The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-11-27
CHAPTER iIl.-continued.


Jack Lathom, who put this question,
had known Hilda since she was in
short frocks. He was three and TWEEN
ty now-the son Of old James Lathom,
mill owner OF Fclisgarth. Seen in the
d2ylight, there was suggestion of
strength about the rather boyish face,
lazy good humor in the gray eyes,
that made good looks a superiority.
| Only tonight, as he strobe along by
the girls side, there were little
frowning wrinkles in his face.
ooh, we'll. you haven't been near
us for weeks; Stephen was speaking
of it only to-day. What else could
think?"
81 came last night-as far as the
fectory door. that isl he responded.
"Only through the window l saw that
fellow Hur' :. Sol walked back
again to Fellsgarth."
Wasn't that rather foolish thing
to do after coming so far?' with a
rather provoking GOODNESS in her
voice.
Perhaps young Lathom said. curt
w. Anyway, l should probably do
tie same again. l don't like Hume. f"
They turned down short cut from
The church to the rectory, a lane over
hung by trees- their leafless, wind
yer where the misty moonlight
touched them. In the dim light he
caught the white CLEAN of her face,
the soft curve of her cheek against
+, the dusk, the mouth clear-cut for ten
Cerness or scorn. Once as she STUN
tled on the frosty road he put out
his hand quickly to take her arm, but
the girl drew herself away with lit
tie nervous laugh.
give been away from home for a
week or two; I only returned yester-
day. The night before left I came
over here-only you and your brother
were dining at Hume's place. I met
his uncle, Bonholt Hume. who told
ME. He also told me something else"
Jack Iethom paused, as if he ex-
rected her to evince curiosity. If so.
Ne was disappointed.
81 am sorry if you object to our
friendship with Mr.. Hume" she said,
biting her lip and looking straight
before her. Her tones were cold.
Am l TO understand you threaten to
deprive us of yours in consequence?
You have quite a stand-and-deliver air,
as though you were putting a moral
pistol 10 my head
He left the question unanswered.
"If kept away before that, you
know Why" he said. "You know how,
in my disagreement with my father.
your brother sided with him and
seemed to think the worst OF me-"
you are not fair to Stephen" Hilda
c led, quickly. "He thinks as too
think-and surely such old friendship
as ours gives us right to speak
that your fathers wishes are only rea-
sonable."
q didn't come to speak about that
now; and, Hflda. you know l should
never resent anything you might say.
You couldn't be anything but kind.
Only YOUR brother seemed to treat me-
as if were still schoolboy, as II
he were still my tutor"
"And perhaps. on your side, you
we're a little bit hot tempered, Jack"'
Eyes. expect I was a bit hasty,"
he conceded. 'tonly, you see, garbled
version of things had been tod to
him and to my father. Oh, | K;aow
I've been a careless fool and frittered
awav chances, that all your brother
saws on that score is true enough. But
when YOU spoke Of other things-ot
certain misrepresentation that |
know had been deliberately sown to
reach my fathers ears to injure me.
lost my temper. Your brother ac-
certed my word at once, but | was
;ngry tina the needed my denial. I'm
rot a blackguard. anyway"
She glanced at him quickly. Il
should not have needed your denial,
Jack" Hilda cried. impulsively. IF
! had heard the garbled stories you
sresk CT, know you too we'll to have
believed them"
THANK you for saying that" He
nausea: then, "Hilda, you spoke OF
our old friendship just now; because
OF that old friendship 1 want to say
something coming between US, some
thing more than this disagreement
with my father. You haven't been
lust the same. And it vas that feel
ing that stopped me from coming in
last night when l saw that fellow
tIu,ra sitting there"
She frowned impatiently.
You are talking nonsense" She
spoke very distinctly, very coldly.
"Eilda: though I can't prove 1t.
am sure I have Mr.. Philip Hume to
thank for the garbled stories set in
circulation about me to reach my
fathers ears"
"Mr. Hume? Oh, you are wrong
you must be wrong!" she cried.
| He shrugged his shoulders.
| II suppose it's natural you shouldn't
5elieve it.. Hume's always at the rec
tory nowadays, isn't he2" Lathon
could not keep the bitterness out Of
bis voice.
"He is Stephens friend. Why
should he not come here?" she
I, flashed out.