The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-12-29
CHAPTER x.-continued.

''Then don't you understand" she
said. Don't you see?"
well, really, Dearest, 1 don't"
had to acknowledge. Il don't see what
all that has to do with"
But her quickly bent head and low
choked cry of "Wilfred!' interrupted
me and then the oldest thing Of all
happened. There was my own wife
crying and there was I, her own hus-
band. unable to comfort her because
she pushed me away every time
came near her.
1t was too much. And hang it all!
The cause of all the friendships in
the world wasn't worth that moments
pain l was disguised with the whole
business, and in my agitation went
down to the stables and flung myself
on a horse to try and ride the rancour
of my first taste of Dearest's displeas.
ure out of my veins. But 1 didn't
make very good work of it and am
afraid mathematical Agatha First
and Agatha Sixth and even old Ter
hume himself all the way out and all
the way back,
When I returned it was twelve
o'clock and the footman told me at
the door that Solicitor Barnes had ar
rived and was in the library AS 1
have said, in accordance with Ter
hune's aunt's wishes, Dearest had in
vited Mrs. James solicitor, Mr.
Barnes, of Barnes, Willoughby & Sons,
up from London to take luncheon with
us, that he might be present at the
time when the stipulated ten days ex-
pired and be witness to the fact that
the time was not overstepped by SO
much as minute. They had sent
the station wagon to meet him as per
Dearest's arrangements, and he had
reached the castle not ten minutes be-
fore my own arrival. / was glad of
that, for l remembered, with a new
and troubled sense that / was no
longer in her good graces, that my
wife had instructed me to meet him
myself
Impelled by this thought, hurried
into the library without changing my
riding things and found Solicitor
Barnes pacing restlessly up and down
the apartment and glancing at his
watch from time to time.
"Ahl Lord Vincent?" he asked-we
had not yet met-and as l assented
shook his thin impressive hand as cor
barristers / have met, fishy looking
beast, though one couldn't help adj
miring the look of omniscience about
him, as if never so much at home.
"And how is Lady Vincent?" he in
quired politely, when / had finished
apologizing for my attire and for my
neglect to meet him at the station.
Conversation was certainly tagging.
I had no heart for it, with ali / had
on my mind, and had begun to feel
pretty well talked out, when foot
man appeared in the doorway and
wanted to know If he was to show
the gentleman upstairs.
I didn't answer his question. 1t
seemed too much trouble to have to
explain to William that the barrister
was not guest overnight, and instead
/ inquired where Lady Vincent was.
/ thought it rather odd that she did
not come down and welcome Mr..
Barnes, and was almost annoyed when
the man informed me that "Her Lady
ship" was in her room and by her ex-
press orders was not to be inter-
rupted.
But does she know that Mr. Barnes
is here?' 1 asked, rather impatient of
all this mystery. Mr.. Barnes himself
answered me before William could
speak
my dear Lord Vincent. he said.
Don't, l pray, trouble about it, !
have been welcomed by your lordship
and shall await Lady Vincent's pleas
ure in regard to meeting her, which
will be soon, no doubt, for we lunch
at one, do we not?" He took out his
big open-faced watch.
What time is it?' l asked anxious
ly, as a sudden remembrance of the
importance of that same luncheon
rushed over me. Would Terhune sit
down to it an afianced or free man?
CHAPTER XII.