II sounded the heart this morning,
and, except for extremely weak action, 1
can trace no definite signs of a malady."
Il think I will go on to Dingfewood
and see her." Mrs. Thorngate said to
herself, as she was alone again. Con-
stance Fraser and she were waym friends.
Il want to see how that child is getting
on, too"
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 / nm once
again, you see," said soft, singularly
pleasant voice.
Beverley, my dear boyI How you
startled mel Oh, dear! 1" and poor Mrs.
Thorngate fairly gasped for breath.
Poor Aunt Agatha What q shame |!
am awfully sorry, dear. thought you
saw me. Come in and sit down, you
dear old thing. Where's Uncle Gus?"
Mrs. Thorngate allowed berself to be
led up to the rectory by the strong arm.
Her surprise was vanishing and only
pleasure remained. Beverley come home
once againi She could scarcely believe
1t. Beverley. that dear, handsome, scape-
grace son Of her dead and gone, yet still
beloved sister, Margaret! Mrs. Thorn
gates chAd-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 cory dining room
she embraced him warmly. t
Let me look at you, darling" she
said. holding him of at arms length and
Teasing her eyes on his extremely hand
some face, with its dark orbs olive skin,
clear-cut features and short-cropped
beard. "Oh, my dearl 1 am glad to
see you once more. You bad creature,
never to have written me line all these
monthsit And now you want something
to eat, and there il nothing decent in the
house."
You win sit down and take your ease.
I have already ransacked. the larder, and
with very good results. Yolr cold beef
was beyond reproach, my lear aunt"
Mrs. Thorngate laughed.
"How good 1t is to see you in your
old chair" she said, tenderly. "How I
wish Gus was at home"
He will be back in few Gays, / sup
pose2" Beverley Rochfort observed cas-
ually, after having learned the reason
Of his uncle being away. To an onlooker
II might easily have been perceived that
the young man had no very great regret
In the rector's absence; but Mrs. Thorn
gate did not observe 1t.
And now you will make up your mind
to stay with us, will you not, my dearest?
! can assure you we are not very dull
down here, now; we have the Duchess of
Marlborough, with the Marquis of Iverne,
and Lord John Glendurwood at Craig
lands. The Frasers are at Dinglewood;
the Everests settled in Glas.sn for the
hunting: no end Of smart people one
way and another"
Beverley smiled complacently and
stroked his short, silky Jeard. Since
necessity would force him 70 make the
rectory his headquarters for at least
some few months, he was not at all
averse to hearing his aunt's Jews.
II am not surprised they should come
here: it Is a good country. don't
know better, and have Travelled
through q good many in my time. l sup
pose can get sort Of mount in either
Giaston or Montberry~
20
1horngate. "Your uncle has two hunt
ers In the stables, and he Will be inf
nitely obliged to any one who will give
them a little exercise, more especially
as he cannot be here to use them himself.
Would you like to 60 and nave a 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 q half
you have been away"
IL don't mind If do. But where are
you of TOT"
Mrs. Thorngate explained her reasons
Tor going to Dinglewood.
II think I will leave the horses, and
accompany you," he said: lit is just as
we'll to resume acquaintance ship with the
folk around"
AAu Do, CAoItiuS III Ills BOIL,
musical voice, Beverley Rochfort walked
through the muddy lanes TO Dlnglewood.
He remembered he had made a distinct
impi ession on Sheila Fraser when he met
her before, and, although he lad no def
mite plans in his mind. he felt he should
be wise to renew the friendship with this
extremely wealthy young woman.
He let Mrs. Thorngate's CHEEKY tongue
run on, and was not very somr unicative
about himself.
"Just back from the Cape" he OBJ
served, when his aunt pinned him on
this point, land an uncomfortable time
/ have had Of 1t. Gold mines, indeed !
Meis like treadmills. Never worked 30
hard In my life. and nothing for It ~
He laughed softly. "Auat Agatha. I
have come home with empty pockets i"
A slight shade passed over Mrs. Thorn
gates face.
I'VE must not let that last, Beverley"
she replied; then a little more hurriedly.
you still have your small iucome. of
course?"
* am sorry to say, dear aunt, that
my income Is thing Of the past. I |
realized the capital when I was in Eng
land before. had absolute need of the
money, and there was nothing else to do.