The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-19

Later in the afternoon, as she sat
on the lawn with Virginia and her
mother, Norton appeared, striding
briskly up the street. He opened the
gate, and crossed the lawn TO them,
smiling and at ease.
Il didn't give Miss Walsh her check
book" he said. He addressed himself
TO Virginia. Il thought she would
find II out and come back-but you
didn't"-he turned TO Harriet as he
spoke-"and so I've brought It."
They were all very grateful To him;
that Is, Virginia and Jane expressed
their gratitude. They thought he had
been most kind and had put himself
TO a great deal of trouble in really
unimportant matter. Harriet said
nothing, but she suffered an accusing
pang when she recalled that she had
shown no interest In the weather
Virginia asked him TO be seated, for
though he had given the book into her
keeping, he still stood before them
hat In hand.
Norton sat down with alacrity
He was not under ordinary circum-
stances garrulous young fellow, but
on the present occasion ne talked
hard and fast. as one will who is try
ing to gain time; but the burden Of
what he had TO say was directed to
Virginia Instinct warned him that 1t
would be her opinion that would have
weight with the others, that if he was
ever to return there, as he hoped he
might be permitted TO do, II would be
because she was willing he should
n q
him little critically at first perhaps.
there was nothing OF unkindness in
her glance.
At last he quilted his chair; but he
was manifestly most reluctant to go;
they rose, too; and the four walked
slowly across the lawn. Norton Jagged
more and more as they neared the
gate; 1t involved a positive effort fol
him to tear himself away. In this ex
tremity he fell to admiring the flow
ers; he was particularly fond of flow
ers, II seemed; no doubt because he
had always lived in the country and
was accustomed to having growing
things about he even ventured the
hope that Mrs. Landray would let him
come later when the roses were in
bloom.
Il hope you may come again, Mr..
Norton responded Virginia kindly.
Thank you--if il won't be an in
trusion. I'll be only too glad to come; "
and he stole swift glance at Har-
riett.
1t may have been the interest chance,
but after this in one way and another,
Harriet saw good deal OF Norton,
for his love of the country took him
past the cottage very often. Harriet
knew this because she read much by
the window in the small parlOr
One night as the three sat in the
parlor. the girls quick ear caught the
sound OF wheels, and horse at a
rapid trot drew up at the curb. She
hid her face in the book she was read
ing, and her heart beat rapidly.
There was brisk step on the path,
and a brisk knock at the door, which
Mrs. Walsh opened. and there stood
Norton. To the girls eyes he seemed
wonderfully confident, wonderfully
sure of himself, and later she might
have added. wonderfully discreet. for
ne devoted himself almost exclusively
to Virginia.
He had. it developed. lively inter-
est in local history his own mater
nal grandfather having been con-
temporary in, the county with General
Iandray; during the last war with
England he had served as captain IN
the company of riflemen which the
former had raised; furthermore his
father had known Mrs. I.andrays hus-
BAN a fact OF which Mrs. Landray
herself was well aware. These were
all points that were calculated 10
make her feel a certain liking for the
young fellow himself, which was only
intensified by his quite evident re-
spect for the very name of Landray;
nothing could have been more com
mendable or better calculated to show
him a person Of proper instincts. Vir-
ginia recalled that as girl she had
been a guest at his mothers wedding;
and that General Harrison--to whom
Mrs. Norton was distantly related
had been present.
But while they talked Of these mat
ters. his glance drifted on past Vir-
ginia 10 the pretty, silent girl.
When at last Norton took his leave.
he was Hospitality urged to call again,
an invitation he professed himself as
fully determined to make the most OF.
He was the first young man who
had ever called there, though this was
not because there was any dearth Of
young men in the town; but Harriet
was aware that Virginias point of view
regarding strangers was conservative
to say the least; here, however, was
a young man whose grandfather had
been a prominent man In the county
when Landray had been the promi-
nent man OF all that region.
SO Norton. was welcomed graciously
whenever he chose to call. Yet some
how after that first call they avoided
ale mention OF him: even repeated
visits did not provoke them to discus.
sion: and at this, Harriet wondered
not a little