Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-04-17
CHAPTER xIv.-cOntlnusd.

ready J" she exclaimed. Come IN
Very much to their surprise. 1t was
Sir Timothy himself who entered. He
was ia evening dress and wearing
several orders, one Of which Francis
noted with surprise.
MY apologies" he said. Hedges
told me that there were cocktails
here. and as I am on my way to a
rather weary dinner thought might
inhict myself upon you for a mo-
ment."
Margaret rose at once to her feet
II am a shocking hostess" she de-
cIared. Hedges brought the things
in twenty minutes ago"
She took up the silver receptacle.
shook 1t vigorously and filled three
Rlasses. Sir Timothy accepted his and
bowed to them both.
my best wisnes," he said. Real
~, when one comes to think Of it.
however much II may be against my
InclInations / scarcely see how ! shall
be able to withhold my consent
believe that You both have at heart
the fair for demesticity. This little
picture, and the thought Of your tete-
a-tete dinner, almost touches me-"
Don't make fun Of US. father"
Margaret begged. TELL US where you
are going in all that spIendor?"
Sir Timothy shrugged his shoulders.
"A month or so ago." he explained,
81 was chosen to induct a scion Of
royalty into the understanding of
fighting as 1t is INDUCED in at the Ma
tionaI Sporting club. This, suppose,
is my reward-an invitation to some
thing in the nature Of a state dinner,
which, to tell you the truth. had for
gotten until my secretary pointed It
out to me this afternoon. / have
grave fears of being bored or of mis-
behaving myself. have, as Ledsam
here knows, distressing habit Of
truthtulness. especially to new &c
-quaintances However, we must hope
for the best. By-the-bye. Ledsam, in
case you should have forgotten, / have
spoken to Hedges about the 90
cliquot"
"Shall we see you here later?" Mar
garet asked, after Francis had MUIR
INJURED his thanks.
II shall probably return direct to
Hatch End" Sir Timothy replied.
There are various little matters down
there which are interesting me just
now-preps snfisns for my party. Au
revoir A delicious cocktail. but am
inclined to resent the Angostura."
lie sauDtered out, after glance at
the clock They heard his footsteps
as he descended the stairs.
"Tell me, what manner of a man Is
your fatherT Francis asked impul-
sively.
IT am his daughter and do not
Know" Margaret answered. Before
he camel was going to speak to you
OF a strange misunderstanding which |
has existed between US and which has
Just been removed. Now have a
fancy to leave It until later. You will
not mind"
"When you choose Francis assent
ed Nothing will make any differ
ence. We are past the days when IA
theirs count seriously In the things
that exist between two people like
you and me, who have felt life. What
ever your father may be. whatever he
may turn out TO be, you are the wom-
an love-you are the woman who is
going TO be my wife"
She leaned towards him for a mo
ment. Il
"You have an amazing gift" she
whispered. "of saying just the thing
one loves to hear in the way that con-
vinces."
Dinner was served to them in the
smaller OF the two dlning-roOms, an
exquisite meal made more wonderful
still by the wine. which Hedges him
self dispensed with Jealous care. The
presence OF servants. with its restrain
Ing influence upon conversation, was
not altogether unwelcome to Francis.
He and Margaret had had so little OPP
portunfty for general conversation
that to discuss other than personal
subjects In this pleasant IeIsurely
way had its charm. They spoke Of
music, OF which she knew far more
than he; OF foreign travel. where they
met on common ground, for each had
,nly the tourists knowledge OF Eu-
rope. and each was anxious for more
Individual acquaintance with II. She q
rad tastes in books which delighted ;
him, a knowledge of games which y
promised common resource. II was ,
,nIy whilst they were talking that he
'ealIzed with a shock how young she
vas, how few the years that lay be '
ween her serene school days and the
empestuous years Of her married life.
Her school days in Naples were most h
edolent Of delightful memories. She n
lroke on once or twice into the Ian
mage. aud he listened with delight 60 7
Ter soft accent Finally the time
anne when dessert was set upon the
sbIe y
Il have ordered coffee up IN the lit y
Ie sitfing-rOom again. she said. lit. 4
le sh5 ~. DO ron mind. or would 4
on rather have IL hereTT "
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