The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-09-25

me creOlt TOT some lmaGlnauOu. Inc
air of Hopefield is stimulating. and In
the few days have spent in your
aunt's house have learned much that
l never dreamed Of before"
II don't understand 1t. You are
wholly inexplicable."
Il am the simplest and least guileful
of beings. assure you. Yet have
done some things here not In the slight
est way related to chimney doctoring
and something else expect to do for
which | believe you will thank me
through all the years Of your life
"Ah, II you really know. that is pos
'ble!' she sighed wearily. II am very
tired Of it all. was very foolish ever
to have agreed to Aunt Octavia's plan.
You have seen those men. Any one Of
them might. you know" And she
shrugged her shoulders impatiently.
ANY one Of them might be the sew
enth man. There, you see l do know.
And 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. caught
deeting glimpse of Hartley Virgins
riding slowly with bowed head toward
the inn.
1t was plain that that glimpse Of
him had touched Cecilia's pity. II l
had doubted the sincerity Of her regard
for him before spurned the thought
now. was anxious to requicken hope
in her.
Il bSve told you enough, Miss Hoi:::s-
ter, to make it clear that am in a po-
sition to help you"
But there is always she began.
then ceased abruptly and lifted her
head proudly-'there is always Mr..
Virgins attitude toward my sister.
Not for anything in the world would l
cause her the slightest unhappiness.
You must see that, now that you know
her."
laughed aloud. Cecilia's concern for
Hezekiah's happiness was SO absurd
that could not restrain my mirth for
Z moment. Displeasure showed prompt
~ in Cecilia's face.
Pardon me, but maybe you don't
quite understand Hezekiah.". said.
lis it possible, then. that you dot"
she inquired coldly. Il imagine your
opportunities for seeing her have not
been numerous"
''Well. 1t isn't SO much matter Of
seeing her. when you've read Of her all
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 manner changed. and she
smiled.
''You seem to have an attack Of
OUl1CtU1uks ~ IOVAS 0VlAVuS.
helped her into the saddle. and she
looked down at me with amusement In
her eyes. Ny praise of Hezekiah had
pleased her, and felt. as when we
journeyed together into town, her kind.
". human qualities. She said:
you are not coming home for lunch
con? Then I shall see you at 4. hope
the hiding place of the ghost will prove
interesting. Aunt Octavia has built her
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. hope SO, too, Mr..
Ames."
She gave me her hand and rode
away.
The inn was a mile distant. and set
of at brisk pace. turning over in my
rutnd various projects for controlling
the characters now upon the stage in
such manner that Virgins should b.
come the seventh man. Cecilia could
not always run away from him with
out violating the terms Of her aunts
stipulation, and it was unlikely that
she would attempt further to guide or
thwart the pointing finger Of fate. I
relied little upon any arrangement e.
fected among the suitors to stand TO-
gsther. Hume had already found Z
chance 10 speak. Lord Arrowood had
nasf III dust and turned Eli fad
koio eward. and Virgins bad been near
the brink only that morning. It was
unlikely that any Of the active candi-
dates remaining would stumble upon
the key to the situation. which Hess-
kiah had given into my keeping.
L vas we'll on toward 2 O'clock whsn
I approached the inn. Before long the
suitors would depart for their after
noon call at the manor, which was an
established event Of the day. Just az I
vas about to enter the gate was ar
rested by an imperious voice calling,
and John Stewart Dick came running
toward me. To my surprise he greeted
me cordially, even Offering bis hand.
"You thought you would come after
al. Well. I'm glad you did. I've decid-
Cd that there should be peace between
us."
In stature he was the shortest of the
suit0rs. but what he lacked in height
h nd