The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-12

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that piteous appeal from one who
was, perhaps, at that moment a dead
woman, he dared not go, himself to
Barrow End.
He said no word to either of the
ladies, he did not even think Of his
waiting breakfast. He went down to
the stables, asked the man to give
him the bicycle he rode yesterday,
and set off at once, riding as fast as
he could.
Vernon and Aunt Emma finished
their breakfast, then sent a maid UP
to Lionels room to inquire.
She returned with the news that
Mr.. Gladwyn was not in his room
They sought him in the garden, and
then they heard that he had gone
out with bicycle.
This was a little bewildering. They
knew that he had the intention of
going to Wishfeld again that after
and go off so suddenly required ex-
plantation, until the stableman said
that he thought the gentleman had
gone to the doctors. He asked where
the nearest doctor lived. Vernon
thought of Evelyn and her story.
Suppose that Lionel turned out to be
secretly and seriously ill? Was she
capable of the devotion which Evelyn
had showed to Cecil? BY no means.
She did not love Lionel. She knew
this now with increasing clarity.
Would she ever love him? She had
heard of such thing as growing TO
love a person better. But she could
not imagine the increasing distaste
for his society which she experienced
as merging into anything like what
Evelyn felt for Cecil.
The morning wore on, and he did
not return. Lunch-time came, and
he had not appeared. That after
noon was the Flower Show at Pom
thewel; and they were obliged 20
start at half-past two, as they were
to pick up Jem at the station.
The day was very fine, the air full
Of the sweetness of hay-felds. Yer
non had been a good deal interested
during the past fortnight in the ar
her appearance that day. 1t was,
she could not help thinking, a sue
cess, as also the hat that went with
it.
When Mrs. Bardsley came down
into the hall and saw her waiting
there, her heart .overflowed with
pride in her. She wished that she
saw some way out for her from her
present difficulties. She wished that
her own spirits were not weighed to
earth by the terror of Jem's depart
ure, and the apprehension of his dis
grace. Joy and sorrow. love and
pride jostled each other in her heart.
She left word that, should Mr.. Glad
wynn return, he was to be driven to
the Flower Show. and informed that
they We're sorry to be. obliged to start
without him, but they had to keep
their appointment at the station.
Vernon was wholly glad that
Lionel was not with them, as she
knew how much his presence would
have affected Jem's temper. AS they
drove along she was conscious of feel
ing more cheerful than since Jem left
the previous day. She was very
doubtful as to how he would meet
her, since they had not parted very
amicably. But she determined to be
as sweet as she could to him, and
to bear his crossness patiently, since
it must be hard for him to be good
tempered always, if his heart was full
of anxiety about Selma In all pro-
liability he knew of the noxious ru-
NOR which was prevalent. She wish
ed that she were a man, and not a
girl, SO that she could, without i'm
propriety, assure him of her own
scorn of such tale against him.
Up at the tiny railway station all
was very peaceful. The single line
of rails flashed in the afternoon sun
shine. The station master came out,
touching his cap, to ask if he should
put some cases of stores which had
arrived into the carriage, or wait for
the cart. He remained to chat a
moment, and to remark that a good
many would be coming in by this
train for the Flower Show.
Then the train appeared, curving
itself softly, slowly, round the cutting,
as if no such thing as haste were
dreamed of in the world. Vernon
thought it odd that her heart should
beat uncomfortably.
Now the engine was at rest, sigh
ing a little, and the carriages let forth
number of summer toilettes and a
good many broad backs in rough
tweed. Presently Jem came saun-
tering out, with his bag carried by a
porter who had known him from
childhood. He had evidently been
told that his party was awaiting him.
and he did not look pleased
His eye scanned the carriage has
tily, and there was perhaps a slight
lifting of his gloom as he saw that
only the two ladies were there.
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