The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-26
dsontinred.)

rAsy dismounted and waited q little
while. then lem said he would just
ride up to the house, if Miss Wilmot
did not mind waiting. He darted out
OF sight, and Vernon sat down upon
the bank by the roadside, and lost
herself in a consideration of the won
drous beauty of rural England In the
month of May.
Presently he was back again
alone. He looked ruffled. ''She is not
coming" he said. ''umfraville seems
to have cut up rough. Oh perhaps
it is Frampie; she is rather an old
crock. and does anything Sophia tells
her"
what a PITY" said Vernon. "Did
they not give any reason?"
.Umfraville said he didn't like her
going about quite SO informally"
Did you say that 1 was meekiy
waiting at the park gate?"
Yes. He suggested that we should
both go up to tea with them instead
Of our ride. But said YOU wanted 10
practise for the gymkhana-"
Indeed yes. 1 want to go and
see the baby cygnets." said Vernon
wheeling her machine into the road
with determination.
Il hoped you would. But of course.
il you like we will go and spend the
afternoon there with them"
(which would you like?" said Yer
non.f suddenly struck with a notion
or her own selfishness. That is the
question. wouldn't you rather be
with"
aNo. wouldn't. He beheaded her
sentence with almost suspicious read
mess
-Of course thought Vernon. 81
am not supposed to know anything
yet If I go on being kind to him.
he may confide in me. and then l
could help him in ali sorts of little
ways How curious. though, that
that nice gentle Sir Miles should be
90 prickly all Of sudden"
In spite Of her quick progress in ac-
quiring the art, she was as yet most
unpractised cyclist. and the miles that
lay between them and the magic pool
exhausted her to an extent which sur
prfsed her.
When at last they dismounted. On
the road. just where suItana and she
had first caught sight of the CLEAN of
water through the trees. she was 90
tired that she could hardly stand
well. am a silly" said she. with
. rueful laugh. At feel quite used
up"
I'm afraid it was rather far for
the first time" he said. ST ought to
have had more sense. But it is only
muscular. you know. When you have
rested . bit it will pass OF. I mean.
you are not really half as tired as you
feel Give me the machine"
He wheeled them both OF and hid
them behind tree, though there
seemed to be no passers-by to fear.
They had not met soul for three
ny solitude stepped in warmth, and
the well-nigh unbearable hawthorn
perfume.
In complete silence they strolled
slowly down, among the burning
bushes OF broom, to the spell-bound
margin Of the little mere.
None of the swan family were to be
seen. though the heron seminal was
on guard. and quietly disappeared, in
exactly the same way as he had pre-
viousIy done Jem found a nook for
her among the moss and young heath
er and persuaded her to lie down
full length, as nothing rested one SO
completely a. that. He promised
that he would tell her the momen,
the cygnets appeared
She lay down accordingly, among
the clover and wild thyme and pref
ty tiny blossoms which starred the
ground Jem, seated near, lit his
pipe. and sat staring straight before
him meditatively.
mo, don't let us picnic here said
Vernon suddenly. cit is all just about
10 disappear; the hawthorn Is over
the bloom is dropping. and by Tues
day it will be gone. / could no,
have other people see it,
VERY WELL" he answered
Where shall we go them"
ITO Lancelot's Tower" he replied
''Lancelot's Tower? Where is that p
1t is a ruined keep-a haunted
place in the forest, on the Quarry
moor Hills. 1t is where your fatn-
er and old Umfraville fought then
duel"
"Oh," she cried, with vivid interest
81 know. ] passed it that night when
I was 1ost.-you know, the night ]
first came"
She made a dead stop. The re-
membrance of that first night flooded
all her thought. With its old start
ling clearness there leaped to hel
mental view the picture of the oper
door of Barrow End, and of Jem
as he had then looked. In spite OF
the warm day she shivered. Jem
did. not turn his head, but she saw
the dark blood surge up to his face