El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-23

I volume OF Blue BOOK, paused IN his
note taking to enjoy the restfuI half
/ light, and, leaning back in his chair,
! INDUCED in a spell of airy building
work-a castle whose foundations were
] laid in Spain
! The visionary fabric shattered itself
with the sharp closing of the library
/ door, and Roland sprang to his feet, pen
/ in hand, and faced his chief with a
! guilty consciousness OF having been alb
/ sent without Ieave-in the clouds.
/ The clouds were reflected in the face
/ of the right honorable himself, and Ro-
land understood that there was some
crisis isis, in Hartley Viyian's career
/ Where is the letter , from lord
Shelfery' he demanded.
Here sir" Roland produced it from
a drawer of the bureau.
4 have been offered this post" Mr.
Z Vivian tapped the letter-and it has
/ been held open for me as long as posi-
! pie. TOMORROW II must be definitely al
lotteo- This IS my last day of grace
Lord Shelter has stretched a point for
me as it IS, though he is unaware that
mere Is chance Of my getting some
/ thing very much better at home. 1 was
not at liberty to divulSe this prospect,
and as nothing official has been said
II may have fallen through II would
be a great mistake for me to refuse
this colonial billet, which carries a
large salary unless / am sure OF the
other one. A bird in the hand'-you
know, Merrick-
Quite 50, sir"
But can tempOrize no longer. I am
going now 10 Downing street and if ie
quite possible that 1 may learn-unOf-
IlclaIly-that the post / want is 10 be
offered me- I have a committee meet
ing afterwards and then 1 must 90 10
the house. So this is what you must
He rapidly dictated to Merrick two
letters; one, an unreserved acceptance
OF the protfered billet; the other, a
courteous and grateful refusal
SAID, by five minutes to six, post the
letter OF acceptance to lord Shelter.
If should wish the refusal sent / viii
let you know. You quite understand
Merrick? There must be no mistake
over this My answer either way viii
be irreVOCa bic"
The secretary repeated the direc-
relieved.
That's all right he SAID. ct know
L can depend on you By the way, Mer-
rlck-f j go to the colonies l shall
not De able to take you. But if the
other thing comes off can promise YOU
a better post than you have ever had.
II means promotion TO both OF US"
he laughed and went out, and RO-
Iand, gazing after him, felt as though
the walls of his Spanish castles had
risen again and were gaining stability
With every passing moment He wrote
the letters out, fitting them into the
blank space above the signatures inst
penned by Mr.. Vivian; put then1 inro
envelopes, addressed them. and was re
turning TO his fanclful domain when a
rose, IlGng through the window, struck
MN lightly on the face and fell at his
As he stopped to pick it,up. someone
pushed the sunblind aside and looked
How are affairs Of state goingc"
asked a mischievous voice. Il should
let them slide IN the summer, I think.
L saw my uncle drive away, so I thought
you were probably busy-dOing moth
ing"
The face, matching the voice. was one
of mutinOuS prettiness, and Susan
Plake, a niece and ward of Hartley
Vivian, possessed sufficient means of
her own to frame the prettness appro-
She looked picture of dainty cool
ness as she leaned over the sill with
the floating Of green and white chiffon
Il am sorry" he said; but must get
through this work" His tone had
changed; the fOrmality he generally
maintained to Miss Blake had returned
We'll, goodbye, DiOgenes." She moved
away into the sunshine, and the blind
swinging back into place, shut out the
vision OF her.
It was seven minutes to six.
No message, ne said; the second
string has failed then"
He rang the bell and asked whether
any note or telegram had come, was
assured that there was nothing. and
proceeded to seal and stamp the let
ter of acceptance to lord Shelter.
The castle walls had seemed so tan
glble at that moment; nOw-he glanced
towards the garden-Jnere was moth
ing but green blind shutting out the
sun from him
But a white hand put the blind aside.
again, and Susan, with flicker Of re-
pentance IN her eyes, was looking in.
W ont you come lut2" she said.
81 have 10 post this letter" he an
take il myself"
ter IN his pocket, and, carrying the ]
other, vaulted over the windowsiIl- to 4
Susan.
A moment later the letter was posted. ]
and they were strOlling back through /
the garden
Something made him stop at the IL |
brary window and look in. An express
letter was lying on his tablet Without l
a word he sprang in and tore il open.
Post my refusal to lord Shelter it i
read the other appointment is 10 be I
mine"
The acceptance had gone.
roland had spoiled his own career as /
well as his employers
he sat down at the writing table and !
laid his head down on his arm
w hat is it?" she asked, with sub I
dued sympathy.
ing his head, except that I have sent |
a letter which should not have zone" |
The one you posted just nOw9r she 1
demanded If So. 1t is not too late.
They do not clear the box until six"
But I cannot get it back 1t Is ]
against the rules They wouldn't give
ii to me-"
who was it addressed TOP she oues-
toned. quick have thought of a
way"
TO lord Shelter, Manor Rising,
And you don't want him to have it?s
No He should have had this one /
instead He took the letter Of refusal
out Of his pocket
Bring it along" she said. Let rs
run / think we can just do it."
They ran to the gate, and were in the
statiOner's as six o'clock struck
Susan hurried to the pOstOffice conn ]
ter; Il have posted a letter by mistake" |
she said 1t is wrongly addressed. and /
It is tremendously important Could |
you let me have it back"
Tn sorry it's quite impossible, /
miss"
The postmaster was polite but firm. !
Susan put all the pathOs at her com
mand into face and voice. Wont YOU I
lust let me alter the error in the ad- I
1ress2 Please do-there couldn't posi-
bly, be any harm in that, and it would I
make so much difference to me"
The woman sOftened; perhaps it was
a love letter with the future Of two /
young lives depending on it.
If you tell me who is is addressed to. (
and alter it here" she said. relentinglv.
i might manage to let you do that"