The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-10-09

perton were just going into the house
to look up book or piece of music
which they had been discussing. Co
ella was making herself interesting, as
she so we'll knew how to do. and she
seemed in no wise anxious. Al
1--WE had forgotten tea" she said
AUNT Octavia has just ordered It."
"She and Mr.. Pepperton may have
their tea. l believe the air outside will
do you good for little longer-so II
you don't mind. Pepperton. Miss Hol.
lister will resume her promenade
alone"
Pep has told me since that be
thought me quite mad that afternoon.
I babe Cecilia patrol the long terrace
slowly. She turned up the collar OF
the covert coat and obeyed. laughing a
little nervously, but asking no qnes-
tions. The scene could not have been
more charmingly set. The great house
doomed darkly behind her: beneath lay
the garden, over which the dusk was
stealing goldenly.
She paused suddenly AZ I watch~,
from the window, and stepped out to
see what had attracted her attention.
There into the garden from its farthest
entrance filed the six suitors who had
previously come to sit beneath the
windows Of their stricken lady. Hav.
ing failed to visit their wrath upon
the perfdious Dick they had changed
their clothes and returned to Hope
field If HezeGiah had not expressly
commanded me not to become the
pixth man. l should have offered my
self on the spot and waited only un-
til Cecilia had made the inevitable an
swer before summoning Virgins to
end the whole affair. Such. however.
was not to be the order Of events.
The procession. headed by Ormsby,
was within a few yards of the terrace.
Cecilia. apparently unconscious of their
proximity. continued her promenade.
In a moment she must recognize them,
ask them into the house. give them
tea and otherwise destroy my hope of
securing her happiness before the
days end.
A chorus Of yelps and barks. as Of
dogs suddenly released. greeted my
ear. The oncoming suitors heard It.
too. and the line wabbled uncertainty.
Then round the house swept mastiffs,
hounds. terriers-a collection of prize
winners such as few kennels ever
boasted-loping gayly in unwonted
freedom toward unknown and forbid.
den pastures.
The vanguard of fox terriers leaped
down into the garden. with the rest Of
the pack at their heels. Happy dogs,
to find grown men ready for gam
Dol! Four Of the suitors found one
Of the proper exits into the road: two
leared the box hedge on the other side
wit ,out shaking a leaf.
nm round the house. stumbling
thr Oh the rear guard Of the truant
CANNES and passing the kennel mas
ter. who had rallied the stable men
and was in hot pursuit
Somebody turned 'em out-turned
'em OUT" be shouted and swept pro.
fanely by. The gate. Of the kennel
yard, stood open. A familiar figure.
running low. paused and then sprint.
ed nimbly along the paddock fence. A
white sweater was distinguishable for
a moment on stone wall, then it fol-
lowed a pair Of enchanted heels into
oblivion.
Time had been passing swiftly, and
the shadows were deepening. l re-
traced my steps toward the terrace,
hearing the cries Of pursued and pur-
suers growing fainter. had not yet
gained a position from which I could
see Cecilia. when a man appeared
some distance ahead of me. walking
guardedly in one of the garden plots.
He came uncertainty. pausing to
glance about. yet evidently led toward
the terrace by definite purpose. An
may be fair in love and war, but I
confess to feeling Of pity for John
Stewart Dick as l watched him slowly
advancing to his fate. He was going
boldly now. and l felt sudden liking
for him. nor can believe that he was
other than manly fellow with sound
brains and good heart.
I reasoned as | marked his approach
to the terrace that be had been loiter-
ing in the neiehborhood, probably
watching Cecilia and Pepperton. and
when the architect retired he had as
sumed that the sixth man had spoken
The appearance Of bis former COM
rades Of the Inn had doubtless dis
turbed him as it had me; then, thanks
to the resourceful Hezekiah. they had
been routed. and the coast was clear.
watched him draw nearer to Cecilia
as have watched deer go down to a
lake to drink. He would speak now, l
was confident Of it. and ! stole round
to the side entrance and sent word to
Virgins to 60 to the drawing room and
wait for me.
/ Miss Octavia and Pepperton still lin
gered over their teacups. The row
made by the fugitives from her kennels
had not. it seemed. penetrated to the
library. and Miss Octavia babe me join
the talk, which had to do, remember,
with some project for national hall