The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-02-24
CHAPTER XII.

HuIIl5u ROUND 70 Iu4b part OF the
castle, followed more mechanically
than inquisitively by Terhune. and saw
on the stoop under the port-cochere,
through the wide-open doors. slight
young fellow Of about Arch's build,
with dark, anxious face, just relin-
gushing a long buster to his chauf.
feur. But even before had perceived
who It was, my eyes wandered back
of him and took In the automobile he'd
Just stepped from! with vague sense
o. having seen 1t somewhere before.
But its owner surprised me more, for 1T
was Murray Brancepeth of all people!
What IN thunder brought him here? Z"
! wondered. hadn't seen him in q
year Of Sundays!
Hello, Vincent" he cried, on see
ing us. And old Terhune, tool" And
he caught our hands in a large, exuber-
ant grip. Too exuberant, could see
Terhune thought, for he was frowning,
and must say felt inclined to resent
Brancepeth's familiarity, myself, for
had never known the fellow well, when
he followed his handshake by great
slap on my shoulder But by his next
words 1t was explained and excused in
the same moment, as were many other
things that had happened lately.
Where's Agatha First?' he cried.
ITS all right now! Miss Simplin has
eloped and we can get married"
An enigmatical speech enough, I'll
admit, and, of course, don't mean to
say that it alone was the means of en-
tightening Terhune and myself as to
the new turn this rather complicated
and stubborn affair of his aunt's prop
erty had taken,
It was only after number of ques-
tons had been asked and answered
that we understood him. When 1t APP
peared that he, Brancepeth, had been
in love with Miss Endicott and she
with him ever since the first Castle
Wyckhoff houseparty, but that there
was an obstacle to their marriage
which prevented their acknowledging
their attachment, which obstacle con-
sisted Of the memorable determination
of Brancepeth's sole relative, a
wealthy uncle, that he should marry
certain Miss Simplin, an heiress her
self. and neighbor of his uncle's.
Brancepeth had not the faintest in
tention OF marrying the lady Of his I'M
cle's choice, or anyone other than the
lady OF his own. but was still unable
openly to disregard that uncle's wishes.
having been entirely dependent upon
him all his life. The young lady In
question. Miss Simplin, had now de-
cided matters for him by clipping with
poor young squire, In spite Of tacit
agree Mt with her father that she
would consider favorably the suit OF
young Murray And by thus boldly Sc.
curing her own happiness the young
lady had at the same time opened the
way for that Of Brancepeth, deed for
which ! thought, when heard the tale.
she deserved the commentator of the
community. ! like good sport. But
this opinion of mine In regard to Miss
-mplin's escapade did not apparently
jibe with that of Brancepeths uncle.
for. as our visitor proceeded with his
tale, we learned that he was indeed
SO enraged by the very act which so
delighted us all that when his nephew,
emboldened by the tidings Of the
elopement. confided to him his attach
ment for Miss Endicott, mis- aggrieved
relative had seized with enthusiasm
the chance of proving to the scornful
and fugitive heiress that she was un-
regretted. He only awaited the ap-
pearance Of Agatha First, it seemed, to
take her to his arms and enshrine her
brOws with diamond tiara that was to
haunt defiance and triumph before the
jealous eyes Of the poor squire's wife
whenever the two might meet.
This exciting crisis in Brancepeth's
romance having developed only that
morning, 1t was friend Murray to his
machine and on his way to Castle
Wyckhofr without loss Of time, and we
were not at all surprised when he
boosted that he had covered the dis
lance between his uncle's place at the
other end Of the county and Wyckhoff
castle In little less t:ah an hour. We
had just succeeded in grasping these
details of our friends love affair,
though he had not given them in full.
as ] have, but had rather sketched the
story generally and rapidly. when
Dearest appeared upon the scene and
the whole wonderful tale had to be
told again.
CTo BE coNTINuED.)