The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-02

future" le said gravely. .,The flu
ture that shall be mine to shape and
to make glad with the fulflment Of
every promise that love has in store
for both of US. Put away the doubts,
drive out the shadows. dearest Live
In the light forever Love Is light"
If ! were only sure that my shad-
ows would not descend upon you, ~
Ho drew her close and kissed her
again.
Il am not afraid OF your shadows.
God be my witness, Hetty. glory In
them. They do not reflect weakness
but strength and nobility. They mako
you all the moro worth having.
thank God that you arc what you are,
dear heart"
Give mo few days longer, Bran
don" she pleaded. Let mo conquer
this strange thing that lies here in
! my brain. My heart liz yours. my
soul Is yours But the brain Is n rebel
must triumph over 1t. or 1t will al
ways Ito In wait for chance to over
throw this little kingdom of ours To-
day 1 have been terrified. am dis
turbed. Give me few days longer"
Il would not grant you the respite.
were not 80 sure OF tho outcome" he
said gently, but there was thrill of
triumph In tho tones. Her eyes grew
, very dark and soft and her lips trem-
through her body. oh, how adorable
you nrel" he cried. straining her close
In sudden ecstasy OF passion.
The doorbell rang. They drow
apart. breathing rapidly. their blood
leaping with the contact of opposing
passions. their flesh quivoring. With
shy. sweet glance at him. she turned
toward the door to await the appear
| ance OF Watson. He could still feel
her in his arms.
drawing voice came to them from
the vestibulc. and moment later Les
lie Wrandall entered the library, pull
Ing Off his gloves as he came.
Hello" he said glibly. 81 told that
fellow downstairs 1t wasn't necessary
to announce me by telephone. Silly
arrangement. ! say. Why the devil
should they think everybodys thief
or book agent or n constable with
II subpoena? He knows I'm one OF the
family. I'm likely to run in any time,
! told him, and Oh say I'm not
butting in. am I. Miss Cas.letonr'
He shook hands with both of them.
and then offered his cigarette case To
Booth, first selecting ono for himself.
Hetty assured him that ho was not dc
trop, sheer prohigacy on her part In
view OF his readiness TO concede the
point without word from her.
"Nipping wind" he said, taking his
stand before the fireplace. Where is
Sara? Never mind, don't bother her.
I've got all the time In the world BY
tho way, Miss Castleton, what Is the
latest news from your father?'
| At dare say you have later news than
l." she said, trace of annoyance in
her manner.
II thought perhaps he had written
you about his plans"
MY father does not know that
have returned to New York"
"Oh. I see. OF course. um-um.
BY the way. think the colonel Is a
corker. One OF tho most anna BILE thor
oughbreds I've ever come across. Rip
ping. He's never said anything to me
about your untipathy toward him. but
i can see with half an eye that he Is
terribly depressed about 1t. Can't you
get together some way on
Really, Mr.. Wrandall, you are err
couragins your imag ination to point
where words ultimately must fail you"
she said very positively. Booth could
hardly repress a chucklc.
It's not Imagination on my part"
said Leslie with conviction, failing ut
! terly to recognize the obvious. II sup
pose you know that he is coming over
to visit me for six weeks or SO. We
became rafting good friends before
we parted. BY Jove. you should hear
him OH old LORD Murgatroyd's will,
! The quintessence OF wit, I couldn't
take II as he does Expectations and
all that sort OF thing. you know, go
Ing up like hot air balloon and burst
Ing In plain view. But he never
squeaKed Laughed 1t or A British
attribute. dare say. l euppose you
know that he is obliged to cell his
estate in Ireland"
| Hetty started. She could not con-
cenl tho look OF shame that leaped into
| her eyes.
II did not know" she murmured.
| Must be quite shock to you. Sit
turesque standing, but chairs were
made to sit upon-or in. whichever liz
| proper"
| Booth shrugged his shoulders.
| II think FL stand. IL you don't mind,
| Les"
II merely suggested 1t. old chap.
| fearing you might have overlooked the
possibilities. Yes. Miss Castleton. he
left US in London to go up to Belfast
on this dismal business" There was
something in the back of his mind
that lie was trying to get at In tacti
full manner by the way. Is this
| property entailed?
II know nothing at oil about 1t, Mr..
Wrandall." said she, with a pleading
glance at her lover, rs II to inquire
what stand she should take in this
distressing situation.
III it is entaIled he can't sell IT,"
said Booth quietly.
| That's true" said Leslie, somewhat
| obviously. Then. with a magnanimity
that covered q multitude of doubts ho
added: "Of course, ! am only inter.
tested In seeing that you are properly
protected, Miss Castleton. i've no
doubt you hold an interest in the es-
! tates."
| II can't very we'll discuss n thing 1
know absolutely nothing about" she
said succnctly.
Most of IT is in building lots and
! factories In Belfast, of course" 1t was
more In the nature of n question than
| n declaration. 1.-THE old family castle
! isn't very much of an asset, / tako it,"
! II fancy you can trust Colonel Cas-
Teton TO mako tho best possible deal
In the premises" said Booth drIly.
II suppose So" said the other re-
signedly "He Ia a shrewd beggar,
I'm convinced of that. Strange. how,
ever. that ] haven't heard word from
| him since he left us in London rvn