Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-18

Il was devil take the hindmost for a
good five minutes. before had the dscre-
tion TO reflect a little upon my situation.
Here was l, who ought 20 avoid rather
than court public notice. pounding along
In fun cry with nearly twenty genucmenl
l glanced about on my right. a square
set, middle-aged man, spurred fercely
upon big skewbald, | raced him for a
stake and rider fence. and beat him by n
stride. My take-off Just ahead Of him drew
an oath from him and cry OF well rid
den sirl" from young Green Jacket. 1
ranged alongside OF the latter.
THE Gloucester hunt, l take H. sir" I
managed to say.
Eyes, sir" He whooped like wild In
dian I'm my very ear as the brush Of big
red fox flickered an instant ON the rise or
a hill. "Yea-a! Gone away a-wa-a-a-yl''
At last l regained my wits. and began to
pull back. The huntsmen speedily forged
ahead Of me-all except the square-set man
on the large skewbald. who kept so long
neck-to-neck. that l gazed at him inquir-
ingly. He was favoring me with a puzzled
scowl.
When he saw that l was aware Of his
particular attention, he clapped spurs to
his nag, and went away from me at
great pace. The last saw OF him he had
turned in his saddle and was straining
back, his face still a-frown
! could not recall that had ever seen
the man before, yet his actions caused me
a deal OF uneasness. Although / was bold
enough to face 1t, yet was not in posi-
ton to submit to any, even strangers
scrutiny without a qualm.
SO little did like the sound of chorus
ringing from the common-room-it was
plain that some of the Gloucester gentle
men had stayed to hunt the tavern fox
that turned my roam into the horse sheds
without calling for either hostler or land
lord.
Entering the house by a side door the
very first person l encountered was Peggy
O'Connor. She was in the act of crossing
the hall bearing a salver piled with eat
abes. She nearly dropped her load when
| called her by name.
Lord! It's Squire Morvan."
II have you fairly trapped now Peggy"
She laughed up at me, her arms OUT
stretched to support the tray Sure I'm
definceess now, that's the truth"
81 won't take an unkind advantage of
you"
"Ah, Squre-for a man that's got pair
Of live devils hidin' in the backs of his
eyes, you're the most forbearin' one I
ever did see. You'll find the master in the
bar, sur"
IT don't care to mix with the company
at the bar. I'll go into the parlor"
She barred my way hurredly. TITS en-
gagged, sur. II you please. I'm carryln'
snack in there now surf you please
I'm not sure do please There's room
for another in the parlor suppose"
''Well, sur-I don't know"
Come, come, Peggy. You're talking
nonsense"
Don't be too sure of that. sur" Her
eyes twinkling, she suddenly lifted the
salver within an inch OF my nose. do
you smell that. SURF"
"What?" Then as a fragrant aroma
arose from a steaming kettle. Tea! O-ohi
it's lady who's engaged the parlor?"
ut is that! secret, sur-youve seen
her before"
IT have?"
Sure, you have so-though she hasn't
a veil now"
What! Peggy, you're a jewel. Let me
have that tray. No. no-Im her cousin.
you know-it'l be a pleasant surprise for
her. You needn't come in-Tll do the serv-
ing myself. i dare say there's enough for
two here" lr.
I OVERRIDE her protests, and bore the
salver into the tavern parlor.
IL DtcH III any less OeIldnt MOOD.
I would have beaten retreat before the
look that greeted me from the girl at the
window table.
"Sr" she exclaimed before could speak.
how dare youl This intrusion"
II fancied you'd be surprised, Cousin" I
rejoined pleasantly. It's not often you've
had such a Ganymede as l." 1 placed the
eatables on the table. IT vow I'm a rars
hand at the service of a,-goddess"
"Oh" she cried. "Oh!" In a very flame
Of temper she was half way to the door.
Don't rouse the whole house." / said
quickly. IF you leave me like this,
swear I'll make the place ring with your
name. II would be precious tt-bit for tha
tavern loungers to know that Miss Dayton
refuses to sip tea with her cousin, Mr..
Morvan." From the corner of my eye
saw the shot had told-she came to an un-
certain halt.
I began to arrange the tea things talking
carelessly the while. Yes, the tongues
would wag anew over the scandal of the
county families. Sit down, Cousin. Al
least, you can leave me as well after you've
drunk dish of tea as before"
Indignation choked her-yet 1 noticed,
with an inward smile, that she came a step
nearer.
II suppose 1t is useless to suggest to Mr.
Morvan that q gentleman would with
draw
quite useless 1 agreed Your chair
implores you, Cousin-also, the bohea II
growing cold"
With a flutter Of her hands almost a.
II she were yielding to actual force-shs
sank into a seat.
I eyed her covertly as l poured her dish
OF tea. She wore her riding habit az
usual, the close-fltting bodice. the patched
skirt, the skinned boot with its bent but
shining spur or the frayed whip 1 had
robbed her, but I noticed with a panR
that the gloves beside her plate were her
old ones.
Through the window behind, the sunlight
touched her hair and drew a golden band
above her eyebrows. Her red mouth. firm
and sweet, trembled a Extraordinarily,
as her hands had done.
why have you followed me here?" she
asked. Il came here toto be quiet-to
be away from-everything for a day. Why
track me so?'
81 track no one" answered IT found
eyou here by chance. came here like your
self, 1t seems-to be at ease. No, I'll leave
n q1nh