Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-18
BY JEFFERY FARNOL

less dog and be damned TO hint"
You have my deepest sympathy and
apologiesl" said I.
still, have sometimes been curious
TO meet worthy Cousin Peter, and II is
rather surprising that I have never done
So"
"on the contrary" l began. but his
laugh stopped me-
'Ah, to be sure!" he nodded. ''our wavs
nave lain widely separate hItherto-you.
scholar, treading the difficult path OF
learning; l-oh, egadl a terrible fellow
mauvais sujet a sad. sad dogl Blu.
after all, cousin. when one comes 10
look at you today, you might stand for a
terrible example OF Virtue run riot-a dis
PRESSING spectacle OF dutiful respect and
good precedent cut on with a shilling.
Really. II is horrlfying to observe to
what depths Virtue may plunge an other
wise well-balanced individual Little
dreamed those dear, kind. well-meaning
relatives and friends-damn 'eml that
while the wilful Maurice lived on, con-
tinually getting into hot water and out
again, up to his eyes in debt and pretty
well esteemed. the virtuous pattern Peter
would descend to a hammer and saw-I
should say, chisel-in a very grimy place
where he is, II seems, the presiding
genius. Indeed, this first meeting of ours,
under these circums tances, Is somewhat
dramatic, as It should be-"
And yet, we have met before" said I,
and the circumstances were then even
more dramatic, perhaps--we met In a
tempest SIR
Hal" he exclaimed, dwelling on the
word, and speaking very slowly, "a
tempest, cousin?"
There was much wind and rain. and
It was very dark"
Dark, cousin?"
But 1 saw your face very plainly as
you lay on your back, sir. by the aid
of postilicn's lanthorn, and was greatly
struck by our mutual resemblance" Sir
Maurice raised his glass and looked at
me, and, as ne looked, smiled, but he
could not hide the sudden, passionate
culver OF his thin nostrils or the CLEAN
of the eyes beneath their languid lids.
He rose slowly and paced the door; when
he came back again, he was Laughing
softly, but still he could not hide the
culver of his nostrils. or the CLEAN Of
the eyes beneath their languid lids.
"So-it was-you?" he murmured, with
pause between the words. "Oh, was
ever anything so damnably contrary! To
think that 1 should hunt her into your
very arms! To think that OF all men in
the world 1t should be you to play the
squire of dames!' And he laughed again,
but, as he did so, the stout riding-whip
snapped in his hands like straw. He
glanced down at the broken pieces, and
from them to me- You see. am rather
strong In the hands, cousin" he said,
shaking his head, but / was not-quite
strong enough, last time we met. though,
to be sure, as you say. 1t was very dark.
Had l known 1t was worthy Cousin
Peters throat 1 grasped. I think l might
have squeezed 1t just-a little-tighter."
Sir" said 1, shaking my head. II
really don't think you could have done
IT."
Yes" he sighed, tossing his broken
whip into corner. "Yes, I think So
you see, 1 mistook you for merely an
interfering country pumpkin"
Yes" nodded while 1. on the other
hand, took you for a fine gentleman
nobly intent on the ruin of an unfortu-
nate. friendless girl, whose poverty would
seem to make her an easy victim
I'm which it appears you were as much
mistaken as 1, Cousin Peter" Here he
glanced at me with a sudden keenness.
"Indeed2'
why. surely" said he, surely you
must know" He paused to flick a
speck of SCOT from hls knee, and then
continued: did she tell you nothing Of
herself?"
Very little beside her name"
"Ab! she told you her name. then?"
''Yes, she told me her name"
"Well, cousin?"
"Well sir?" We has both risen, and
now fronted each other across the anvil.
Sir Maurice debonair and smiling, while
/ stood frowning and gloomy.
Come" said at last, 'let us under
stand each other once for all. You tell
me that you have always looked upon
me as your rival for our uncle's good
graces-I never was. You have deceived
yourself into believing that because I
was his ward that alone augmented my
chances of becoming the heir; 1t never
did. He saw me as seldom as possible,
and. II he ever troubled his head about
either of us. II would seem that he fa-
vored You. l tell you l never was your
rival in the past. and never shall be in
the future"
Meaning. cousin?"
Meaning. sir. in regard to either the
legacy or the Lady Sophia Seton. !
was never fond enough OF money to
marry for II. / have never seen this
lady. nor do I propose 20. thus. so far
as | am concerned. you are free to win
her and the fortune as soon as you will;
I. as you see, prefer horseshoes."
"And what" said Sir Maurice. hicking
a speck of SCOT from his cuff. and Inn
mediately looking at me again, what OF
Charmian7"
IT don't know" answered. nor should
i be likely to tell you. IL did; wherever
she may be she is safe, / trust, and be-
yond your reach"
mo" he broke In. 'she will never be
beyond my reach until she is dead-or
am-perhaps not even then. and I shall
find her again. sooner or later, depend
upon it-yes, you may depend upon that"
cousin Maurice" said /, reaching out
my hand to him. wherever she may be,
she is alone and nprotected-pursue her
no farther. Go back to London, marry
your Lady Sefton, inherit your fortune,
but leave Charmion Brown In peace"
"And pray" said he, frowning sud
denly whence this solicitude on her be-
half7 What is she to you-that Char
milan Brown2"
Nothing" answered hurriedly,
nothing at all, God knows-nor ever can
be" Sir Maurice leaned suddenly for
ward. and. catching me by the shoulder.
peered into my face.
by HeavenT" he exclaimed, ''the fell
Iow-actually loves heri"
'Well7" said ]. meeting his look. "why
not7 Yes. l love her" A fury OF rage
seemed suddenly TO possess him. the lam