The Glenwood post., 1924-12-04


all, Gerald7" he remarked on the .v..
ming of the latter's arrival at H,nter.
leys.
mo. I didn't 60, SIR" Gerald REPLIED
Some old friends Of mine turned up
IN town. l have been spending a GOOD
deal Of time with them"
Il would have preferred hearing that
you had been on the moors," his father
observed, with a glance at his sons
paliid face and careworn expression.
London in August always seems to
me intolerable."
IT was certainly very hot" Gerald
admitted. II was on the river great
zeal OF the time, though"
There was short silence Lord
Hlnterleys was, as rule, reserved
man, and he much disliked the task
which he had set himself. He dallied
with 1t for a few moments, looking
through the high window, across the
terrace to the gardens below. His
face softened as he glanced at the
TWO girlish figures seated under the
cedar tree, where coffee was being
served.
You have been guilty, 1 suppose,
Gerald" he said drily, "of the usual
number of indiscretions, but one action
of yours which threatened to come
under that heading, I shall always re-
member with gratitude. MYRTLE is
the most wonderful child who ever
came to brighten a somewhat dull
household"
Il am glad you approve of her, sir"
Gerald replied indifferently
1.-The more | study her." Lord Hin
terleys went on earnestly, "the more
she fills me with amazement. 1t
seems as though she must be some
sort of spiritual changeling. l have
always been, as you know, rather a
stickler for race. MYRTLE is one of
those marvellous exceptions which up
set all argument. She is an aristo-
crat to the finger tips in every way,
small or great, that counts. 1t seems
as though it were absolutely impos-
sible for her to do an ungracious or
ungraceful thing She has destroyed
every prejudice l ever possessed"
Gerald was interested at last. It
was many years since he had known
his father so enthusiastic.
~ am very glad you kept her here,
SIR" he remarked.
II am more than glad-I am thank
full" was the fervent reply. II look
forward with a pleasure which l can
scarcely describe to the hours she
gives up for my entertainment. To
watch her development, too. during
the last year. has been like watching
a beautiful flower"
"She made a conquest of you, at any
rate, dad" Gerald remarked. 81
thought myself that she looked per-
fectly sweet tonight at dinner time"
"She has made conquest of me to
an extent which | should never have
believed possible" Lord Hinterleys ad-
mitted, glancing across at his son. 81
have had an elderly mans desire, Ger
aid, to welcome home to Hinterleys
the woman whom you might decide to
choose for wife. l have kept little
list in my mind of the young women
at present known to society, whom 1t
would give me pleasure to see here. l
have never for one second contem-
plated the addition to that list of an
unknown person. And yet"
There is no question of anything
of that sort between MYRTLE and me,
SIR" Gerald declared, breaking a
somewhat embarrassed pause
Lord Hinterleys slipped his port and
looked once more out of the window.
Gerald. little startled by his fathers
unexpected suggestion, was suddenly
conscious of that one wild moment
after his party at the Hotel de Paris,
Of Christopher's stern figure, of that
strange medley of sensations, the flare
of passion which seemed to have per-
ished In the shame of Christopher's
triumph. He, too, looked out Of the
window. MYRTLE had been a child
then. She was woman now, more
wonderful, more gracious, just as COM
pletely virginia.. Yet to him she existed
at that moment only as the picture Of
something that had passed.
II am afraid" his father said, a
lttic Sduiy, tHdt MyEtile uocb uUt IOOk
ut 1t in quite the same way. How
ever that is nothing. II may be only
a sort of hero-worship with her. 1t
was you, I understand, who took the
initiative in bringing her away from
her home. Her Indifference to your
sex is little abnormal for her years.
Doubtless 1t will pass when the right
man arrives envy that man more
than any other living"
Lord Hinterleys slowly finished his
wine. Gerald produced his cigarette
case.
. you are ready, sir?" he asked.
"Wlll you take my arm?"
Not for moment" vas the quiet
reply. you perceive, from my refer
ence to MYRTLE, that I am in conf
Dental frame of mind. shall go
even further to prove it."
"You won't mind my cigarette, sir?'