Evening star., 1912-11-07
CHAPTER XVI-Continued.


I'm the meantime Robert Baxter and
Kate Clendennin, returning from the rail-
way station by what the Rev Horatlo
Merle might have called short cut OF
about twenty miles, took no account OF
the flight of time. Now they raced mauiH
down narrow lane whose hawthorn
hedges interlaeed thickly overhead. NOW.
as the road passed between thrush
haunted woods, they went very SLOWLY
sometimes standing still for minutes dt d
time 10 listen to the notes OF the Wo"d
birds once when d spotted faWn trot'eo
out of the thicket and ambled In front OIL
the motor they went al half speed iol
nearly a mile before the frightened efea-
ture decided TO take to the WOODS AGAIN,
In the last four or five days Kate mad
seen a good deal of Bob since her con-
fession to Lionel on the MilioTook ilhhs' |s
and she had not ovcresumated her pow
ers Each day he sought her cohpah!
more eagerly. and while a. hrst she naa'
without appearing to do So. gwen il'li
opportunities. now, as Tar as couid pe'
with young man who had to give
part of his time to business IN LONDON
his movements had come to be Gomez
dental with her own.
But Kate knew that the time had come
when she must. to put II badlS, elthe,
take him or leaNe MN. '7t!e iel'' 49,
Lionel that she was going 10 marry Roo-
ert Baxter. That, however, was seNerai
days ago Then her decision was not r.
revocable. Now as she sat pe9lue noo,
ert Baxter in the motor, Kate reallZed
that any day, any hour. any moment IL
might become irrevocable.
She spoke suddenly Wed better De
hlIrrving." she said. Its getting late.
I'm getting hungry. aren't you?
,,n the way home Kate kept him busy
with the high speed lever, deciarinS that
if they weren't back inside OF half an
hour she would certainly starvc to death:
In less than ten minutes Bob had passed
the golf links and in three minutes more
they were whizZing through the lodge
gates.
what is it," she asked. looking round
curiously.
What's whate" said Bob, as he fol-
lowed her into the hail.
It's so beastly quiet = there's some
thing wrong. l wonder where Lionel is,
she said.
They passed into the library. Kate
pulled bell. once, twice and once again
No one answered.
PERHAPS it didn't ring" suggested Bob.
They tried one in the conservatory,
and, getting no response, they descended
10 the regions of the kitchen TO see what
was the matter. With the exception OF
the range there was not living soul to
be found anywhere.
Bob took out his cigarette case and
Kate seated herself on the dresser with
her feet on chair.
Were marooned," she said; the words
came out of a violet-smoke cloud.
Looks like it, said Bob, as he hshted
his cigarette from hers.
Il say. can you cook?" asked the voice
from the cloud.
4 can make a Welsh rabbit
well, I'll thank you not to- Kate
volplaned from her perch on the dresser
Lets see what there is. There's sure
to be something cold, and, if there are
eggs enough, I'll make an omelet mile
wide
There were cold meats of various kinds,
also cold boiled potatoes These Kate cut
up and placed in a frying pan, while Bob
made a fire in the range. and, under
kate's direction, put the plates and dishes
for the omelet and the potatoes In the
oven to warm.
When everything was ready Kate sent
Bob upstairs TO set the table and ring
the gong for luncheon As he hurried
through the servants corridor he met
Mrs. Merle.
"Oh. Mr. Baxter she cried. did you
ever see anything like it, / am just go
ing down 10 see if | can find anything
for lunch"
Bob smiled sweetly as he held the door
kitchen.
We'll, | never exclaimed Harriet
when she had recovered from the first
shock of surprise at seeing Kate. If I'd
known sooner | might have been some
help. My husband is laying the cloth.
splendid" answered Kate, as if it
were the most natural thing in the world
Now. Bob, you can help US with the
trays
Bob led the way with a large tray on
TT ~ ,~l. -
sliced cold chicken. Kate carried the
ornelet and sweet" she had made
al the last minute of fried bread and
strawberry jam. Mrs. Merle brought up
the rear with the dish of fried potatoes
and a jar of potted shrimps.
Horatio had just finished setting the
table when the procession of three en-
tered the dining room. iis back was
turned He was making a last round
massaging with gentle finger tips the few
remaining wrinkles in the white cloth.
In an instantaneous conspiracy of 81
leace they watched him as he slowly cir
cumnayigated the snow and crystal con-
tincnt. Arrived at the antipodes, Hora-
ito looked up quietly and met the eyes
in the doorway. As they looked at him
a change came over his face. He stood
very straight, looking almost tall. II was
happening, the miracle he had prayed
for!
For / have given you an example that
ye should do as | have done 10 YOU
Perhaps they didn't know IL. Perhaps
they thought il was all a joke. But he
knew better. 1t was part of the great
design. just as the departure of the
frightened servants were part OF the
same design.
Here they came. laughing joking, but
all lending hand, all serving. Some one
was crying: Hooray for the new butler,
speech, Speech 1t was Lionel F'itz-
Brown. Returning from a ramble on the
moor at the last minute he had seen