The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-14
The WOlvesOf New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
Esther Rejoins Harold at His Country
Estate and Tells Him She Will
Be His Bride

+ turned Harold. "and used to hatA
each other cordially. He was two
or three years older than l., and
used to order me about till grew
bigger than he and gave him n
thrashfng. We were good friends
: after that. A pity he went wrong.
dare say we could help, him, Es-
Their"
He won't take any more money"
she said. 1--WE offered IL to him as
nicely as I could, several times"
II like him n not sponging. on
yous observed, Harold. cordially.
We~mighti have asked him to the
Towers and tried the effect of coun-
try life toward reformation. but my
mother disliked him so much.
don't know why she should, because
when he was a small boy she was
rather fond of him, and she Is not
usually narrow minded! Still, the
fact remains"
His marriage, perhaps-" It sud
: denly occurred to Esther that Mrs.
Borradsle probably knew \ good
deal about Guy Hocking's wife.
The path which they had been
following led back to- the house
abuttfngs close to- the terrace steps
At the top of these stood Mrs.
Meredith, wi1o. had evidently just
emerged from the house to- look for
the young. lovers. for she greeted
their unexpected appearance, with q
cry OF pleasure.
The Rector" Oh; How, Timely,
oh. here you are. both of you."
She crieda ''I'mn SO glad. for L sK-
pectsd we shouId. haysto search the
GARDEN Mr.. Probyn IL in ths draw
ing room with your mother, Mr..
Borradaie, and she has just asked
me to find you. How lucky that
you should have, just appeared"
What, the rector - cried Harold
happily. Yes, III see him. He
viii have the pheasant duty of mar.
rying us, Esther. so we had better
break the neWs to- him. at once.
Come within me, dear"
He stretched OUT his hand to- the
Girl. and together they mounted the
broad stair case. Mrs Meredith
bad disappeared again into the
house Esther held back a. little.
IT DON'T like him. either an
sweredr Harold. mot a. bit. It's al
ways seemed to me that there is
something bit shifty about him.
IT was my mother who wanted him
to get the. parish. and. OF course.
could not say her nay. know
nothing about him myself, for or
against But certainly his appear
Ance is not calculated to inspire
respect"
Must the Rector Officiate?-
Esther.
: Must he ofhciate at our mar
riage? Esther put the question,
with some trepidation. She was
going to- tell her whole story, and
she would not omit the. part that
, this man had played in IL, but It
q hurt her to think that It was he
who should unite her in marriage
to the man she loved-he of all men,
he who had lent himself to- the car
rying out OF an abominable and il
legal ceremony.
Il suppose he'll have to be pres
ent," said Harold. for we must
be married at Helm, dear. There's
no getting out OF that. The towns
people would have something to
say IL we didn't crafty them with
a big function. But I'll get my
cousin, the Bishop OF Preston. to
marry US, and Mr.. Probyn need not
do more than assist. However. we
must see him now and tell him Of
our engagement He will be the
first outsider to learn OF Il def
nitsly"-
They were Just outside the draw
ing room window by now. Esther
hesitated- What could this man
say when he learnt OF the pro-
posed marriage he who had met
her recent advance 50 uncomprom-
isinEiy2 Yet. what had she~to fear?
The man TO whom he had married
her was dead. and Mr.. Probyn, IL
he wRs~in the secret, must be aware
OF the fact If only he had called
after her explanation to Harold
and his mother, and not beforeI She
laid her hand on her lovers arm.
Harold" she whispered, nery-
ousIy.
But he was already standing in
the open window, and had been
seen from within. His. mother
was caIlinEhim. There was nothing
to do hnt follow.
Meet My Fiance.-HaroId.
Mr.. Probyn rose from his seat. He
eyed her-so Esther thought-with
suspicion. 1t was' as if he anti
cipated what was to come
''Ah. here you are" cried Mrs.
Borradale from her sofa. "I was
waiting for you, Harold, TO be the
bearer of your own news. I've told
Mr.. Probyn that you have some
thing 10 say to him."
Harold took the rector's out
stretched hand.
IT think Mr.. Probyn can guess
ma news" he said, smiling, land
will understand how, much l am
to be congratulated. My fiancee."
he turned to Esther. who stood by |
his side, her eyes fixed on the min
listers white face. "a parishioner as
well as T.
1T is an engagement between
yourself and Miss VaHselI to which
you sllude?" asked Mr.. Probyn, in
measured tones. He manifested no
surprise. Rather. he spoke az IL
he had an unpleasant. duty to per-