Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-03-13


cases like that. haven't there?" she
said. Weren't you telling me Of
one the other day when we came
downjin the train together"
But that was not genuine one"
Seton reminded her. "If you re.
member. I told you that the man Was
shamming-to get rid of a woman OF
whom he was tired"
80 you did" Nan laughed con.
strainedly. How queer! Perhaps
Mr.. Lyster Is doing the same thing"
she added fiippantly. She hardly
knew what she was sayins-.she met
Sefton's eyes desperately.
For q moment there was a little
silence. then he said:
"I--wonder!" There was a short
pause between the two words.
Nan turned sharply away: she fslt
a. II she could have struck him: she
put up her hand almost unconscious
~ and felt FOR Peters ring which she
wore beneath her frock.
That's not a very polite thing to
say to me. IL it?" she asked; she was
surprised at her own callnness. "You
know thak was once engaged 60 Mr..
LySter. Fortunately. our engage.
paent was broken OF before this hap
pened." she added.
It was a deliberate lie. but che felt
rs II she must say something to pro.
tect Peter.
Il hate this man." she was saying
In her heart. "I hate him, and 1
don't know why. should like to
tell him that I HATE him. but I'm
afraid to--I wonder why am afraid
to?"
Seton was apologiziny huIriedly.
II give you my word that such a
thought never crossed my mind" he
said. IF said anything to lead you
to suppose so. it was quite uncon-
sciously. I assure you Miss Mar.
raby-"
Here are the boys said Nan.
There was unutterable relief in her
voice: she turned eagerly as the door
burst open and the three boys pre-
cipitated themselves into the kitchen.
They stopped short when they saw
a stranger there.
Nan went forward.
Say 'how-doyou.do' to this gentle.
man. boys-are you clean enough TO
shake hands?" She seized Buster.
who was nearest to her, and I'M
curled the fingers which he had
promptly put behind his back.
BLACKS" she said, tragically. Boys.
whatever do You do with yourselves
to get into such q mess?"
Nobody answered.
III you'n excuse US for moment"
Nan said TO Seton. 18Th 80 ana
make them presentsbhe. 90 into the
schoolroom. will you? Wen be down
In q moment"
She hustled the boys upstairs. and
the last Seton saw Of the li4tts group.
vas Mans slim figure With two asras
round her waist as they disappeared
round q bend In the staircase.
As soon az they were safeiy In tina
bathroom the temporarily sitencest
tongues began to wa8.
rs he going to stay 70 tea7''
Going to stay 10 tea!"
ITO tear
Nan said yes" She scrubbed
away at Ciaudie's grimy face. '.Ntce
objects he must have thought you
all. You're all to shake hands and
say 'How-do-you-do' properly when
you get downstairs"
IT'S the man who hit US with his
whip" Jim said darkly. IT shan /
shake hands with him."
Nor me-" said Claudio.
Nor me-" echoed Buster.
Nan tried to look angry.
Hit you with the whip, What
ever do you mean? He's Mr.. Seftou,
and a very nice gentleman" She
felt obliged to say so, because it was
the last thing she thought.
He hit us with his whip" Jim
maintained eoggedly. "I told you
about him---he was on a horse"
Nan knit her brows: she remem.
bered now that the boys had come.
in a day or two previous. full
OF righteous wrath because a man
on horseback had dashed at them
with his whip for running across the
road dangerously near to his horses
feet.
Claude had been crying, too-and
Claude was Mans favorite.
oh, are You sure?" she asked.
Three shaggy heads nodded a
solemn affirmative.