Graham guardian., 1913-10-31

The Siege
OF The
Seven Suitors
BY
MEREDITh NICHOLSON
yMEREDITh SICh0LS0N
eo,.nsr Sls ., aerrduo Sen'~ao
ses~nzxxSnsas.s.s.zA:s.- g.

rnn round the house. stumbling
through the rear guard OF The truant
callncs and passing the kennel mas
ter. who had rallied the stable men
and was IN hot pursuit
Somebody turned 'em out-turncJ
'em OUT" he shouted and swept pro
fancly by. The gate of the kennc,
yard stood open. A familiar figure.
running low. paused and then sprint
ed nimbly along the paddock fence. A
white sweater was diS;ingulshable for
moment ON a stone wall then 1t fol
lowed pnir OF enchanted heels into
oblivion.
Time had been pussing swiftly. and
NthE shadows were deepening. re-
t&sced my steps toward the terrace,
fyhring the cries OF pursued and pur-
suers growing fainter had not yet
gained a position from which I could
sec Cecilia. when man appeared
some distance ahead OF me. walking
giardedly in one of the garden plots.
He came uncertainty. pausing to
glance about. yet evidently led toward
the terrace by a definite purpose All
may be fair IN love and war. but l
confess to feeling OF pity for John
Stewart Dick as watched him slowly
advancing TO his fate. He was going
boldly now. and felt sudden liking
for him, nor can believe that he was
oShsr thsn manly fellow with sound
brains and good heart.
I reasoned as marked his approach
to the terrace that he had been loiter.
ing in the neighborhood. probably
watching Cecilia and Pepperton. and
when the architect retired he had as
sumed that the sixth man had spoken.
The appearance OF his former com.
rades of the inn had doubtless dis
turbcd him as 1t had rue; then, thanks
to the resourccful Hexekiah. they had
I. been routed. and the coast wns clear.
watched him draw nearer to Cecilia
as have watched deer so down to
lake to drink. He would speak now,
was confident Of II, and I stole round
to the side entrance and sent word to
Virgins to 20 to the drawing room and
wait for me.
Miss Octayia and Pepperton still lin-
rgered over their teacups. The row
made by the fugitives from her kennels
had not, IL seemed, penetrated to the
library. and Miss octavia bade me join
the Talk, which had to do, remember,
with some project for a national hall
Of fnme that had incurred her charac-
teristic displeasure. A hall of immor-
tai rascals in pillories she thought far
likelier to please the masses.
In fifteen minutes saw Cecilia cross
ing the hall. She stopped where !
E2bld see her quite plainly and thrust
her hand into the pocket OF her coat,
Out dashed the silver notebook. She
made q swift notation with the pencil
that now, knew, wrote the fate OF the
sixth man.
! went out and spoke to her and
walked beside her to the drawing room
door, where Hartley Virgins was walt.
Ing.
Miss Octavla had risen when re,
turned to the library. and II was time
TO dress for dinner.
"Just a moment, Miss Holister.
Something Of great interest Is about to
occur" And | made excuses for de-
saining her for perhaps Ave minutes,
not more.
"You have never yet deceived me,
Arnold Ames. and such is my coma.
dence In you that II you tell me that
something interesting will soon occur
have no reason to doubt you, II is
worth remembering, however, that fowl
IS not improved by prolonged roast
Ing"
heard Virgins laugh IN the hall,
and Miss 0ctavia raised her head.
Then Cecilia came Into the room and
walked directly to her aunt
Aunt Octavia, here Is the little sill
yer notebook you gave me In Paris.
hare Just written Mr. Virgins name In
It. and as I have no further use for the
book. return II with my love and
thanka."
without word Miss Octavia turned
10 the wall and pressed the button
twks.
~