The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-03-21
THE FATAL RUBY
BY
CHARLES GARVICE
Author of "Just a Girl" "Diana and
Destiny" I'm VOLTS Clothing" etc.
Copyright, 1909
BY George Fl. Doran Company
Continued from page 81

him, all the more so because his de-
parture followed SO closely on her
loss of Cara. She dropped back into
her old quiet life, that daily round
of common tasks and simple pleas
ures which suffice for a girl Of Eve
lyn's gentle, restful, nature. She had
written, through the agent, to Rom
aid, and, after some time, had re-
ceived a short letter from him, in
which he had said that he was well;
he said also that he had had slice
of bad luck, but that she was not to
worry about him. In a postscript he
had added that he had heard unsatis-
factory news of a certain person, and
that therefore he thought it best to
still keep out of the way.
Evelyn had been rather puzzled by
this postscript. She did not know
that Dexter Reece had sent the para
graph from the paper, limiting that
Lord Lydstone's injuries might end
fatally. Reece had enclosed it in
an envelope and addressed it in dis
guised handwriting. Ronald had
thought that it had come from Glenn
son or Brandon.
Evelyn longed for Ronald's return;
but, with her longing, was a sense
of relief that he was away from Lon
don and it's manifold temptations.
She thought of him daily, as she went
for her rides and walks and visited
her beloved people. The autumn
slipped away. Early in the year
she went up to London on a visit 30
an aunt; but she did not stay long;
for Evelyn was an open-air girl, and
the country CALLED to her with an ir-
resistible appeal.
One of her first inquiries when she
returned was about the mill; and she
learnt, with no surprise, but with
keen disappointment, that the Ravens
had not come back.
One morning she was walking
through spinney which formed the
boundary between Thorden and the
neighboring estate, which balonged to
the Prynnes, when she heard a gun
fired. The shot came from the left
70 ter--that is to say, on the Thor
den land-and she supposed it was
one Of the keepers. Thinking that
she had better make her presence
known, she called OUT:
us that you. Barker?"
A shout came in response, and, a
moment or two afterwards, gentle
man emerged from amongst the trees,
and, at sight Of her, stopped short.
81 beg your pardon" he said, rails
ing his cap. did you call? I had no
idea any one was in the wood but
myself. I hope my gun didn't startle
your"
"Oh, no." replied Evelyn, who was
pleasantly impressed by his appear
ance and his voice. II hope you are
having good sport?".
Fairly good, thank YOU" he ans
wered.
There used to be a good many
woodcock in this spinney," she said.
"Yes?" An expression of doubt,
uncertainty, came over his cookbook
ing face; he glanced at Evelyn, then
on the ground, and at last said, "Can
you tell me where the boundary of
Thorden lies? I ask, because + am
not quite sure that am not trespass-
ing. My name is vane. T have ia
ken the Prynnes' shooting. I've only
just come, and I'm little hazy as
to the lie of the land
''The boundary lies just beyond
this wood" said Evelyn; "there used
to be fence, but 1t has disappeared. ,,
'Then I am on Sir Reginald Des-
borough's land" said vane colouring
with annoyance. 81 will remove my
self as quickly as possible, and will
write and apologize to Sir Reginald -
"Oh. please do not go!' said Eve
lyn quickly, and with a blush, .My
father would not like you to do So
indeed, he will be glad to have the
spinney shot, for he does not often
shoot
"You are very kind, Miss Desbor-
ough,' said Vane. ITO tell Won the
truth, I was not aware until this
morning that Sir Reginaid's land
joined the Prynnes'. The shooting
was taken for me by an AGENT
He stopDed short and fro1p,aa ,,,;+h
an air of confusion. So this was
Evelyn Desborough, Ronald's sister!
Now, what was he, vane, to do? Rom
aid had left England because of
some trouble-was living under an
assumed name. Should Vane tell
her that he had spent some time with
Ronald? Or would Ronald expect
him to keep his mouth shut? It was
an awkward question; and he walked
beside Evelyn, trying to decide it.
There was SO much he had to tell
her, SO much he could not tell her:
and yet, to meet her frequently. as
he might probably do, and refrain
from mentioning her brother would
be well-night impossible, especially
to man Of Vane's temperament.
Are you living at the Lodge ?''
asked Evelyn.
The Lodge was kind of glorified