Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-03-28
CuApTER VI


as the Wears wife was returning from
some of her parochial ministcrings.
What is wrong with her." she asked
DR.. Sentance, anXiously, as she met him
riding homeward.
''! confess she puzzles me-" he answer
ed. Il sounded the heart tins morning,
and except for extremely weak action, |
can trace no definite signs of maady.'
Il think | will go on to Dinglewood
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 chld 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
r-oun- man, who proceeded to fold his
aims about her and kiss her cheek most
heartily.
well, Aunt Agatha, here am once
again, you see," said a soft, singularly
pleasant voice.
beverley, my dear boy How you
startled me. Oh, dear" and poor Mrs.
Thorngate fairly gasped for L'cath.
Poor Aunt Agatha. What a shame
/ am awfully sorry, dear. | 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 sca.cely 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 tenacr'y of an ivy
plant. He was, after her husband, her
dearest and most treasured possession on
earth. Once inside the cozy dining room
she embraced him warmly.
Let me look at you, darling,' she
sald, holding him off at arms length and
feasting her eyes on his extremely hand
some face, with its dark or0s olive skin,
Clear-cut features and short-cropped
beard "Oh, my dear. l am glad to
see you once more. You Dad 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.
viii very good results. Yolr cold beef
was beyond reproach, my lear aunt
Mrs. Thorngate laughed
How good it is to see you in your
OLD chair" she said, tendery. How |
W 81 Gus was at home
lie will be back in a few Gays, | sup
pose:" Beverley Rochfort observed cas-
ualiy. after having learned the reason
of his uncle being away. To an onooker
III 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 it.
And now you will make up Your mind
fo stay with US, will you not, my dearest!
can assure you we are not very dull
Gown here. now; we have the Duchess of
Marlborough. with the Marq lis Of lverne,
an Lord John Glendurwood at Craig
lands The FraserS are at lrngleWood; |
the Everests settled in Gibson for the
hunting: no end of smart people one
wa and another"
Beverley smiled complacently and |
etrohed his short, silky Jcard, Since
necessity would force him make the
rectory his headquarters for at least
avcrsc to hearing his aunts Lcws.
Il am not surprised they should come |
Eere; it is a good country. l don't |
rnow a better, and have Travelled
through a good many in my 'ime. l sup
rose | can get a sort of mount IN either
Giaston or Montberry?
NO need to go so far smiled Mrs.
I horLga.e. Your uncle has two hunt
ers in the stables, and he Will be lnti-
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 go and nave look at
them. my dear boy? Yor will find Pot
Ger still in the stables; in fact, very
little is changed in the year and half
Vol have been away"
Il don't mind if l do. But where are
you off to-"
Mrs. Thorngate explained her reasons
Tor going to Dinglewood.
Il think | will leave the horses, and
accompany YOU" he said 1T is just as
,yell to resume acquaintance ship with the
fol. around
And so. chatting languldly in his soft,
musical voice. Beverley Eochfort walked
slrOt TE lAe Llu4uS ii4l'S - I'm " " D'si'
lie remembered he had made distinct
5mp1ession on Sheila Fraser when he met
her before, and. although he lad no def
,jte plans in his mind, he felt he should
H. WISE to renew the friendship with this
extremely wealthy young woman.
He let Mrs. Thorngate's cGeery tongue
run on. and was not very >omT unicative
about himself.
Just back from the Cape" he OBJ
served. when his aunt pinned him on
fins point, "and an uncomfortable time
have had of it. Gold mines, indeed
No,e like treadmills. Never worked so
hard in my life. and nothing for it,"
He laughed softly. Aunt Agatha. l
have come home with empty pockets"
4 slight shade passed over Mrs. Thorn
gates face.
..Wc must not let that last, Beverley"
sb. replied; then little more hurriedly,
YOU still have your small Income, of
CourseE"
-. am sorry to say, dear aunt. that
my Income is a thing IF :ie past. |
realized the capital when ! was in Eng
md before. | had absolute reed of the
money. and there was nothing else to do.
thought / told you of this"
Mrs. Thorngate uttered quiet NO,
dear. YOU did not" and somehow the
o,,- ~, ;Stv heforp 1pr She rpoa IL