Putnam patriot., 1912-01-19

with the McAlisters in June. But l ! stole away aIl by myself to study up for the book I'm writing on Forestry. l I've put in six weeks of solid work A look passed between the two that
 made Mrs. Van Brunt writhe. Was all her plotting and wire-pulling to come to naught? She had counted on definitely settling her niece's flu,
 ture within twenty-iour hours. Now l the one man who could spoil her lit. tie game had unexpectedly crossed
 their path.
 T hear the warning whistle" she ] exclaimed. We must hasten back Duncan Vance walked down to the 1 train with them. He and Connie i chatted in accents of suppressed ex
 citement, but Mrs. Van Brunt kep, l close at their heels. She hurried Connie into the coach, but the young
 man stood at the window until the l train began to move.
 q shall see you again soon," he called after them.
 Not if I can help it!" Mrs. Van Brunt calculated to herself. Some hours later Connie stood on
 the broad veranda at Stormcliff. The | sun had gone down behind Stratton
 mountain. All the lesser heights, the | fir-crowned slopes, were wrapped iD
 a wonderful opal haze.
 Several things had happened since
 their arrival Colonel Calvert, their
 host, railroad president, with no | immediate family of his own, had shown them over the beautiful house.
 Then Jack, his handsome nephew, had escorted Connie through the grounds. Afterward Mrs. Van Brunt ! had unearthed from her trunk a very lovely gown, her latest purchase for her niece
 "Of course this is no mere pleasure trip" was her cold-blooded declara- tion. Make the most of your oppor- tunity, my dear. You will never have such another There's another neph-
 CIV, a graceless scamp. imagine; but Jack ought to get the lions share of
 the money. If you let him slip through your fingers because of any
 foolishness, you'll get no more help from me-"
 It was not Jacks face that danced
 before the girls eyes as she arrayed herself in the grudgingly-given finery.
 Indeed had she not become very fond of Colonel Calvert, whose acquaint- ance he had made in New York the previous winter, she would never have consented to come to Stormcliff. He had taken an almost paternal interest in her from the first.
 Nervous sobs were very near the surface as she stood there and watch. ed the sun go down. Her fate was in her own hands. She liked lux. ury and hated poverty. 1t was per- fectly clear why this invitation to. the Calvert summer home had been. extended. Cold, common sense ad- monished her to accept thankfully what the gods had provided. But, she didn't love Jack-she never could love himl It would be a case of bar. ter and sale
 A firm, quick step crossed the yer, anda. She saw Jack coming and her heart leaped into her throat. What: should she say to him?
 Ten minutes later 1t had been said all uncertainty was over forever. Jack had rushed away. snapping at her angry words.
 And now she must face her aunt's bitter upbraidings. She knew the price she would have to pay-poor clothes, plain living, uneongenial tasks; but her heart sang within her. Mrs. Van Brunt would call her sen timental fool; but she felt that she
 had done the wise and sensible thing
 Slowly the last gleam of daylight faded; stars flashed into the darken-
 ing sky. Colonel Calvert met her as
 she re-entered the house, and drew
 her into the big drawing room, into
 the brilliant gaslight.
 50 you have refused Jock?" There
 was an amused gleam in his shrewd
 gray eyes as they searched her face
 Why? Don't be afraid-tell me, my
 dear. Why did you do it?"
 Down went her head upon his shoul-
 der. q found-I couldn't-sen my
 self," she faltered.
 Colonel Calvert stroked her rum-
 pied hair tenderly. That's where
 you showed good sense. Now, l won-
 der if there isn't somebody else who
 has better show than poor Jack?" Connie started back, pale and trem- bling. The sudden fear was unfound-
 ed. He gave a low whistle, evidently
 a signal. A man in long motor coat
 came swiftly down the hallway.
 My fayorite nephew, Duncan
 Vance," Colonel Calvert said. with
 twinkling eyes. q wanted to be sure
 you were worthy of him, my dear; so
 I let Jack have the first chance. But
 1 knew you'd stand the test all right"