The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-09-10

dhHV
to keep il II was very damaging evi
dence IT would argue strongly against
me Ia any court of law
Eyes: / believe that is true" Anc
she looked at the trinket with franz
interest
But particularly do not wish Il
have to meet that charge In any couri
OF law. Miss Claiborne
She met his gaze very steadily. ano
her eyes were grave. Then She asked
In much the same tone that she wuult
have used II they had been very old
friends and be had excused himself
for not riding that day or for not going
upon Il hunt or to the theater;
"WhyT
Because ! have pledge TO keel
and work to do. ana II | were forced
TO defend myself from the charge OF
being the false Baron Won klsSel every
thing would be spoiled. You see, IN
fortunately most unfortunately am
not quite without responsibilities, and
| have come down into the mountains
where hope not TO be shot and tossed
over a preclpice until have had time
to watch certain people aud certain
events for little while | tried to
say as much to Captain Claiborne. but
| saw that my story did not impress
him. And now | have said the same
thing to you
He waited, gravely watching her hal
IN hand.
"And have stood here and listened
to you and done exactly what Captain
Claiborne would not wish me TO do I'M
der any circumstances said Shirley.
"You are infinitely kind and gener-
GUS
mo. do not wish you 10 think me
either of those thlngs-of course not,
Her conclusion was abrupt and point
ed
"Then"-
"Then VIII tell you what ! have
not told any one else-that know
very well that you are not the person
who appeared al Bar Harbor three
years ago and palmed himself off az
the Baron Won kissel"
you know it--you are quite sure OF
TT" he asked blankly
Certainly | saw that PERSONAL
Bar Harbor had gone up from New
port for n week. was even AT a tea
where he was quite the lion. and J
am sure you are not the same person.
Her direct manner Of speech. her de
clsiye tone. in which she placed the
matter of his identity on purely prac
Teal and unsentimental plane. gave
him new impression Of her character
but Captain Claiborne"-
He ceased suddenly and she antici
pated the question at which be had
faltered and answered. a little Jelly:
II do moi consider II any Of my busi
ness to NEEDLE in yonr affairs with my
brother He undoubtedly believes you
are the impostor who palmed himself
off at Bar Harbor as the Baron Won
kissel. He was told So"
by NJ Chauvenet"
so he said"
"And Of course he II a capital wit
ness. There is no doubt OF Chauye
nets entire credibility," declared Armi
tage, little airily
Il should say not" said Shirley IN
responsibility Il am quite as sure that
he was not the false baron as am
that YOU were not
Armitage laughed
"That is a little pointed
at was meant 10 be-" said Shirley
sterply at is"-she weighed the word
ridiculous that both Of you should
he here
Thank you for my half! didn't
know he was herel But ! am not
exactly here-l have much safer
place" He swept the blue billed bori-
zon with his hand M Chanvenet
and ! win not shoot at each other 10
the hotel dining room But ! am really
relieved that he has come We have
an Interesting fashion Of running into
each other. II would positively grieye
me 10 be Obliged to wait long for him
He smiled and thrust his hat under
bis arm The sun was dropping behind
HE great western barricade. and chill
wind crept sha ruly over the WILEY