The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-20
Bv FRANCIS A. COREY.
copyright, 1stl. by Associated Liter
AIRY Press

copyright lSii. ny NsSe~A"t""
AIRY Press-t
Thers Was Il succession of disc"ur-
aged grunts, and the little narrow
gauge engine came 10 a DEAD matt ~
The i1olated Vernon, valley
stalled" exclaimed chorus OF
voices in varying degrees OF annoy
ance and disglst
Mrs. Van isrunt sat suddenly erect.
SIZE was a magnificent parsonage. ag
gressive aud oyerbcaring much too
snartly dressed for 4 journey into me
Wilde.
.Il,., exasperating. There's na
7. Hing how long we viii be delayed
And we are due at Stornclin IN an
hour What's wrong, | wonder
The male messengers We're pouring
out OF the dinay little coaches on a
tour Of Investigation. Mrs Van
Brunt watched from tbs car window
as they hurried down the track, Tier
Ter cold eyes swept the landscape.
IN exclamation Was snaothered IN
her throat. She turned hastily 10 her
niece. very pretty girl with dark.
velvety eyes and copper Sieams In
her hair.
Constance. my dear, didn't wa
bring fruit ana sandwiches along ?
They'll help to pass the time
Here they are Aunt Helena, |
DOM want anything She had r,s
en- and slipped quietly into the aisle.
I'm get out nnd walk about.
Don't you stir a step Ioalt SGT
left.'
NO danger. just heard one of
the trainmen say we d be here Tor a
half hour or longer"
Il forbid you to leave the car.
cried Mrs. Van Brunt. najesticaiiy.
kebeilous red came into the girls
cheeks. What is the narmy You
are unreasonable, Aunt Helena" And
she started for the door.
Mrs. Van Brunt sailed after her
There were angry spiotches in the
elder woman's face.
Perhaps you think | don't know,
but | do" she Kissed. THAT farm
house up yonder is where you went
last summer with the McAlisters'
know it from the picture on your
dressing table at home
"les. said Connie queer little
tilt in her Voice. Its such dear
old place. ! want good look at H.
The McAiisters are in Europe. The
house is closed--nebody will know
And she moved on again with shining
eyes.
There We're times when even Mrs
Van Brunt dared note cross the girl
Why not let her have her way? Fate
had played a shabby trick in permit
ting the train To break down at this
particular point, But the worst that
could come from it was the awaken
ing OF memories that might better
slumber
( Il thought you had more sense.
| she said nngracionslN, lifting e hes
| skirts to alight from the car "oi
course can't let you go proving abou,
! the dreadful place alone"
| Connie climbed the hill slowly
| gancing from right to left. Each
| nook and corner had its bitter sweet
] memory. But for the ponderons fig
| IRE close beside her. she would havt
! been unable to restrain her sobs.
Presently curve in the patti
! brought them close to the old house
! rambling affair nesting confiding
| ly under great tees. Connie stuppet
| short. So did Mrs Van Brunt Tn.
windows We're o..en, the curtains
swaying in the breeze.
! Somebody's there. the eide
woman exclaimed
A face appeared and vanished. tn.
/ outer door swung open. and tai
young man-Duncan Vance himself
/ came forth.
Miss Kirby--you!" he exclaimed
with a warmth OF greeting that deep
ened the color in Comics cheeks
"Oh, see.' as his glance fell upol
the train below. The little dtnk.
got tuckered out. It usually does
somewhere on the road. Lucky
should be at my very door"
II thought had heard--you wer
abroad" Connie faltered, all her dim
pies flashing and playing bewilder
ingIy.
Yes. my friends believe ! wen
With the McAlisters in June. But
stole away all by myself to study Vi