Evening star., 1924-05-14
y
fContinued from Yesterdays SGlr.l


That. said. he took his leave and
went, but he left behind MN q ~
seSd of fear in Richards mnd. ana
ofsthe growth that sphang. from II
Richard almost uncoDsch 'us,y ah
pIanted something in the gays Gays 'ns
followed into the heart or MI .rn1
a result. to make sure tbat iu ia. a. ~
should come to her broth&r, lne .as,; ias
ofahis name and race. she Ns~ed NnOi>in in
to-,receive Sir Rowland-resVNe ~ -,
spite of Diana'S outspoken S,Skn'
spite of Richards protestS- ~. -
though afraid, yet he would not ia -.
it so-in spite even of her own GShp
repugnance of the man.
Days passed and grew to weeks
Bfidgwater was settling down TO
peSce again-to peace and mourning
the. royaliSt Scourge had spread 10
Taunton. and Blake fingered on at
Lupton House, an unwelcome put AN
undeniable guest.
His presence was as detestable to
Richard now as 1t was to Ruth, Tor
Richard had to submit TO the moekery
with which the town rake lashed his
godly bearing and altened ways
More than once in gusts of sudden
rafor the boy urged his sister TO
permit him to drive the baronet from
the house and let him do his worst
But Ruth, afraid for Richard. bade
him wait until the times were more
settled. When the royal vengeance
had Slaked its lust for blood II might
matter little. perhaps, what tales sir
Rowland might elect to carry.
And so Sir Rowland remained and
wnited. He assured himself that he
knew how to be patient and con-
graduated himself upon that clrcum-
stance. Wilding dead, little time
must now suffice to- blunt the sharp
edge of his widows grief Let him
but await that time, and the rest
should be easy, the battle his. with
Richard he did not so much as trouble
himself to reckon.
Thus he determined. and thus no
doubt he would have acted but for
an unforeseen contingency. A miser-
able, paitry creditor had smoked MN
out in his Somerset retreat and got
a letter to him full of dark hints of
debtors gaol. The fellows name was
Swiney, and Sir Rowland knew him
for fierce and pertinacious where a
defaulting creditor was concerned.
One only course remained hin-to
force matters with Wildings widow.
For days he refrained, fearing that
precipitancy might lose him all. II
was his wish to do the thing without
too much coercion: some, he was not
co1comb enough to think-coxcomb
though he waS-might be dispensed
with.
cfded to be done with dallying- and
to bring Ruth between the hammer
and the anvil of his will 1t was the
last Sunday in July. exactly three
weeks after Sedgemoor. and the ODD
coincidence of his having chosen such
a. day and hour you shall appreciate
anon.
They were on the lawn taking the
cool of the evening after an oppres
sively hot day. By the stone seat
now occupied by Lady Horton and
Diana. Richard lay on the sward al
hAi in ta1
talk was of Sir Rowland. Diana
gail in her soul to see the baronet
by way of gaining yet his ends-chio
Richard in strong terms for ms
weakness in submitting to Blake
constant presence at Lupton House
And Richard meekly took her child
ing and promised that if Ruth would
but sanction it things should be
changed upon the morrow.
Sir Rowland, all unconscious--reck-
less, indeed-of this, sauntered with
Ruth some little distance from them
having contrived adroitly to draw hel
aside. He broke a spell of silence
with a doiorous sigh.
Ruth" said he pensively, Il mine
me of the last evening on which you
and 1 walked here alone"
She flashed him a glance of fear
and aversion and stood still Under
his brow he watched the quick heave
Of her bosom. the sudden flow and
dDIullS epo VI pioou III hVI idSc-
grpwn row so thin and wistful-and
he realized that before him lay no
easy task. He set his teeth for bat
tie
will you never have a kindness
for me. Ruth?' he sighed.
She turned about, her intent to join
the others, a dull anger in her soul.
He sat hand upon her arm. Wait
said he, and the tone in which he
uttered that one word kept her beside
him. His manner changed a little.
Il am tired of this" said he.