Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-30
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
The Vicar


L not his nerves been under good con
troll he would have screamed out nearly
as loudly as had done his late visitor
at whatever had frightened her in the
room above.
BY a supreme effort he controlled
himself and turned quietly and leisurely
round.
eyes who is it," he asked.
A small rotund figure came out of
the dim night and stood on the thresh
old where the beam of yellow light fell
from the lamp within.
REALLY, I must apologize for such
an extremely late visit said the
stranger, "but the fact is I was just
passing and I saw your light, and
have been meaning all week TO get
over to call, so when saw Mrs. Went
worth pass on her bicycle--it was Mrs.
Wentworth, was it not?"
"Oh, yes,' answered Keith slowly,
Eyes, it would be her, l expect"
II thought so, though I could not be
quite certain in the Darkness" con
tinued the stranger. "a great acqui-
sition to our parish, if I may say so.
l am only sorry you are in such a very
out of -theway part of it. Mrs
Morgan is hoping to get over to call,
but she finds it little difficult, as it is
too far to walk; she doesn't cycle: and
conveyance is not at all easy to ar
range for; so when I saw your light I
thought to myself that here was an
opportunity for me to look in and in
troduce myself"
He paused and beamed cheerfully on
his host, and Keith smiled back nearly
as cheerfully, immensely relieved to
gather from this that the personality
Of the real Mr. Wentworth was un-
known to this newcomer who. from
what he said, was evidently Mr..
Morgan and the vicar of the parish.
II am sure it was most good of you
to come" he said genially; won't
you come in a minute?'
The vicar thanked him profusely. OBJ
jected on the score of the lateness of
the hour, but yielded finally to a re-
newed invitation and followed into the
drawing room, where Keith lit the
lamp and drew the curtains while his
new visitor established himself in n
comfortable chair and accepted with
many thanks a cigar from the box
Keith offered him.
"Very kind of you, very kind in
deed" he purred. 81 hope Mrs.
Wentworth permits smoking in her
drawing -room?"
"Oh, yes, I don't think she oh
jects at ALL" answered Keith airily.
thinking there was much else she would
object to more just at this moment.
He took seat opposite his visitor and
helped himself to a fresh cigar, with
KIND OF grim inner amusement he re-
hected that they must present very
comfortable and intimate picture. and
he wondered what would happen if the
real Mr.. WentwOrth-since that was
evidently the name of the rightful oc-
cupant of the house-should return un-
expectedly. But his mood was wild and
reckless; he even told himself that DOS
session is nine -tenths of the law, and
that IT the genuine Wentworth did an
pear he would face the situation out, re-
fuse to admit the others identity, and
order him off.
Let him sleep out under the trees
for once" he thought; "it won't do
the chap any harm; and / feel like
good bed for once-lord, if he comes I'll
give him the surprise of his life and
bluff him till he won't know which of
us is really which,
The jest of it appealed to him strongly
in his present reckless mood, and his
eyes shone with mischief and laughter
at the prospect. And evidently not the
faintest suspicion had as yet entered
the mind of his present visitor, who
leaning back in his easy chair. smoking
the excellent cigar Keith had given him.
and keeping up a constant stream of
cheerful gossip about the parish and its
inhabitants, seemed very comfortable
indeed.
II can assure you," he said, that
cycle good many hundred miles
year in the course of my duties-thou-
odhuo iliSut say luueeu. 1T is Il very
widely scattered parish, especially this
end of it, which is I suppose the lone
liest, widest district in the county; in
the whole of this part of England in
deed. Possibly that is an attraction
In your eyes, though, Mr.. Wentworth 2"
Upon my word, / don't know but
that it is" Keith agreed.
Are You expecting to stay lopg?"
Mr.. Morgan inquired.
II hardly know; my plans are not
very settled YET" answered Keith
cautiously.
II see, see," smiled Mr.. Morgan.
And how does Mrs. Wentworth like it
here-very well, hope?"
''I think" answered Keith, 'I think
may say she is charmed. am afraid, -
he added, 81 shall have to ask you to
excuse her tonight; ! rather think she
has begun her preparations for re-
tiring."
Mr.. Morgan seemed to take this as a
hint to be off, for he rose almost al
once, declaring he must go. Keith tried
to persuade him TO stay, but he insisted
ON going and began to apologize again
for putting In an appearance so late.
Though really" he repeated, ''the
parish Il 50 large, and aud it SO diff
6cuIk % eoyer It all, that when I saw
a3f iieht - I was riding through