Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-03-27
The Evil Shepherd

TOO late, ne regretted. sDurinj
the last month or 30 the thing ha,
come to me which we ali Iook for
] ward to, only don't think fate has
treated me kindly. I have always
loved normal ways and normal people
and the woman Etcare for ls different
Tell me about herl" she Insisted
"YOu will be very surprised when j
tell you her NAME" be said. "It q
Margaret Hilditch.~
She looked at him for 4 moment In
blank establishment.
"HeayeDslT she exclaimed. ~Oilver
Hndltch's wifer'
Il can't help that he declared, a
little dOggedly. "She's had a miser-
able time. know. She was married
to scamp. I'm not quite sure that
her father isn't as bad a one. Those
things don't make any difference"
"rhey wouldn't with you" she said
softly. Tell me. did you say any
thing to her last night7,s
II did," he replied. Il began when
we were out alone together. She gave
me no encouragement to speak of. but
at any rate she knows"
Lady Cynthia leaned q little for
ward In her place.
do you know where she Is now7'
He was little startled.
Down at the cottage, I suppose.
The butler told me that she never
rose beforeSmidday."
Then for once the butler was mis-
taken, his companion told MIN. Mar
garet Hilditch left at six o'clock this
morning. saw her In travelling
clothes get into the car and drive
away"
"She left the cottage this morning
before us7" Francis repeated, amazed
Il can assure you that she did"
Lady Cynthia Insisted. Il never sleep,
amongst my other pecullarities," she
went on bitterly. "and was lying on
a couch by the side OF the open win
dow when the car came for her. She
stopped 1t at the bend OF the avenue
so that II shouldn't wake us up, sup
poses saw her get In and drive
away
Francis was silent for several mo-
ments. Lady Cynthia watched him
curlously.
AT any rate" she observed, ..in
whatever mood she went away this
you have evidently succeed /
ed in doing what I have never seen any
1ne else do-breaking through her In
difference. shouldn't have thought
hat anything short of an earthquake
would have stirred Margaret. these
lays"
These days, he repeated quickly.
How long have you known herr"
I'VE were at school together for a
hort time" she told him. EFT was
While her father was in South Ameri-
a. Margaret was a very different per-
on In those days."
However was she induced to marry
person like Oliver HIIdItch7' Fran
Is speculated.
His companion shrugged her shout
ers.
"who knowsT" she answered Indif
srently. "Are you going to drop met"
wherever you like"
Take me on 10 Grnsyenor square,
you will, then" she begged. -and de-
osit me at the ancestral mansion.
N really rather annoyed about Mar
aret." she went on, rearranging her
Ell. 81 had begun to have hopes that
ou might have revived pey taste for
primal things"
"If / had had the slightest IntIma-
on" he murmured.
1T would have made no difference" [
le interrupted dolefully. Nov I
'me to think OF Il. the Margaret (
hom ! used to know-and there must {
} plenty OF her left yet--is just the :
ght type Of woman for you"
They drew up outside the house in
square. Lady Cynthia held Q
It her hand. a
"Come and see me one afternoon.
m your" she invited. q
sPd like TO very much he replied.
She fingered on the steps and waved Z
r hand 20 him--a graceful. some a
nat Insolent gesture. t
"All the same, / think shall do my q
st to make you forget Margaret, she L
He'd out. Thanks for the lift up. c
bIentotl" ii