Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-06
CHAPTER Xy
Fate Introduces T,ioneI Chamnioo


Fate Introduces Lionel Champion
Somebody must be dead That was
my, first thought as h stared at my
fathers rather embarrassed face. or
ne would never have come TO see me
Then | gave a hysterical little laugh
OF relief, remembering that mother had
SAID In her last letter that he had bust
ness somewhere near and might call
to see how | was.
put UP my face to kiss him. and
as ! did so | saw that he was not alone
that broad shouldered man who
had been standing beside the car had
come forward and was watching US
with interested eyes. My father turned.
Champion, this is my youngest
daughter. Sally" he said sally, this
is Mr.. Champion.
] said, How do you do?' and starcI
Mt him interestedly; so this was the
man Nell was supposed to be going
to marry!
He was quite elderly. at least be
seemed so to me. though I found out
atterward that he was only forty.
three, but his hair wns gray. and he
had lot Of lines in his face. as If he
had lived dissipatcd life. Still he was
very pleasant looking when he smiled.
and liked the way he shook hands.
You'll come in. won't you - 7 said.
and wondered what on earth they would
say when they found that dinner was
hid in the kitchen for me as we'll as
for the Alberrys.
l rushed on ahead and tried to ex =
plain to Mrs. Alberry; but she was
never very quick at graSpinS thing,
and the best parlor was generally kept
1,rl oI nj ,,,itln,,t E,o
Sundays). so there was no help for Il
but to ask both my father and Mr..
Champion into the kitchen.
Mr.. Alberry had taken the trap rodnd
TO the yard and had not returned but
dinner was laid for three, and I saw
my father eyes take in the fact as he
stood with his back to the fire pulling
off his big fur gloves.
After a moment his eyes came back
to me.
'Wcll. and how do you like living in
the country" he asked.
lie looked me up and down with n
queer sort Of expression. I wondered
II he realized that had got on all my
oldest clothes and IL he thought I look :
ed a fright.
~ like It very much" said.
'WC've had lots of fun--skating every
day until the thaw came last night"
There used to be excellent skating
round here years ago" Mr.. Champion
struck In. ~ know this part of the
country very we'll. you SEQ. Miss Slater ::
as matter of fact, l still own prop
erty here.
l said, "Oh. do you? Is that why
you've come DOWN."
They looked at ono another, and Mr..
Champion laughed.
You don't believe that VIC came to
see you?" he said amuscdly. and |
shook my head.
''Of course not.
Mrs. Alberry. who had been upstairs.
dgitatedly removing her morning frock
and braiding her hair again, came in
ate that moment. crimson with, agita-
tion and breathleSs in her many apollo
gics.
IF I'd only known you was coming,
sir, I'm sure can't say how put
about ! am. and no fire in the best
parlor, and only hash for dinner -
"Its my fault about the best par
lor," struck in, as saw little frOwn
on my fathers face. They wanted
me to live in there in style and lave
all my meals alone, but | refused! l
refused pointblank. Wouldn't you have
done?" | asked, turning to Lionel
Champion.
lie looked round the kitchen, with
It's low ceiling and warm comfort and
smiled.
II must 8dmit that I don't blame you
n bit" he said. Personally | hate
eating any meal in solitary state. y
There you are - said triumphant
" to my father. "Of course, | know
that mother would be very angry If
she knew, but =" ] hesitated.
There isn't really any need to tell
her" I added with burst Of unusual
His grave face broke into smile.
"You look the picture OF health. at
any rate, | must say, he admitted
"NIcals In the parlor or not, | must
congratulate you, Mrs. Albcrry, ]
shoulI never have believed so quick an
Improvement possible.
Mrs. Alberry smiled with pleasure.
"And Miss Sally looked even better
than she does now day or so ago, she
said volubly, in spite OF my frantic siS
nails IN her to hold her tongue. but
the ice broke when they were skating
The other afternoon, and nice scare we
ali had when Mr.. Anderson brought
Miss Sally home; but for Mr.: Ander;
son, sir, there would have been sad
news for you, I'm thinking.
"And who is Mr.. Anderson, may
ask ?" said my father.
felt myself coloring.
"I don't know who he is ! said,
with elaborate Carclessness, except that
Mr., Alberry knows him, and thc day
arrived here wheel came off the trap,
and he came and helped us, and =
I broke off, realizing that ! sounded iai
TOO enthusiastic, and added bluntIy
Hes got another farm quite close to
this"
Mr., Champion broke in:
us his name Mark Anderson, by any
clanccf'
turned to him eagerly.
''Hes, it H.; and he's tall, and rather
good. looking, and he lives with his aunt
and a cousin, and" Again ! stopped,
conscious of ny fathers gaze.
II know him WE'LL" Mr. Champion
beamcI. "Oh, do you?" said;
''Ycs-" There was something
curt In the monosyllable, and j asked
no more questions.
t-n<-TTN'T'rD 1ON'n-nO'Nf