Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-05-22

say what was in his mind. Am 1 not
right?"
II wonder, l wonder she faltered,
drawing away the better to observe
me.
"You wonder how much l know. To
relieve your mind without parleying
further, l will say to you that 1 know
everything"
"Then Aunt Octavia must have told
you, and that seems incredible. 1t was
distinctly UNDERSTOOD
"Your aunt told me nothing. Not by
words did any one tell me-"
Not by words?" she asked, cycling
me wonderingly and clearly feeling
that l might be playing some trick
upon her. Then can it be that HeZe.
kiah-but no. Hezekiah doesn't know
Trust Hezekiah for not telling Sc.
crets," l answered evasively. Give
me credit for some imagination. The
air of Hopetield is stimulating, and in
the few days I have spent in your
aunt's house | have learned much that
l V dreamed of before"
Il don't understand it. You are
wholly ineXplicable."
II am the simplest and least guilefu)
of beings, ! assure you. Yet | have
done some things here not in the Slight.
est way related to chimney doctorine
and something else 1 expect to do fo1
which l believe you will thank me
through all the years Of your life"
"Ah, if you really know. that is pos.
sible!' she sighed YEARLY. 81 am very
tired of it all. l was very foolish ever
to have agreed to Aunt Octavia's plan
You have seen those men. ANY n OF
them might, you know" And she
shrugged her shoulders impatiently.
ANY Of them might be the sew
enth man. There, you see 1 do know
And I mean to help you"
She was immensely relieved. There
was no question Of that. Gratitude
shone in her eyes, and then as l 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.
It was plain that that glimpse OF
him had touched Cecilia's pity. If
had doubted the sincerity of her regard
for him before I spurned the thought
now. I was anxious to requicken hope
in her.
II have told you enough, Miss Hollis
ter, to make it clear that 1 am in q DO
sition to help you"
but there is always she began
then ceased abruptly and lifted hel
head proudly-''there is always Mr.
Virgins attitude toward my sister
Not for anything in the world would
cause her the slightest unhappiness
You must see that, now that you know
her."
I laughed aloud. Cecilia's concern fol
Hezekiah's happiness was so absurd
that 1 could not restrain my mirth fol
a moment. Displeasure showed prompt
ly in Cecilia's face.
"Pardon me, but maybe you dom
quite understand Hezekiah." I said.
is it possible, then, that you do?'
she inquired coldly. II imagine your
opportunities for seeing her have not
been numerous"
We'll, it isn't so much a matter OF
seeing her, when you've read Of her al
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
Cecilia's name 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 l felt, as when we
journeyed together into town, her kind
ly, human qualities. She said:
you are not coming home for lunch.
con? Then l shall see you at 4. 1 hope
the hiding place of the ghost will prove
interesting. Aunt Octavia has built he1
hopes high, and may add that she has
expressed the greatest admiration of
you to me. On her ride this morning
she declared that great things are in
store for you. 1 hope So. too. Mr.
Ames."
She gave me her hand and rode
away.
The inn was a mile distant. and l SET
off at a brisk pace, turning over in my
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's
stipulation, and it was unlikely that
she would attempt further to guide OF
thwart the pointing finger of fate. ]
relied little upon any arrangement eff.
fected among the suitors to stand to,
gether. Hume had already found q
chance to speak. aord Arrowood had
bitten the dust and turned his face
Io-,or,orJ o~I XX-:~;,, I,,,l 5>o, xoo.