Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-07-03


him go-let him gor'
Sheer surprise had made Seton re.
linquish his hold Of the boy. ana
Claude dropped sobbing and shak.
ing amongst the bracken and under.
growth.
Sefton tried to catch Mans arms
and hold her; but for the moment
rage made her stronger than he.
She struck at him again and
again. She saw the world red. That
ne should so have dared to hurt
Claude. She could have killed him
In her passionate anger and hatred
You wild cat. you" he said saw.
ageiy. His face was ugly. but there
was q look OF unwilling admiration
In his eyes. He held both her wrists
with one hand: the other he passed,
agitatedly across his face.
1t was red and bruised, and his
lip had been cut by the diamond
ring which he himself had given
Nan. -. ,,>,,., ..,..,..,. -.
She stood painting and struggling
with him. She loathed tho touch Of
his hand on her She was sick with
shame that she could ever have
thought II possible that shc could .
marry such q man.
Claude had got over his first deem
terror and was bowling now in real
earnest. raising his voice shrilly till
II must have been heard half over
the wood.
Seton looked round uneasily. He
was a coward at heart. as are most
DULLES.
Stop that little devils noise" he
said savagely "If you think I'm
going to put up with his nonsense
ana yours as well :"
He broke off. releasing Nan and
wheeling sharply as someone crashed
through the underground. and the
next moment Peter Lyster was
there. not yard from them.
How much he had heard or seen
none OF them knew. but there was a
look In his face which Nan had never
thought to see there again-a look
IN his eyes as he turned from her to
Sefton that made her heart swoon
In her breast for sheer happiness.
She put out her arms and drew
Claude into them and away from,
the two men who faced one another
In the narrow pathway.
Seton laughed insolently as he
looked at Peter.
"Ah! the play.actor" he said with
detestable infection. "The man who
lost his memory to svoid further
service. or to escape an unwelcome
engagement. The man who forgot
. conveniently forgot"
But he never finished that sem
tence; Peter made lunge forward
and caught him fairly between the
eyes.
Claude cried out. but with delight
now rather than fear. and Nan hid
her eyes.
But in a contest between a brave
man and q coward the ending Is a
roresone conclusion. and in two mo.
ments Lyster had broken the riding
crop across Its owners back. and
Seton had disappeared-a Iimping.
raging thing, to hide his shame in
the heart OF the wood.
Peter was breathing heavily and
his face was very pale.
There was dazed sort Of look
about him; big man as he was, he
trembled like q girl now his rage
had died down.
And. then, quite suddenly. with.
out comment Of any sort. Lyster
turned on his heel and began to
walk slowly away.
Kis steps dragged-his head was
downbent-he walked like a man
VINO ia thoroughly exhausted.
Nan gently released Claudie's1
fingers and few after Peter
down the narrow path. her light
steps hardly making any sound on
the messy ground; she caught him
up-she spoke his name breathlessly,
INT. Lys.er." u ;as's't'-. p''-,,..>.
But he did not stop, or look at
her; he just said hoarsely:
Let me go--let me go!" as II he
could bear no moro. and Nan fell
back silently.
She took Claudie's hand and they
went home without speaking. Joan
met them In the doorway. She
gasped when she saw the tearstains
and agitation on both faces. She
asked . volley Of questions. What
had happened7 Was anybody hurt7
Oh, how dreadful! 80
- IL