The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-31
THE FATAL
[H|[1| [I ~ |
BY CHARLES GARVlCE.
Copyright, 1909. by George n. Doran
Company
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI.
My Brothers Friend.

OF Ronald-and described him in sucl
favorable terms that Sir Reginald re
marked drily:
1T is evident you wish me to make
the acquaintance OF this prepossessinl
gentleman. | will do so. | will ais,
have the fence put up outside tht
spinney.'
He walked down to the Lodge the
following afternoon and met Vant
coming out with his gun. NOtwith
standing his GOODNESS and reserve, Sii
Reginald could be pleasant and
friendly when he chose He was ia
vorably impressed by Vane; the tive
men got on very well together; and
Sir Reginald invited Nane to come VI
to dinner on the following night.
Vane accepted. and turned up at the
appointed time.
Evelyn was glad to see him, and
welcomed him with something more
that her usual frank cordiality; for
was he not a friend of Ronald's? No
other guest had been asked, but the
meal was by no means a dull one,
for, notwithstanding his half assumed
brusqueness, Vane was an interesting
man; and. as soon as he began 10 talk
he got the attention of not only Eve
ly, but Sir FReginald, who on occasion
was reused from his usual preoccupa-
tion. Joined in the conversation, and
was almost sociable. As for Evelyn,
her interest in Vane grew each mo-
ment, as. with her white arms rest
ing on the table. her eyes fixed on
him. her lips parted with a smile, she
listened to the story of his adventures
in many lands-stories which he told
with graphic touches, little pauses,
and bits of description which brought
the scenes vividly before her,
Sc noticed that Vane avoided any
of his late voyage and OF
Ronald. She fingered at the table long
after the dessert had been placed;
and she waited in the drawing room
for his coming with an unconscious
1t appeared that Nane was
fond of music. She played and sang to
him and after a good deal of persua-
sion and shy reluctance on his part,
: he got him to sing. He had pleas
ant voice. sang sailor songs. and sang
them like sailor, with real swing
and go, not the imitation which one
hears from an ordinary anna
teur.
1t was a fine night, and warm for
the time of year. and presently they
found themselves on the terrace. Vane
stood back against the stone railing
and viewed the long facade of the
house. Just as Dexter Reece had done,
but with a disinterested admiration
and one unalloyed by envy or covet-
BUSINESS.
You've a grand old place, Miss
Desborough," he said "one of the
most beautiful in England, / should
think"
Evelyn's heart warmed towards him,
not for the first time that evening.
Yes. It is" she said frankly.
Some of it must be very old" he
remarked thoughtfully, as his eye
rested on the ruins of the old wing
and the UNCOVERED tower. Fifteenth
century. isn't it?"
Yes" said Evelyn proudly. What
good guess! Have you studied ar
"Oh. no. said Vane, quickly and
modestly. wish | had. But I'm inter
ested in most old things-Old houses,
old books, old Weapons
And old women?" laughed Evelyn.
She felt particularly light-hearted that
night
well. | wouldn't bar old women
said Vane, laughing too; but it
would be rather difficult to get any
materials for such study, wouldn't
it? There aren't any old women nova
days: none of them look more than
forty. and it is sometimes difficult,
when you see lot of ladies in a
room. to tell which are the mothers
and which are the daughters; the
grandmothers have disappeared alto
gether. But that's a beautiful bit Of
work" he went on, nodding at the
tower.
Yes" said Evelyn. Someone sug-
gested that it and the wing should be
restored. but the house is large
enough as it is, and, besides, father
could not afford it"