The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-22

that Nane was fOnd or music. Sue played and sang to him, and, after good deal of persuasion and shy re- luctance on his part, she got him to sing. He had a pleasant voice, sang sailor songs, and sang them like a sailor, with a real swing and go, not the imitation which one generally hears from the ordinary amateur. It 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 covetousness.
 You've a grand old place here, Miss Desborough,'' he said; "one or the most beautiful in England, should think.''
 Evelyn's' heart warmed towards him, not for the first time that even ing.
 "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 swing and the ivy-covered tower. "Fff- teenth century, isn't it?' "Yes," said Evelyn proudly. What good guess! Have you studied architecture?"
 "Oh, not" said vane, quickly and modestly. wish had. But I'm in- terested in most old things-old houses, old books. old weapons 'And old women?" laughed Evelyn. She felt particularly light-hearted that night.
 "Well, I wouldn't bar old women, '' l said Vane, laughing too; "but it would be rather difficult to get any materials for such a study, wouldn't | it? There aren't any old women nowadays; none of them look more than forty, and it is sometimes diff cult, 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 beautiful bit of work" he went on, holding at the tower.
 "Yes," said Evelyn. Scme one suggested that it and the wing should h,1f fho fc enough as it is; and, besides, father could not afford it.''
 That's mercy. anyhow" said | Vane devoutly. Evelyn laughed.
 I'm inclined to agree with you though it is dreadful to be poor. Per | haps you would like to See the tow CT, to examine the interior of the wing? There's not time tonight; would you like to come over tomor- TOW? If you would, I'll find up ths
 keys and take you through the oli
 place. It's very interesting 1 "Rather!" responded vane prompt. ly. ''It's very good of you, and TT come over tomorrow afternoon"
 He had a cigar with Sir Reginald
 who. departing from his usual GUS | tom, sat some time with his gues
 talking, for Sir Reginald. almos 1 freely.
 | Vane walked across the park to tn.
 Lodge in peculiar frame of mind For the first time in his life he had not been bored by female society; h,
 had not only spent a pleasant even
 ing, but he was actually looking for ward to seeing Miss Desborough or
 the morrow!
 l As he crossed the lawn the nex
 day he saw Evelyn waiting for hin on the terrace. She wore big sun bonnet, and was enveloped in a larg,
 apron, and looked so charming il
 this simple attire that Vane gazed a
 her with speechless admiration, whicl
 brought the colour to Eveiyn's face
 Are you laughing at my get-up?
 she said. smiling. eve put on th1
 armour against against the dust. forgot to tell you to wear your oldes
 things, Mir. vane."
 "These are my oldest and my new
 est" he said. "and defy the dust O
 ages to hurt them. I wonder wheth
 CT you will think me rude if I sa.
 that bonnet and apron are awful.
 pretty. I mean that you-er-'
 His words fell over each other in con
 fusion, and he stammered and stut
 tered.
 Evelyn dropped him a curtesy, an,
 blushed again.
 "I've borrowed them from one ,
 the maids" she said, Come along! They went to the wing; one of tn gardeners, an old man, stood at
 heavy door, and, with some difficult
 unlocked it with a great key Evelyl took the bunch from him, telling hin to wait, in case they wanted him ;an,
 Vane followed her into the building
 The place was almost dark; but Van
 succeeded in opening the shutters an
 the light streamed in upon the de
 serted room, which had the usua
 musty smell attaching to such places and was everywhere thick with dust Some of the old furniture was pile