Graham guardian., 1913-04-04

the following afternoon. being Thurs
day. A trap would meet me at Kato
nah. and 1t was suggested thnt come
prepared to spend the night. so tbat
the condition of the flues might be dis
cussed and any necessary changes
planned during the evening. The note.
signed Octavia Hollister, was written
ln a flowing hand ON wholly npec-
cable note sheet stamped Hopefeld
Manor. Katonah.
Before taking the train ] sought Wig
gins by telephone at his Office and at
the Hare and Tortoise. where he lndg-
ed. but without learning anything as
to his whereabouts. His office did not
answer, but Virgins office had never
been responsive to the telephone. so
this was not significant. The more
considered his conduct during the re
citat Of my visit to the Asolando the
more I wondered. and In spite Of my
wish to ignore utterly Jewett's revela'
tions as to Niggins' summer abroad.
was forced to the conclusion that Jew
EFT Ind not lied. had known Wig
gins long, and this was the drst time
that I had ever heen conscious Of any
withholding Of confidence on his part.
and on my own had not merely con-
tided all my hopes and aims to him.
but I had leaned upon him often In
my perplexities. There was. indeed. a
kind Of boyish compact between us
that we should support each other
through all difficulties. His reserve
hid. 4 knew. a diffident and sensitive
nature. and 1t was wholly possible that
II his affair with Cecilia Holllster had
not nrospered be had fed to his ranch
there to wrpstle In seclusion with bis
disappointment Ny mind was busy
with sach speculations as l sped to.
ward Katonah. where I found the trap
from Hopefeld Manor awaiting me.
"lt's rather poor. going over the
hills: about Ave miles. sir" snid the
driver as We set OF.
This was the first week In October
There was Just ycst enough In the air
ia make q ton coat comfortable. The,
team at bIncks spoke well for Miss
Hnllister's stable. and the hveried
driver kept them moving steadily. but
passed the pace as we rose on the fire.
quent slopes to the shoulders ut the
pleasant Westchester hills. Early
frosts had already wrQnght their mira
Gle In the fnliage. and the battle ban,
ners of winters vanguard flashed
along the horizons, rejoiced that my
business. vexatious enough In many
ways. yet afforded me SO charming an
outing az this.
Presently we climbed hill that
shouldeied its way well above its fel.
lows and came out upon broad ridge.
where we entered at once a noble
gateway set in an old stone wall and
struck on smartly along 6ne bit OF
macadam The house, the driver In
formed me, was quarter Of mile
from the gate The way led through
a wild woodland. In which elms and
naples predominated, and before this
had grown monotonous we came alb
ruptly mon an Italian garden. heyand
which rose the house. ! knew II ut
once for one at renperton's sound per-
tjormances. reppert0n is easily our
best man in domestic Tudor. aud the
whole setting OF Hopefield Manor the
sunken garden. the superb view. the
billowing fields and woodlands beyond
ali testified to taste which no igno
rant owner had thwarted. The house
was Tudor. but In no servile sense. 1t
was also I'epperton. lifted my eyes
With immediate professional interest
to the chime! pots ON the roof. II 0c
Cured to me op the instant that ! had
never before been called TO retonch
ANY Of Pepperton's work. Pep knew
as much as ! about 6ue construction
had an Immense respect for f'er. ant
as my specializing In chimneys hat
been subject OF frequent chatting bc
tween us, ! anticipated with II chuck,
the pleasure should have later h
| telling him that at last one OF his fiue'
had required my services
| My good opinion OF Miss Hollistc
did not diminish as stepped withil
the broad hall. Houses have thei
own mannar OF speech, aud Hopefie
Manor spoke to all the senses In az
cents Of taste and refinement. A ser,
, ant took my bag and ushered me int
u charming library. A fre smoldere
lazily In the great fireplace; there wa
In the room the faintest scent OF burn
wood. but the smoke rose In the fl,l
In a perfectly mannerly fashion. an
on thrusting In my hand ! felt
good draft of air. instinctivel
knelt on the hearth and peered up. bu
saw nothing unworkmanllke-- Peppel
. ton was not a fellow to leave obviou
mistakes behind him. But posslbl
\ that was not one Of the recalcitrar
fireplaces HAD been called to tnspec
and ! rose and was continuing my ez
joyment Of the beautiful room when
became, conscious, by rather curor
| and mixed processes not wholly Of II
yfeye, that q young woman had draw
back the light portieres-they wei
dark brown, with borders OF burr
| ornnge--and stood gravely gazing
l me. She held the curtains apart--tht
made, Indeed. q kind Of frame for her
but as our eyes met she advanced
once and spoke my name.
III "You are Mr.. Ames. My aunt e
| pected you. | regret to say that 81
/ Is not in the house just now. but 81
! viii doubtless return for ten. ! q