The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-05

 THE MAN WHO ROSE AGALN@
 - uAIl 3
 JOSEPH ROCKING II Copyright, 1909, by George Il. Doran Company

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 occasionally, but not often; neverthe- less. each time they met, Olive be- came more deeply interested in him. The fact of his coming from the East | became less and less an obstacle to their friendship, and John Castle maine, while he could never break through a certain kind of reserve which seemed to surround the man who had come to live in their midst, confessed that he was the most in- teresting personality he had ever met.
 As the weeks passed by Olive real ized that the time would soon arrive when Herbert Briarfield would claim the right to plead his suit for the last time, and she began to wonder what she would say to him. Since the occasion when he had pleaded this privilege, he had not visited her home often; but every time she had seen him he had revealed more and more what a fine manly young fellow he was. Certainly, as her father had told her more than once, she would soon have to decide whether she would remain single all her life, or whether she would accept the love he offered Yet, even as she thought of this, she wondered what Ricordo would say, and she thought also of the promise which she had made to Leicester on the night before the day on which they should have been mar ried. For that promise still haunt on Leicester's face when he exacted the promise, and her assurance that, no matter what might happen, she would never marry another man, was not to be easily forgotten.
 One morning Ricordo sat on the lawn outside the Manor Farm House. He had breakfasted in thes open air, | and was now sitting oHs8 garden chair smoking a cheroot. r Ricordo was still regarded as a mystery in | the neighborhood. No one knew | anything more about him now than | they did on the day of his arrival, | save that he was a partner in a great | Eastern trading firm. That he had l plenty of money was beyond ques- tion. He had opened an. account at the nearest bank, and the man. ager had opened his eyes with as | tonishment when he saw the amount written on the cheque that was pre- sented to him. Of course this sum was not mentioned to the world, but the clerks at the bank made no se- cret of the fact that their new cli- ent was enormously rich, But be- yond this nothing was hpown. The best houses for miles around had | opened their doors to him; but Ri- | cordo never entered them. Beyond calling occasionally at The Home l stead, and at the great house at Vale | Linden, he showed no desire for com panionship. If he had left at the | end of two months he would have Eastern gentleman who wore a fez, and while ali sorts of surmises would have been offered concerning him, nothing would have been known. This morning, Signor Ricordo lay back in his chair, smoking a cheroot. AS usual, his eyes were nearly closed, l. and the same look of cynical melan- choly rested on his face. Once or , 1 +n,;oo ta niokod m the nravio11s dav's paper, only to throw it aside. Evi- dentIy he had but little interest in the affairs of the country. Present ly he lifted his head quickly, and saw the village postman coming towards !, him.
 "Mornin', sur"
 Good morning, Beel. Got some letters for me? ?''
 "Sever'l, sur. Ere you be-"
 Thank you.'
 The postman left him, and made his way towards the house.
 For a time he sat deep in thought, not referring to the letters, but his face gave no indication as to whether | ms InOuSnIS were plcdSduC UT OIucI
 wise. It was as expressionless as the face of the sphinx. After a time he turned to the letters and glanced at them carelessly. At length, how ever, his eyes showed a glow of in- terest. He tore open one of the let ters and read it almost eagerly.
 Dear Signor Ricordo-At last l am able to accept your kind invi- tation, and by the time you get this I shall be on my way to Vale Lin :. den. As I am starting by an early train I shall arrive at the sstation by one o'clock am simply longing , to be amidst the beautfHi scenery which you describe so eloduently, and more than all to have a long chat with you All news when we meet. I-Yours,
 "A. Winfield"
 'P. ST shall lunch inathe train. "
 Certainly there was nothing in the | of friL f.