Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19
vi.
Richard Gaunt Decides.

"A
broad stretch Of meadow land runs down
to the edge of the dark slate cliffs. The
sea swirls and foams against fringe Of
rocks five hundred feet below. Inland
there is vista of slopes and valleys and
mountains. The low-lying ground is
clothed with woods but the SUBMITS of
the hills are smooth and naked and
strewn with large gray stones. Here and
there the rock itself pierc,s the thin
covering Of soil and makes Jagged scars
across the turf.
About II o'clock on the morning after
Gaunt's discovery Of the truth about
Crawshay's sister he was leaning his ell
bows on a low stone wall which ran down
almost to the edge Of the cliffs. He had
not come there to admire the view, which
he cordially detested. but to get little
exercise and a breath OF fresh air. He
had drunk a good deal Of brandy the
night before. and he wanted to clear
the fumes of alcohol from his brain. So
he had taken a sharp walk up the steep
slope. from the house. and had filled his
lungs with the sea breeze that swept in
from the west to the shores Of Cardigan
shire.
ing, he had said goodbye to his mother
and had sent his luggage to the station
He proposed to walk there himself and
take a short cut across the hills. He
had started before the arrival Of Lady
Betty Drake. but had told his mother
that he was going to spend an hour on
the top Of the cliff before proceeding on
his way to the station. He had his own
reasons for doing this and they were
worthy OF the man.
He was not vain enough to suppose
that Lady Betty would pursue him. 1t
was hardly to be expected that woman
of her position would actually run after
man. Yet he had made it easy for her
to take a walk up the cliffs in the same
direction. He had told his mother that
he was not we'll. and that the close air
Of the valley stihed him. He had ex-
pressed a desire to fill his lungs with the
breeze from the sea before he left for
London. He had also limited that he
would like to see Lady Betty Drake.
He had no baser motive in his mind
than a wish to see II she would take the
trouble to walk up the cliffs to have
few words with him. He intended moth
might lead to nothing. or else serious
one which might lead to matrimony. Like
his brother Henry. whose commercial In
Stincts he affected to deSplse, ne had
very proper. ideas about the value OF
Lady Betty's inheritance. At present
matrmony would be an insupportable
burden. but there might come a time
when 1t would be very useful 10 marry
handsome intelligent woman who had
good income. He reflected that Lady
Betty was getting on in years. and that
she did not meet many men at Gaunt
Royal. 1t would. perhaps. not be difficult
to make himself an object of pity. ana
thence by easy stages he might win ner
love. It would be game worth PLAYING:
and in its own way exciting as any or
the ignoble games he had played In the
past 1t would be useful to be loved by
a woman with four THOUSAND pounds
year in her own right. And 1t was not
beyond the bounds of probability. Women
are said to be secretly fond of rake.
and the best women are glad to reform
them.
He leant over the stone wall and looked
down the threadlike path which came
winding up the slope from the valley De-
meath. Versed in every vile which is cal
culated to touch woman's heart. ne was
not long in working out plan or cam
paign ESTABLISHMENT was the surest
weapon. He had a whole set of phrases
at his finger ends, for he had used them
Five more minutes passed, and then he
saw gray figure far down the slope. A
few moments later he recognized Lady
Betty She was hurrying up the path as
moved down the hill to meet her.
"Ah. Betty" he said. as he shook her
warmly by the hand. "It is good of you
to come up here. 1 was afraid / should
have to leave without seeing you
Il wanted to see you. Dick. particular
ly,' she replied. II don't think it was
very nice of you to leave home so early
Il couldn't help it. Bet" he said. hum
bly,. "'pon my soul. l couldn't help 1t. l
was being choked down in that hole l
wanted air. and I knew could get 1t up
here. l don't often get chance. you
know. By Jove, Bet, you don't look
day older than when I saw you last.
This is the sort of place to make one
young again."
He looked at her with genuine admira-
ton in his eyes. She was perfect speci-
men of fine type-a healthy. able-bodied
Englishwoman. in the prime of life. The
claims Of a season In town were unknown
to her. For the last four years she had
experienced none of the WEAKNESS OF that
endless round of dinners. dances and lat
homes" which would tax the physical
strength of an athlete. She had lived her
days in the open air and feared neither
rain. sun nor wind And now. as her face
was flushed. and her eyes sparkled with
the exertion of sharp. uphill walk. she
was good to look upon. She had beauty
and health. and an indennable air Of
breeding, which can hardly be acquired
by any save those who have mixed with