Evening star., 1924-04-14

the affair. vallancey took his leave OF
him and Blake at the crossroads,
pleading business with Lord Gervase,
and left them to proceed without him
to Bridgwater.
Blake, whose suspicious of some
secret matter to which Vallancey and
Richard were welded had been earlier
excited by Westmacott's indiscretions,,
vas full of sly questions now touching
the business which might be taking
Vaiiancey 20 Scoresby But Richard
was too full of the subject OF the fear
he had instilled into Wilding to af-
ford his companion much satisfaction on
any other score. Thus they came to
Lupton House, and as Richard swag-
gered down the lawn into the presence
of the ladies-Ruth and her aunt were
occupying the stone bench, Diana the
circular seat about the great oak in the
center OF the lawn-he was a very dif-
ferent person from the pale, limp crea-
ture they had beheld there some few
hours earlier. Loud and offensive was
he now in self-laudation. and so in
different to alr else that he left unob-
served the little smile, half wistful. half
scornful, that visited his sisters lip
when he sneeringly told how Mr.. Wild
ing had chosen that better part of
valor which discretion is alleged to be.
II needed Diana, who, blinded by no
sisterly affection, saw him exactly as
to enlighten him. 1t may also be that
IN doing so at once she had ends of her
own to serve; for Sir Rowland was
still Of the company.
Mr.. Wilding afraid?" she cried. her
voice so charged with derision that 1T
inclined to shrillness. ala, Richard.
Mr.. Wilding was never afraid OF any
man."
Faith" said Rowland. although his
acquaintance with Mr.. Widing was
II -. Il
think. He does not look like man
familiar. with fear
Richard struck something of an at
titude, his fair face flushed, his pale
eyes glittering. "He took blow" said
he, and sneered.
There may have been reasons" Diana
suggested darkly, and Sir Rowland's
eyes narrowed at the hint.
Again he recalled the words Richard
had let fall that afternoon. Wilding
and he were fellow workers in some
secret business, and Richard had said
that the encounter was treason to that
same business, whatever il might be.
And of what 1t might be Sir Rowland
had grounds upon which to found at
least a guess. Had perhaps wilding
acted upon some similar feelings in
avoiding the duel? He wondered; and
when Richard dismissed Diana's chal-
lenge with fatuous laugh, 1t was Blake
who took it up.
You speak n1a'am," said he. "as IL
you knew that there were reasons, and
knew, too, what those reasons might
be-"
Diana looked at Ruth, as If for guild
ance before replying. But Ruth sat
calm and seemingly impassive, looking
straight before her. She was, indeed,
Indifferent how much Diana said, for
in any case the matter could not re-
main a. secret long. Lady Horton, silent
too and listening, looked question at
her daughter.
And so. after a pause: II know both"
Ruth; and a subtler man than Blake
would have read that glance and un-
derstood that this same reason which
he sought so diligently sat there before
him.
. Richard, indeed. catching that sly
look of his cousins, checked his as
surance. and stood frowning, eogitating
Then. quite suddenly, his voice harsh:
What do you mean, Diana?'' he in
quired.
shoulder to him. You had best ask
Ruth. said sher which was an answer
more or less plain to both the men
They stood at gaze, Richard looking
thought foolish, Blake, frowning, his
heavy lip caught in his strong, white
teeth.
Ruth turned 20 her brother with an
almost piteous attempt at a smile. She
sought TO spare him pain by excluding
from her manner all suggestion that
things were other than she desired.
"I am betrothed 10 Mr.. Wilding,"
said she.
Sir Rowland made a sudden forwar rd
movement. drew a deep breath, and as
suddenly stood still Richard looked at
his sister as if she were mad and raving
Then he laughed, between unbeiief and
derision.
''It is a jest said he, but his ac-
cents lacked conviction.
1T is the truth" Ruth assured him
quietly.