The Ordway new era., 1909-05-07
CHAPTER v.-continued.

Nv infatuation for Lady Arabella
continued; but | can not say she ever
showed me the least mark Of favor
But that she did to no one except
oyerton, and soon knew what every.
body in the town knew. that she was
desperately smitten with him, and
would have bestowed herself and her
fortune upon him at any moment. II he
would but accept II. As for Giles Yer
noa. she showed him what no other
woman ever did-a coolness at first,
that deepened into something like &C
tive hatred. She knew he stood be
tween overton and the heirshIp TO the
Vernon estates, and that was enough
TO make her dislike him. She often re-
marked upon his want OF good looks.
and she was the only woman ! ever
knew to do Il. Yet Giles was unde-
niably hardfeatured. and. except a
good figure. had nothing In his person
20 recommend him. had thought that
pride would have kept Giles from pay
ing court TO 4 person so iuim!cal TO
him; but pride was the excuse he gave
for still pursuing her. He declared he
had never. no. never. been fou;ed by
a woman, and that Lady Arabclla
should yet come At his call. This /
believed AZ the time to be mere braya-
do. He was enchanted by her. tha,
was the truth. and could no more
leave her than the moth can leave the
candle.
saw much OF Daphne in those DAYS
chiefly hnH~1aa I could go, 80 FrasT. 9
Lady Arabella, who led a life OF sin
gular independence. little restrained
by the authority OF Lady Hawkshaw.
and none at all by Sir Peter. Daphne
was fond Of books, and commonly went
about with one under her arm. I. too
was inclined TO be bookish: aad 50
there was something in common be.
tween Us. She was keener OF wit than
any one In that house: and soon
learned TO take delight in her conysr-
sation, in Lady Arabella's absence
My love 'or the Lady Arabella was. /
admit. the fond fancy Of boy: while
Giles Nernun's was the mad infatua-
tion Of man.
Giles was much with US at that time:
and I acknowledge l had great benefit
from the spending OF his prize-mouey
or, rather. l should say. much enjoy.
ment. He laid 1t out right royalty.
asked the price OF nothing, and. for the
time he was in London. footed It with
the best OF them. His lineage and his
heirship to Sir Thomas Vernon cave
him entrance anywhere: and his wit
and courage made his place secure.
Shortly after We arrived. Sir Thomas
vernon also arrived at his house il
Grosyenor Square. We were bound to
meet him, for Giles went much into
gay society. as l did. In the train O,
Lady Hawkshaw. The first time this
Occurrss was 4 drum at her grace o.
Apchester's where all OF London was
assembled. Even overton. who was
rTrely seen in drawing rooms. vas
there. Giles, Of course, was there:
her grace had fallen in love with him.
as women usually did, the first time
she met him.
IL was a great house for play: and
when we arrived, we found the whole
suite OF splendid apartments on the
lower floor prepared for cards.
There was the usual crush and
clamor Of a fine London party: and I.
being young and unsophisticated. en-
ioyed 1t. as did Daphne. Names were
bawled out at the head OF the stairs.
but could not be distinguished over the
roar Of voices | happened to be near
the door. with Giles. Lady ArabelIa
being near by. when heard the name
Of Sir Thomas Vernon shouted out. as
he entered.
He was man Of middle sits, and
was between 40 and so years Of age
He might once have been handsome.
but the ravases of An evil nature and
n broken constitution were plainly
visible in his countenance. observed
that. as he stood. slancing about him
before making his dsvoirs to the duch-
ess of Auchester. no one spoke to him.
OF seemed disposed to recognise him