The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-11
ii;iii;in:s,.iiim
CHAPTER |,
A Boatrn ans Fee

| ~ castle flows n river.
A In "A clumsy boat upon this
river n young man was gazing up
ward. In n rapturous study OF the
castle towers,
These castle towers. gray with
age. rose high above the rivers
bank.
The boat. a flat hottomcd thing.
too wide and far too heavy for a
single pair OF oars, would have
smiled at thoughts OF speed. Its
usual function was that OF ferry
10 and fro across the river. but the
torryman was now at his MONDAY
dlnner. and the present occupant,
for tho idle hour. had borrowed his
craft. To mistake him for the usual
navigator would be a pardonable
error. Tho brim OF a soft felt hat
OF common type was lowered TO
shade his eyes. and his shirt OF
faded blue flannel. rolled up TO the
elbows. showed arms brown and
muscular.
From his day dreams this present
occupant was awakened. gently, by
voices behind him ON tho rivers
bank. Turning he saw an open car.
riaKe coming from the village. a
driver and footmAn on the box In
the carriage were two ladies. one
an elderly woman. with white hair.
recognized by the dreamer as the
Duchess OF Linsmerc. She had born
pointed out TO him on the previous
day. as she was driving to church.
And close beside the carriage. on n
chestnut hunter. rode tho duchess
son. Lord Hepsford. Tho other
woman. whom tho dreamer had
never seen before. was younger.
As tho equlpage stopped. the foot.
man jumped TO tho ground. opened
the door. and the younger woman
descended After a few words with
tho duchesA-a handsome person.
age with benevolent aHpcct-the
younger woman. with Lord Hops.
ford beside her. came thru the little
gateway. down tho grassy path
toward tho river. bending slightly
forward. his face toward hers. the
young man was speaking with some
carncstneHs.
DO come tomorrow. Please do.
I viii call for YOU at any hour you
say"
mo: no, tomorrow"
Thursday. them
Il shall DO too busy Thursday"
"Fridayt"
NO. Friday I must work"
Work, Oh. say What arc
you going 20 work atf''
AT finding an excuse for no,
going Saturday"
Come Saturday" he persisted.
Why b. 40 horribly cxaspcratink'
| am getting II up wholly on your
account"
With the hand that was not hold.
Ing the parasol she made a gesture.
quietly. but with authority. for the
boatrnan TO approach. Then the
dreamer remembered what for
moment be had forgotten. that hs
had borrowed tho fsrryman's craft,
Quickly he picked up the oars and
obeycd the summons A. tho boat
touched tho shorv tho gentleman
was still protesting.
Out into tho stream. toward the
castle. the bsatman pulled. With
furtive gianees he drank in this
welcome paasenwcr--thls dainty,
radiant. unexpected thing. by her
placid consciousness OF superiority,
by her superlatively patrician air.
he was subdued. diacomfitcd and be-
witched. As TO her identity he had
littlo doubt She was tho Daugn.
ter OF the Castle-the fairy prln.
cess. A stranger In this south west
OF England. having come from Lon.
don only three days before, he had
never seen thu Lady Octavia Hen.
rietta Louise. only child OF
Lord Aylesden. tho son OF the
Earl OF Drumworth, but he know
she was that exalted person. lis
found pleasant study in the grace
ful head and slender. girlish
neck. the hands carelessiy crossed
upon tho folded sunshads in her
lap. tho eyes half closed IN thought
and her thoughts. apparently.
were up the river. far away.
When he had brought his boa,
alongside the landing tho Daugh.
ter OF the Castle stood mp and held
forth n hand as lift seemed 10
the ferryman-she wished assist.
ancs In stepping ashore.
But. in another instant. brlsfer
than sudden death-aud sharper
: he and HIS ambition were flung ~