The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-09-03

through the park many eyes rested ON
him with interest.
Been ruralizing." observed a man
TO his companion; away two years.
Told me he never saw a newspaper
the whole time! Looks somehow
other-worldish!"
So thought Victoria Mansel that
afternoon. as her old friend sat talk
Ing to her mother. a pretty pink-and-
white woman, beside whom Grifith.
with his three-and-thirty years.
looked patriarchal.
Now, tell me how you have been
occupying yourself down in the wilds
of Devon" asked Mrs. ManseI. and
Victoria. receiving trousseau conf
dences from a girl friend, only caught
disjointed scraps of his answers.
I've been making a motor car"
Making one?"
well, had an expert. but Won
know I've studied mechanics pretty
thoroughly, and put the whole thing
together myself. every bolt and
screw"
Don't you think so, Victoria ?"
from the girl friend. Much prettier
than Valenciennes?"
Much"-Victoria's ears strained
to catch Grifith's next remark.
Perfectly comfortable. I've made
kind Of"
Stitched all over it, Are Won
quite well to-day, dear?"
Quite, thank you" and Victoria
resigned herself to wait for another
opportunity of hearing about that
strange seclusion among the Devon
hills.
Two years ago Griffith had dropped
out of society; now he dropped in
again, and was welcomed. He was
wealthy, had no vices and irreproach-
able manners, and exercised a strong
fascination over his great friend.
Jack Mansels young sister. in the
glory of her first season. with half n
dozen eligible swains In attendance
upon her.
Do you know" she said one day,
L am little bit afraid of your"
He looked at her inquiringly.
There, now!" she exclaimed:
why do you look at me so intently?"
do II"
Yes, l have watched you, and YOU
that same curious. compelling sort of
way"
He was silent. Victoria felt un-
comfortable.
Il am afraid / have been rudei"
she exclaimed. with charming peni-
tence
Griffith laughed.
Il must have acquired the habit of
staring during those solitary years"
But why - why. did you bury
yourself down there?"
ITO study"
But you built that motor?"
''The result of the study"
do you really think it was worth
while?" asked Victoria, perplexed.
Il do really think So" he answered
with an inscrutable expression. Vic
toria felt baffled.
why did not Mr.. Griffth bring
his motor to town." she asked her
brother.
"Ramshackle affair, probably"
was the reply; amateur motor max
ing doesn't sound promising"
And she had to possess her soul in
patience, while Griffith fell into his
old habit of daily intercourse, like
many people, finding the Mansel
drawing room attractive; for those
who did not admire the restless mod
ernity of the mother could repose in
the society of the daughter, whose
tastes. like her name, were Victorian
Griffith often found her talking to a
pleasant gray haired man, the Duke
VI nd hn yOfv
pair and enjoyed himself exceedingly.
There was. however, some soreness
In John Mansels mind, for, being
particularly keen on mechanics, he
resented the secrecy with which his
friend had surrounded his work, and
felt half inclined to refuse when Grit
fith said:
Run down for a couple of days
with me, Jack. Mrs. Mansel and your
sister have promised to spend a week
al my place, and 1 want to get the
motor In order before they come" p
L thought 1T was in order" re-
turned John.
1 believe it is. but want to be
sure; and, being considerably cur
ious, John went.
10 Ihe car meeting uS?' he asked,
"hen, after hours of cross-country
travelling, they alighted.
NO. replied Griffith, with a touch
VI embarrassment. and John. followed
MN into the road, where a trap was
waiting.
seems an uncommon amount Of
mystery about that machine of
yours" remarked NSorzoI
. Weii' there is,' was the answer
LOOK mere, old boy, don't feel sore
~pouS my not telling you about 1t.
SIMPLY can't. for certain reasons"
All right. Grif"-Mansel felt
',ino ashamed of himself-"why
snouldn,t you keep the thing quiet if
1T isn't NV w,sh >. uo..a .Ao