The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-01-16
CHAPTER XXI.

ulSuI nave DeeQ.
CHAPTER XXI.
Miss Skipwith, though regretful, and
inclined to take dismal view of the
marriage state and its responsibilities
under the existing dispensation, was
altogether friendly.
There were plenty of spare bedrooms
at the manor-house, but so bare and
empty, so long abandoned of human
occupants, as to be fit only for the
habitation of mice and spiders, stray
bat or wandering owl So Roderick
had to walk down the hill again to st.
Helier's, where he found hospitality at
a hotel. He was up betimes, too happy
to need much sleep, and at z o'clock he
and Vixen were walking in the dewy
garden. planning the wonderful life
they were to lead at Briarwood, and
ain the good they were to 30.
f'Heaven has been so good to us,
Rqrie," said Vixen, Nesting at her
lovers side. Can we ever be good
enough to others?"
t'We1l do our best. anyhow, little
one," he answered, gently.
Vtolet's portmanteaus were packed.
all was ready. There would be just
time for hurried breakfast with Miss
lSkipwith, and then the fly from ST.
Helier's would be at the gate to carry
the exile on the first stage of the jour-
Iney home.
Poor mamma" sighed Vixen How
wicked of me to feel so happy, when
she is I'LL"
And then Rorie comforted her with
kindly meant sophistIes. Mrs. Car
mschael's indisposition was doubtless
m9re al affair of the nerves than a
real illness She would be cheered
and revived Immediately by her
daughters return.
How could she suppose she would
be able to live without you!" cried
Rofie. IL know l found life hard to
bear"
AYet you bore 1t for more than a
year with admirable patience" re-
tor ted Vixen, laughing at him, land /
do not find you particularly altered or
emAciated."
'iOh, used to eat and drink" said
RoI;ie, with a look of selfcontempt.
TIN afraid I'm horribly low-minded
BRUTE / used even to enjoy my din
nerl sometimes after a long country
ride; but i could never make you un-
derstand what bore life was to me all
Last year; how the glory and enjoy
meht seemed to have gone out of ex-
istence- The dismal monotony of my
days weighed upon me ike a night
mare. Mabel and / had not q single
quarrel 1 think that is a proof that
we did not care a straw for each
other"
You and I will have plenty of quar-
rels," said Vixen. 1T viii be so nice
to make friends again"
Now came the hurried breakfast-a
cup of tea. drank standing, not q
crusnb eaten; agitated adieus to Miss
Skipwith, who wept very womanly
tears over her departing charge,
and uttered good wishes in a choking
voice.
Poor SOUL" sighed Vixen; "she has
never been unkind to me; but oh,
what a dreary life 1 have led In that
dismal old housed"
They had Argus In the fly with T. en-,
sitting up, with his mouth open, and
his tail Tapping against the bottom of
the vehicle in perpetual motion. He
kept giving his paw first TO Vixen and
then to Rorie, and exacted great deal
OF attention, insomuch that Mr.. Vaw-
drey exclaimed:
Vixen, II you don't keep that dog
within bounds / shall think him as
great a nuisance as a step-son- 1 Of
fered to marry you, you know; not you
and your dog"
you are very rude." cried Vixen.
"You don't expect me to b. polite, /
hope. What is the use of marrying
ones old playfellow if one cannot be
unciyil to her now and then? To me
you will always be the tawny-haired
little girl / used to tease"
Who used to tease you, yen mean.
You were very meek In those days"
Oh, what happy voyage that was,
over the Summer sea, They sat side
Dy side upon the bridge, sheltered
from wind and sun, and talked the
happy nonsense lovers talk, but which
can hardly be SO sweet between lovers
whose you'll. and childhood have been
spent far apart as between these two
who had been reared amidst the same
sylvan world, and had every desire
and every thought in unison. How
brief the voyage seemed. 1t was but
an hour or so since Roderick had been
buying peaches and grapes, as they
lay at the end of the pier at Gurnsey.
and here were the Needles and the
chalky cliffs and undulating downs of
the Wight The Wight, That meant
Hampshire and home!
How often those downs have been
our weather-glass, Rorie. when we
nave been riding across the hills be-
tween Lyndhurst and Beaulieu!" said
Vixen
She had world of questions to ask
him about all that had happened dur
Ing her exile. She almost expected to
hear that Lyndhurst steeple had
fallen; that the hounds had died of old
age; that the Knightwood Oak had
been struck by lightning; or that
some among these calamities which
time naturally brings mad befallen the