The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-08-01
CHAPTER L

In the drowsy heat of the summer
afternoon The Red House was taking
its siesta. There was a lazy murmur
OF bees in the 1ower-borders, a gentle
cooling Of pigeons in the tops Of the
elns. From distant lawns came the
whir Of a moving machine. that most
restful of all country sounds; making
ease the sweeter in that it is taken
while others are working.
It was the hour when even those
whose business it is to attend to the
wants of others have a moment or
two for themselves. In the house
keepers room Audrey Stevens, the
pretty parlormaid. retrimmed her best
hat, and talked idly to her aunt, the
cook housekeeper of Mr.. Mark Ablett's
bachelor home.
Funny thing that about Mr.. Marks
brother. Fancy not seeing him for
fifteen years"
"As I told you all this morning, >"
said her aunt, I've been here five
years. and never heard of a brother
could say that before everybody If
I was going to die tomorrow"
You could have knocked me down
with feather when he spoke about
him at breakfast this morning I
didn't hear what went before, natural
AIy, but they was ali talking about the
brother when I went in. Mr.. Mark
turns to me, and says-you know his
way-'Stevens.' he says. my brother
is coming TO see me this afternoon;
I'm expecting him about three he
says. Show him into the Office he
says, just like that. Yes. sir I says
quite quietly, but was never so sur
prised in my life. not knowing he had
a brother. My brother from Austria
la he says-there, I'd forgotten that.
From Australia"
We'll, he may have been in Aus
tralia-" said Mrs. Stevens, judicially.
here. Not while I've been here. and
that's five years"
well. but. auntie, he hasn't been
here for fifteen years. heard Mr..
Mark telling Mr.. Cayley. Fifteen
years. he says. Mr.. Cayley having
arst him when his brother was last
in England. Mr.. Cayley knew Of him,
I heard him telling Mr.. Beverley. but
didn't know when he was last in Eng
land-see? So that's why he arst
Mr.. Mark"
I'm not saying anything about
fifteen years, Audrey 1 can only
speak for what I know, and that's
five years Whitsuntide. If he's been
in Australia, as you say. well. I dare
say he's had his reasons"
What reasons?" said Audrey
lightly.
Never mind what reasons. Being
in the place Of a mother to you, since
your poor mother died, I say this,
Audrey-when a gentleman goes to
Australia, he has his reasons. And
, when he stays in Australia fifteen
years. he has his reasons. And re-
specially brought-up girl doesn't ask
what reasons"
Got into trouble, I suppose" said
Audrey carelessly. They were say
ing at breakfast he'd been a wild one"
The ringing of a bell brought Au-
drey TO her feet-no longer Audrey.
but now Stevens. She arranged her
cap in front of the glass.
AS audrey came across the hall
she gave q little start as she saw Mr..
Cayley suddenly, sitting unobstrusive-
ly in a seat beneath one Of the front
windows, reading.
No reason why he shouldn't be
there; certainly a much cooler place
than the golf links on such day;
but somehow there was a deserted
air about the house that afternoon.
Mr.. Cayley. the masters cousin, was
a surprise; and, having given a little
exclamation as she came suddenly
upon him, she blushed, and said,
''Oh, beg your pardon sir, didn't
see you at first" and he looked up
from his book and smiled at her.
An attractive smile it was on that
big ugly face. Such a gentleman.