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

II wonder / wonder" she faltered,
drawing away. the better to observe me.
You wonder how much I know! To
relieve your mind without parleying
further. I will say to you that 1 know
everything
"Then Aunt Octavia must have told
you. and that seems incredible. 1t was
distinctly understood
"Your aunt told me nothing Not by
words did any one tell me-
mot by words?' she asked, cycling me
wonderingly. and clearly fearing that l
might be playing some trick upon her.
'.Then can it be that Hezekiah-but no.
Hezekiah doesn't knOw!
Trust Hezekiah for not telling secrets"
answered. evasively. Give me credit
for some imagination. The air of Hope
field is stimulating, and I'm the few days
have spent i'm your aunt's house have
learned much that l never dreamed of
before. / am not at all the person you
greeted with 50 much courtesy in the IL
brary when l arrived there, a chimney
doctor and an ignorant person, few
afternoons ago-called, as l thought. to
prescribe for flues that proved to be in
admirable condition. but really sum
moned by higher powers to assist the
fates in the proper and orderly perform
. ance Of their duties to several members
of the house OF Holister-yourAelf among
them.
II don't understand it: you are wholly
inexpiicable
II am the simplest and least guileful
| of beings, | assure you. Yet I have done
some things here not i'm the slightest way
| related to chimney doctoring, and some
thing else ! expect to do for which l be-
| iieve You will thank me through all the
years of your life
| All if you really know, that is pos
sibIe." she sighed. YEARLY. II am very
| 10 have agreed TO Aunt Octavfas plan.
You have seen those men-any one of
| them might, you know And she
| shrugged her shoulders impatiently.
Any one of them might be the sew
| enth man, There. you see l do know.
And l mean to help you!
She was immensely relieved: there was
no question of that. Gratitude shone In
| her eyes. and them as i marveled at
their beautiful dark depths. fear suddenly
possessed them The change in her was
startling. Several motors had swept by
| in the outer road while we talked; they
were family visible through the trees.
and just now we both heard horse and
| caught a fieeting glimpse Of Hartley WIG
(; gins. riding slowly with bowed head to-
ward the inn. Cecilia's horse flung up
his head. but she clapped her hands upon
| his nostrils and held them there to pre-
vent his whinnying until that figure OF
| despair had passed out Of hearing.
| l was smitten with sorrow for Hartley
| Virgins. could put myself i'm his place
and imagine his feelings as lie rode like
| a defeated general back to the Inn. there
to face the other sutors after the hui
initiating experience which Cecilia Hol-
lister had just described. In his ignor-
| ancc of the cause OF her eagerness TO es-
cape from him. he no doubt believed that
he had all unconsciously made himself
tintOlerable to her. Ii was plain that that
glimpse of him had touched Cecilia $
pity; il l had doubted the sincerity OF
her regard for him before, | spurned the
thought now. / was anxious to re-
quicken hope in her-an odd Office Tor
me to assume when i'm my own affairs
had always Welded my sword readily tt
the blue devils! Yet during my short
stay at IIopefield ! had already found IL
possible TO restore Miss Octavias conf