The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-05
CHAPTER VI.
Leicester's Wooing.

During the next few weeks Rad met more than once. By what seem ed strange coincidence Leicester re- ceived invitations to houses where Olive Castlemaine had promised to go. They spoke but little on these occasions, nevertheless 1t was evil dent that each found the other in- teresting. It was noticed moreovex that Leicester was less cynical and hopeless when in her presence. His eyes shone with a new light, and his voice was resonant with eagerness. She seemed to act upon him as a kind of mental and physical tonic. The old bored air passed away when she appeared, and while he seemed to be little interested in the society of others. there could be little doubt Olive Castlemaine aroused him to earnestness.
 When he was with men, he was cold and cynical as ever, neither did he seem to be fighting the habit which had gained such mastery over him. Sprague and Purvis often talk ed about him, but they had no idea of what he intended to do. True to their promise, they said nothing about the contract which they had made, and while some of Leicester's friends thought he would be suitor for Miss Castlemaine's hand, others were just as sure that he was not a marrying man. But no one seemed certain. Leicester was not a man who gave his confidence freely, and of late he seemed less sociable to his acquaintance than ever. As for friends, he did not possess any.
 More than once Purvis and Sprague sought to make him divulge his in- tentions, but when they asked him questions he looked at them in a way that, to say the least did not encour- age them. When he happened to meet Olive Castlemaine, he was in- terested, eager, and sometimes al- most excited; with others he was moody tacitum, and evidently far from happy.
 At last one day the light of reso- lution came into his eyes. He lunch ed at his club, and then having dressed with care, he made his way to Olive CastlemGine's home. He had received no invitation, neither did he know whether he would find her in the house. Nevertheless he went During his journey there, he seemed in deep thought. At the railway sta- ton there, he bought a paper, but he never looked at it. Sometimes he looked out of the window, but evil dently he saw nothing He was as unconscious of his surroundings as a. sleep walker.
 Presently he drew near the station which he knew to be the nearest to The Beeches, and then he rose in the carriage and walked between the seats, as though he were considering some course of action.
 Shall I tell her the whole truth 2" he said presently. Shall relate to her the miserable? No, no-not that" he repeated and again he look ed out of the carriage windows with the same stony stare.
 NIf she refuses me-" he said pres ently. 'But no, I'll not he refused. If she says no hundred times, I'll ask her again. I won't, no I can't be refused. It would be-
 The mans body grew rigid as he spoke. Evidently Radford Leicester was in a stern mood, and bent upon mission which affected him deeply.
 The train stopped, and the porters shouted the name of the station. He stepped on to the platform and look ed around him. Only a very few people had come by the train, the time was yet too early for the city men. Outside the station he engag- ed a hanson and told the man to drive him to The Beeches
 'I wonder if she's at home" he said to himself, "and if she is I won der if she'll see me?''
 There could be no doubt that Rad for Leicester was untrue to the creed which he had so often professed.