Evening star., 1911-01-26

S~4AAA
decided as rode away that nothing
was to be gained by going in search Of
Virgins. Orton had purposely made his
house difficult of access. and the roads
in that neighborhood are many and de-
vious. Orton had banished his guests
that he might tinker his play in peace
and knowing his temper. l was sure that
Virgins and the rest OF them would keep
out of his way till the pangs OF hunger
drove them back.
l had ridden half a mile toward Hope
field. when / espied woman riding rap
idly toward me, and as she drew nearer
identified her as HeZekiah. mounted on
a horse l recognized as one OF the best
in Miss Octavia's stables. Hezekiah rode
astride. woman should. her bicycle
skirt serving well as habit. She rode
as a boy rides who loves freedom and
quickened pulses and the rush Of wind
across his face. She was hatless. for
which the sun and / were both grateful.
The big bow at the back Of her head
turned the dial back to sixteen.
She drew rein and fished what seemed
to he saited almonds from her sweater
pocket. She filliped one Of these into the
air. and caught it in her mouth with a
lazy toss of the head that showed the
firm contour of her lovely throat. l had
never seen her more self-possessed.
she asked, carelessly.
ITS good horse: l fancy Miss Octavia
thinks so herself There are places, HeZe-
kiah. where they hang people for horse
stealing
Thought I might need one today. so
borrowed him-through the back way
to the old red barn. The coachman is
an ancient chun, and Aunt Octavia would
never mind even il she knew. And she
will know all right. Anyhow. my rear
tire had been patched once too often, and
there is a satisfaction in horse! Where's S
our sensitive and impressionable Wiggy?
Saw him riding over toward kisco yes
terday p.m with chin on his chest
dreadful riding FORM
Virgins is at Orton's.-the play
wrights you know. I've telephoned him
to hustle back, but he's out OF our reach
somewhere. / couldn't speak to him di-
rect: had to leave a message for him."
Just like Wiggy to die on the last
lap. What did you make out OF Brother
Pepperton?"
"Your note scared me-thsnks SO much
for your note-but he's all right. En-
gagged to another girl
.Ah." she sighed. Its comforting that
Cecilia couldn't keep them all going all
the time
We rode along together. our horses In
a walk, and / told her everything i knew
of the condition of affairs. including a
true account of my experiences at the
inn the day before and of the finding OF
the old chest belonging to Virgins great
grandfather-her brown eyes opened wide
at this-concluding with the diphtheria
stratagem and Dicks menace TO Cecilia s
happiness.
Hes really bright little boy. Coming
home on the steamer he gave me post
graduate course in pragmatism that I've
found helpful in keeping house for papa.
It's too bad We have to lay trap for
Mr.. Dick
rs it? Just how are We to manage
that. Hezekiah?'
"Oh. that will be easy enough. He's
pretty desperate, and since the compact
between the suitors has gone to pieces he
knows he will have to show his hand
pretty soon. He thinks you are wild about
Cecilia. He lays great stress on his think
ing powers. and he probably argues that
you are bound to pop pretty soon. IT s
just as well he thinks SO. but we must
finish this up today; I'll be a nervous
wreck IL we don't close the books tonight.
There's your friend Dick now"
She indicated high point i'm the main
road. where it crossed the ridge from
which she had shown melt seemed. oh.
very long ago!--the procession OF suitors
crossing the stile. Dick, mounted, was
gazing off across the fields toward Hope
field. Man and horse were SO distant as
to create the illusion Of an equestrian
statue on a high pedestal.
Napoleon before Waterloo" l sug-
gested.
HE does look like Napoleon doesn't
he?" she laughed. He's a bit fused
today. He knows that Wiggy's not at
the inn. and that you are up to some
thing, and to little Mr.. Dick the archi-
tect probably looks like one of those mys-
terious knights you read about. who sud-
denly appears at the tournament all can
ned in an ice-cream freezer. with tin
pail over his head. Mr.. Peppertons pres
ence no doubt worries him. as l don't
think they ever met. Cecilia and Mr..
Pepperton are riding-I lodged them just
before l struck you. walking their horses
In the most loverlike fashion In a lane
over yonder: but If Mr.. Pepperton is
really engaged it's all right. though IL l
were the other girl I think I'd be anx-
ious."
Pops playing the game. that's all.
What are you going to do now?"
She glanced at the sun; | fancy that
it was with such scanning Of the heav-
ems that her sisters q thousand years
before had noted the time.
This is my pie-day. There's undoubt-
edly a gooseberry pie waiting for me at
for luncheon. I'd ask you to come too,
only you'll have all you can do to keep
Mr.. Dick from persuading somebody to
be the sixth man, so he can slip In as
all right, you may come for luncheon to-
morrow, maybe. Papa told me he liked
you; he said You were very decent that
night you met him on the roof OF Aunt
Octavia's house."
MY compliments to your father.
hope to be able to persuade him to extend
his paternal arm to include me- Aunt
Octavia must be my aunt, too!'
Really" cried Hezekiah, with inde-
scribable mockery; and she wheeled her
horse and was gone like the wind.
Luncheon at Hopef1eld passed without
incident; and afterward Cecilia retired to
help her aunt with her correspondence,
while Pepperton and / lounged about the
house and smoked. I told him Of my in
effectual efforts to reach Virgins, and
he volunteered to find q motor and search
for him: but pointed out the futility OF
this. and renewed my appeal that he stay
on guard at Hopeheld.
At about 3 o'clock Cecilia reAppeared.
Her color was high and her eyes were
unusually brilliant. I knew that she fully
realized that the crisis was near, but she
asked no questions and her manner re-
assured me of her confidence. We idled
on the stone terrace above the FROST
smitten garden, which In its ruin still
satisfied the eye with color. had pur-
posely drawn some chairs to q corner
well screened by vines, so that I could
note the approach of any visitors who
came cross-country by way of the stile
We were hardly seated before Dick en-
tered the garden. followed Immediately
by the six other suitors / had last seen
at the inn. They ranged themselves on a
stone bench facing the house at the end
of one OF the paths. They wore sack
coats and hats In a variety Of styles, SO
hot xI,o1y t<l