Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-21

off at a brisk pace. turning over in my
mind various projects for controlling the
characters now upon the stage in such
manner that Virgins should become the
seventh man Cecilia could not always
run away from him without violating the
terms of her aunt's stipulation; and ii
was unlikely that she would attempt
further to guide or thwart the pointing
finger of fate. / relied little upon any
arrangement effected among the suftOrs
to stand together. Hume had already
found chance to speak. Lord AFRO
wood had bitten the dust and turned his
face homeward, and Virgins had been
near the brink only that morning. 1t Wat
unlikely that any of the active candidates
remaining would stumble upon the key
to the situation, Ehich Hezekiah hal
given into my keeping.
1t was well on toward . O'Clock when
/ approached the inn. Before long the
suitors would depart for their afternoon
call at the Manor. which was an estab-
lished event of the day. Just as l was
about to enter the gate ! was arrested
by an imperious voice calling. and John
Stewart Dick came running toward me
He had evidently been expecting me. and
paused. thinking him about to renew
his attack upon me. To my surprise he
greeted me cordially. even offering his
hand.
You thought you would come after ALL
Well, I'm glad you did. I've decided
In stature he was the shortest of the
suitors, but what he lacked in height was
compensated, for by tremendous dig
nifty. A dark NapoleOnic lock lay across
his forehead, and his clear-cut profile
otherwise suggested the Corsican, the re-
semblance being, | wickedly assumed,
one that the philosopher encouraged.
You have several times addressed me.
Mr.. Ames, in spirit OF contumely which
have hesitated to punish by the chas-
fS,ny1 1Aon 1xrpN m vHril no
to let bygones be bygones.".
His changed tone put me on guard, but
it was impossible for me to take him
seriously. In spite of the fact that he
was a. vigorous, muscular young fellow.
who could have thrashed me without
trouble ! could not resist the impulse he
always reused i'm me to address him i'm
language any self-respecting man would
resent.
Chant the dies irae with considerable
allegro, Plato. for I am hungry and
would fain pay for food at the adjacent
inn.
Il will overlook. the coarseness of your
humor. he rejoined. haughtily. My
own time is as valuable as yours. You
have sneered at my attachments as q
present. l am disposed to treat you mag
unanimously. You have an excellent opin-
ion of yourself: you have come here as
an intruder upon the rights of those OF
us who followed Cecilia Holiister across
Europe and home to America: but in
spite of this 1 waive my rights In your
favor. l had intended to offer myself
to Miss HOLSTER this afternoon, with
every hope of success. but 1 yield to you.
NY only request is that you inform me
at once when you have learned her deci-
sion.''
He clapped on his cap and folded his
arms. clearly satisfied with the express
sions of surprise to which my feelings
betrayed me. Could it be possible that he
had guessed the truth. perhaps by deduct
i've processes Of which [ was ignorant
Whether he had reasoned from some re-
mark thrown out by Miss Octavia as to
the influence of seven in the affairs of
life and her application OF that fateful
principle to the choice Of husband for
Cecilia, I could not guess, but assuming
that he had caught that clue, he might
readily enough have managed the rest.
Having crossed on the steamer with the
sutton host, a man of his intelligence
might readily enough have kept track
of the vanquished. In any case he had
the plea of generously waiting till I had
tried my luck he hoped to thrust me for
ward as the sixth sutton, and Immediate
ly thereafter project himself as the in
evitable seventh man. The whole situa-
ton was rendered perilously complex by
the knowledge that, unaided. he had pos
sessed himself of go much dangerous in
formation. ! must not. however allow
him to see what l suspected.
MY dear professor. there's an ancient
warning against the Greeks bearing gifts.
You must give me time TO inspect the
horse
Are you questioning my good faithe'
BE it far from me, I'm a good deal
tickled, though, by your genial assump-