Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-11

train this morning. after doing the garage
work"
Simmonds, candor itself about Meden-
ham, had said no weird of the Earl of Fair
holme or of Dale. Marigny, of course, was
silent as to the Earl, since it might have
ruined his last faint hope of success had the
two perplexed fathers met. Simmonds' re-
cent outburst opposed an efectual bar to
farther questioning; so Vanrenen was free
to deduce all sorts of possibilities from the
existence of vet another villainouS chauffeur.
Unhappily, he availed himself of the OPP
portunity to the full. The fair countryside
and the good food of the March counties
made little or no appeal to him thenceforth.
He pined to be in Chester, yet restrained
the impulse that urged frenzied scurry to
the banks of the Dee; for he was adamant
in his resolve not to seem to have pursued
Cynthia, but rather to have joined her as
the outcome of a mere whim after she had
met Mrs Leland.
THE Mercury arrived at Ludlow long be-
fore Vanrenen crossed the Wye Bridge
at Hereford. Medenham stopped the car at
The Feathers, that famous maybe among
British inns. where Cynthia admired and
photographed some excellent woodcarving.
If they hurried over luncheon, they were
content to dawdle in the picturesque streets,
and Cynthia was reluctant to leave the fine
old castle, in which Milton's "Masque of
Comus" was first played on Michaelmas
night of 1884.
But finally they went on to Shrewsbury,
where Medenham was vouchsafed CLEAN
of frosty humor by Mrs. Devar's anxiety
lest her son might have obeyed her earlier
injunctions and kept tryst at The Raven
after all. That trivial diversion soon passed.
He hoped that Cynthia would share the
front seat with him in the final run to Ches-
ter; but she remained tucked up in the ton
neau, and the dread that kept her there was
bitter-sweet to him, since it betrayed her in
creasing lack of confidence in herself.
The rendezvous was at the Grosvenor
Hotel, and Medenham had .iade up his
mind how to act long before the red towers
of Chester Cathedral glowed above the citys
haze in the fire of a magnificent sunset.
Dale was waiting on the pavement when the
Mercury drew up at the galleried entrance
to the hotel.
Medenham leaped down. "Goodby, Miss
Vanrenen," he said, holding out his hand.
Il can catch an early train to town by hur-
rying away at once. This is Dale, who will
take my place. He is thoroughly trust
worthy, and an even more careful driver
than | am"
Are you really going-like that?" fall
tered Cynthia and her face blanched at the
suddenness of it.
Eyes. shall have the pleasure of seeing
you in London when you return"
Their hands met in firm clasp. Mrs.
Devar, too flustered at first to gasp more
than an "Oh!" of establishment, leaned for
| ward and shook his hand with marked cor
diality.
"You must tell Dale to take great care of
u.s." she said knowingly.
II think he realizes the exceeding trust l
repose in him, he said; but the accompany
ing smile was meant for Cynthia, and she
read into it farewell that presaged many
things. He disappeared without another
word.
WHEN slim. elegantly gowned woman
" had fastened to the door from the
drawing room, whence she was summoned by
page, she found two dust covered figures in
the act of alighting from well appointed car.
Her next glance was at the solemn jowl of
the chauffeur.
Cynthia. my darling girl" she cried, with
arms thrown wide.
There could be no doubling the heartiness
of the greeting. and in that motherly en-
brace Cynthia felt repose, security, that