Graham guardian., 1913-05-09
CHAPTER VI.
| Deliver a Message.

VIZ WAS aroused at u CLOCK the next
81 morning by the sound of gun
hl shots. and. springing out of bed,
l bcheld In an open pasture be-
yond the stable yard the indopnitabe
! Miss HOLSTER engaged In the pleasing
paStine of breaking clay pigeons with
Il towing piece. Her Swedish maid
stood by with Il formidable pad Of pa.
per- keeping score. 4 boy pulled the
trap for her. and she threw up her gun
and blazGd away with practiced
hand Her small, slight, tense figure,
awaiting the launching of the target,
the qui;k k upbring OF the gun us she
sighted, and tile pause following the
firing Of the shot, In which she bent
forward rlgidly watching the result,
were features of picture which |
would not have missed.
will write 1t down here and be
done with it, that it had been my good
fortune to know many delightful wo-
men. but ! have never known one more
interesting or charming than Miss Oc-
taSia HoIister. The spirit Of deathless
youth WIS in her heart, and youths
gay pennants fiuttered about her as the
reports of her gun fell cheerily upon
the crisp morning air, rebuke and a
challenge TO all indolent souls.
made myself presentable as quickly
as possible and went forth to report to
her. She nodded pleasantly as | greet
ell her Immediately after she had scor-
ell a capital shot. A second gun was pro-
duccd, and saw that it was not with
out satisfaction that she observed my
lack of prowess. One out of Ave was
the best could do, whereas she smash
cd three with the greatest ease.
If had known you would be up so
early should have sent coffee to your
roOm," she remarked as we walked to-
ward the house. Very likely your lack
OF luck with the birds is attributable
entirely TO the impoverished state of
Your stomach" ---'
Breakfast was served on a delightful
sun porch that had not before seen.
Ccciliu appeared promptly, having, in
fact, been gathering fall flowers for
same time, judged. from the consid-
erable armful Of cllrysanthemums, as
ters. dahliaS and marigolds which we
found her arranging for the table. She
seemed in excellent spirits and greeted
us most amiably.
The mail arrived and was placed by
Miss HOLSTERS plate before we left
the table. She opened first bulky ell.
FelGps containing cuttings from Il clip
ping bureau, aud she unused aloud upon
these wS she read:
"Thls persistent story Of sunk"n
galleon Off the Bolivian coast sounii&
plausible, but ! fear Il is the work u
some bright young journalist, Our min
lister IN that bcnishted country d"t.ai
take any stock in it. had Il r;ib.r
from him yesterday"
She handed Cecilia nul.tcr Of !ci
ters, which the girl orencd ;uid tE2
to my surprise meekly tpwaed over t"
her aunt Miss llnllister suryc5c'
them critically, ...
"a thought" she remarked, "thnt t!G
young henderson who WAS - at,Cu'lI'
to you at Madrid was an lull'o:tcr. ;ti.;.
this note settles the matter. re ilir.",
butragcously with He"eEiah hell..G
your back. He asks II lie naT Gan
upon you here II Ae N,.ars the nei'he'y
pf CalGnel ADncr Henderson of Roa.
noke, rs he represented h:nweif to lie,
he would not ask If he might call uI'on
you. but would have appeared at orct
in his proper person 70 pay his "d
dresses; As for these other gentlemen,
we need not discuss them, Their ac'
tions must speak for them"
Miss Hollister, having thus dismissed
her nieces correspondents, rose and
led the way to the library. Cecilia
seemed in no wise depressed by her
aunt'S tiag al Mr.. Henderson, Who
ever he might be, but threw the notes
upcn the fiames that blazed merrily In
he fireplace.
suggested immediately that as had
,ris.e 10 floneilcld Manor to inspect the