The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-06-08

\
questioningiy at the maid servant who
opened the door to him.
Nobody OF that name in the house,
sir"
mo? You surprise me-" he smiled.
then added However, as / am not
blind, can see her at this very mo-
ment playing tennis in the court"
He pointed casually In the direction
of the distant lawn.
THAT is Miss Peggy Smith, sir. The
gentleman she is playing with, being
the young master"
The little man coughed.
Then, my good girl, would you have
!! the Kindness to tell Miss Peggy Smith
that Mr.. George Brent, solicitor to the
late earl Of Porthawn, would like to
see her for<a few minutes"
The servant stared, then asking the
solicitor into the house, she showed
him into the drawing room and de-
parted on her errand. Brent had not
| long to wait, for ere many minutes
had elapsed, the door opened and a
pretty. winsome girl entered the room.
closely followed by the young fellow
tennis with her.
$50 you have found me at last, Mr..
Brent she remarked by way of greet
ing.
"'Um, yes, my dear Lady vesdris.'
replied the solicitor. should be pleased
1
| private conversation-alone."
well, we are alone, dear Mr.. Brent"
said Vesdris, smiling. Bert being in
the room does not alter the fact for
we, you see-we have no secrets from
each other"
"Ahem" The solicitors eyes twink
led more than ever. Am I to under
stand, by that confession, that you are
| engaged to this gentleman"
Not yet" replied Vesdris, hurriedly,
before Bertram Wilmot had time to get
| word in edgeways. 'We->-we"----
What was 1t that you wanted to see
me alone for?"
''Ah, Of course, was forgetting the
object OF my visit In the pleasure Of
seeing YOU" The smile died from his
lips, as he added. seriously. 1T Is my
pleasant duty to inform you that my
late client, the earl of Porthawn, died
interstate, and such being the case, you,
as his lordships only surviving relative,
inheri. alike his estates in the duchy Of
Cornwall and his fortune" He paused
then added The title, of course,
lapses, though 1t could doubtless be re-
vived, always supposing that you con-
tracted suitable marriage"
Il Vesdris laid hand on the little
mans arm.
That, Mr.. Brent, you know that I
should always do" she said. smiling
|
Il am far from being certain on
that point" said the solicitor, a slight
note of testiness apparent In his voice.
Il remember the time when You told
me In all seriousness that you wanted
to marry the gardeners boy"
But that was when used to invite
you up to the schoolroom to tea with
my dolls, Mr.. Brent"
Those were happy days, Vesdris.
when l used to come and drink Thin
blefuls Of tea with you and listen to
the respective history OF your dollies!
Eth? little thought then that you
would ever have been thrown alone
on the hard world as Miss Peggy Smith.
Two years hard hunting 1t has taken
me to find YOU"
Il knew that you would want me to
come to you, IL let you know Of my
whereabouts" Vesdris said softly, Il
did not want to be a burden on you,
for thought that could earn my own
living! Rather than do that would
have accepted the hundred year I'm
Gle Walter offered me, when he stepped
into everything at the death of my
poor father" Her lips trembed omir-
| ouSly for moment, then steadying she
continued, II have been very happy,
here. Everybody has been so kind to
me, and Bert has ooked after me as
carefully as IL were his own sister,"
Il Perhaps more 30 than IL you were,'
said the solicitor dryly, adding briskly
as the young man colored awkwardly.
well, must be off now. 1 am due at
York at 2. and"-
But you will stay and have some
LUNCH" said Wilmot, speaking for the
first time. II know Peggy-er-Lady
Vesdris would
Thank you, but am afraid can
not. ! have just ten minutes in which
to get to the station" The solicitor
spoke briskly. Good bye! OF course.
you must leave here. little girl. at once.
and come UP to town. You have a lot
OF documents to sign before you can
enter possession of your own. Let me
see. today is Monday shall expect
you at my Office not later that Tuesday
week. Good bye! Good bye! Remem-
Der what l said about the title and
making suitable marriage. As you
are one Of the biggest ifnot the biggest,
heiresses In England, you have money
enough to revive it," And so saying.
the busy little solicitor walked to the
door and out Of the house.
n Bert was standing by the window,
his hands thrust down into his jacket
pockets, gazing absent-mindedly out
into space. So occupied, indeed, was
he in his own thoughts that he was
unaware OF Vesdriss presence till he
felt her hand lightly placed on his
shoulder.
Bert" she said, wistfully you told
me this morning that you had some
thing to speak to me about"
He turned to gaze at the girl beside
him In mute agony.
wont you tell me now what II was
you wanted to say to me, dear?"
| mo, am afraid that / cannot" he
said hoarsely, as once again to turned
to look out of the window. Tito
tell you the truth, IL forget what /
was going to say"
Don't tell fib. Bert" she said qui-
city, as putting her arm through his,
she laid her head upon his shoulder.
You know really quite well what you
were going to say. Won't you tell me
that is. IL / really wart to hear"
"You--that isl can never tell you
what was going to say. now"
why wont you tell me now when
half an hour ago you were willing to 2"
: "Why" He placed his hands on her
shoulders and looked straight into the
: violet eyes raised half shyly to his. "a
great deal has happened In those thirty
minutes-and I wonder IL you would
be angry with me, fl said-that you
have hardly been quite fair with me-"
why do you think that / have been
( unfair?"