Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-06-12

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change horses with her, and
while he was r%eadjusting the
saddle girths I explained to
Hezekiah the situation at Hopefeld
and told her Of Dicks scamper across
the fields.
There's no use fooling with this
thing any more. I'll take Wiggy to
the house and lock him up until I've
been numbered six. It's safest"
mot much it isn't. 1 don't intend
that Cecilia shall have the pleasure of
refusing you"
I'D like to know why not. It's only
to fill the gap"
"Oh," said Hezekiah, that would be
an embarrassment to me all the rest of
my life. Listen carefully. Take Wiggy
in by the back way and give him a
picture book to look at. Leave Cecilia
alone on the terrace when you're all
ready and see what happens. If Dicks
on iIis way to the house he's going to
Qo something, and he must feel the
edge of my displeasure. 1 owe him a
few on general principles"
What does all this mean? You saw
there's nothing wrong at the house?"
began Virgins as we left Hezekiah
and started toward Hopefield.
Nothing whatever the matter. Ev-
erything perfectly all right, but you've
got to keep mum now and do what 1
tell you. I've worked hard for you, old
man, n when it's all over Pm going
to send you a bill for professional serv-
ices. Gomez
1 urged my horse to his utmost, and
Virgins rode steadily beside me. The
fright Orion had given him had lone
my friend good, and l felt that l was
dealing with a live man at last.
"Ill tell you all about this after we
have a good night cigar tonight"
We rode direct to the stable. and 1
took Virgins to my room by the back
stairs and bade him help himself to my
raiment. He was perfectly tractable,
and l was glad to see hat he trusted
implicitly to my guidance.
met Miss Octavia in the lower hall.
She was just in from the kennels.
II hope. Arnold, that you have not
been without entertainment. BY the
way, if you should by any chance see
Hezekiah you will kindly intimate to
her that if she returns that mare she
borrowed this morning in reasonably
good condition l will overlook her in
discretion in taking it from the stable
without permission
She did not wait for a reply, but
continued on to her room, and l went
direct to the terrace. Cecilia and Pep
perton were just going into the house
to look up a book or piece of music
which they had been discussing. &C.
ella was making herself interesting, as
she SO we'll knew how to do. and she
seemed in no wise anxious.
I'VE had forgotten tea" she said.
"Aunt Octavia has just ordered it,"
"She and Mr.. Pepperton may have
their tea. l believe the air outside will
do you good for a little longer-so if
you don't mind, Pepperton. Miss Hol-
lister will resume her promenade
alone"
Pep has told me since that he
thought me quite mad that afternoon.
I babe Cecilia patrol the long terrace
.slowly. She turned up the collar of
the covert coat and obeyed. laughing a
little ~nervously. but asking no ques-
lions. The scene could not have been
more charmingly set. The great house
doomed darkly behind her: beneath lay
the garden. over which the dusk was
stealing goldenly.
She paused suddenly as I watched
from the window, and I stepped out to
see what had attracted her attention.
There into the garden from it's farthest
entrance filed the six sui+ors who had
previously come to sit beneath the
windows Of their stricken lady. Hav-
ing failed to visit their wrath upon
the perfdious Dick they had changed
their clothes and returned to Hope
commanded me not to become the
sixth man, | should have offered my
self on the spot and waited only un-
til Cecilia had made the inevitable an
swer before suinmoning Virgins to
end the whole affair. Such, however,
was not to be the order Of events.
The procession. headed by Ormsby,
was within a few yards of the terrace.
Cecilia, apparently unconscious Of their
proximity, continued her promenade.
ask them into the house. give them
tea and otherwise destroy INV hone of