The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-02-03
The Siege
of the
Seven SuitOrS
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright, 1910, by Meredith Nicholson

shone in her eyes, and then as mar
veled at their beautiful dark depths
fear suddenly possessed them. The
change in her was startling. I caught
feeting glimpse of Hartley Virgins
riding slowly with bowed head toward
the inn.l
It was plain that that glimpse. of
him had touched Cecilia's pity If
had doubted the sincerity of her regard
for him before 1 spurned the thought
now. I was anxious to requicken hope
in her.
''I have told you enough, Miss Hollis
ter, to make it clear that L am in a po-
sition to help you.''
But there is always she began,
then ceased abruptly and lifted her
head proudly-"there is always Mr..
Virgins attitude toward my sister
Not for anything in the world would I
cause her the slightest unhappiness.
You must see that, now that you know
herr
laughed aloud. Ceci1ia's concern for
Hezekiah's happiness was so absurd
that could not restrain my mirth for
q moment Displeasure showed prompt
~ in Cecilia's face.
pardon me, but maybe you don't
quite understand Hezekiah," said.
els it possible, then, that you do?''
she inquired co1dIy. ''I imagine your
opportunities for seeing her have not
been numerous
''Well, it isn't SO much q matter Of
seeing her, when you've read of her all
your life and dreamed about her. She's
in every fairy story that ever was writ
ten; she dances through the mythol-
ogies of all races. Hers is the kingdom
OF the pure in heart. Her mind is like
a beautiful bright meadow by the sea
and her thoughts the dipping OF swal-
! low wings on lightly swaying grasses"
i Cecilia's manner changed, and she
: smiled.
| "You seem to have an attack of
! something. 1t looks serious
I helped her into the saddle, and she
looked down at me with amusement In
her eyes. My praise of Hezekiah had
! pleased her, and 1 felt, as when we
! journeyed together into town, her kind
| ", human qualities. She said:
"You are not coming home for lunch
con? Then shall see you at 4. I hope
the hiding place OF the ghost will prove
Interesting Aunt Octavia has built her
hopes high, and may add that she has
expressed the greatest admiration of
you to me. On her ride this morning
store for you. I hope so, too, Mr..
| Ames."
She gave me her hand and rode
away.
The inn was a mile distant, and I set
off at a brisk pace, turning over in nay
mind various projects for controlling
the characters now upon the stage in
such manner that Virgins should be-
come the seventh man. Cecilia could
not always run away from him with
out violating the terms of her aunt 8
| stipulation, and it was unlikely that
she would attempt further to guide or
thw;fRG the pointing finger Of fate. I
relied little upon any arrangement eff
fected among the sJ1itors to stand to-
gether. Hume had already found a
chance to speak. Lord Arrowood had
bitten the dust and turned his face
homeward, and Virgins had been near
the brink only that morning. It was
unlikely that any of the active candi-
dates remaining would stumble. upon
the key to the situation, which Heze-
kiah had given into my keeping.
1t was well on toward o'clock when
I approached the inn. Before long the
suitors would depart for their after
noon call at the manor, which was an
established event of the day. Just as I
was about to enter the gate was ar
rested by an impertous voice calling,
and John Stewart Dick came running
toward me. To my surprise he greeted
me cordially, even offering his hand.
''You thought you EouId come after
all. Well, I'm glad you did. I've decid-
ed that there should be peace between
u.s.
In stature he was the shortest OF the
suitors, but what he lacked in height
was compensated for by tremendous
dignity.
"You have several times addressed
me, Mr.. Ames, IA a spirit of contumely
which 1 have hesitated to punish by
the chastisement you deserve, but ]
am willing to let bygones be bygones
I had intended to offer myself to Miss
HOLSTER this afternoon, with every
hope of success, but I yield to you
My only request is that you inform me
at once when you have learned her
decision
He clapped on his cap and folded his
arms, clearly satisfied with the ex
pressions of surprise to which my feel
ings betrayed me. Could it be possible
that he had guessed the truth, perhaps
by deductive processes of which was
ignorant? Whether he had reasoned
from some remark thrown out by MISS
! Octavfa as to the influence of seven
in the affairs of life and her applica
: ton of that fateful principle to the
choice of husband for Cecilia, could
not guess, but assuming that he hac
caught that clew, he might readily
enough have managed the rest mus
: not allow him to see what suspected.
my dear professor, there's an an
: cient warning against the Greeks bear
ing gifts. You must give me time tc