Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-06-05

took up the half.peeled apple and
the knife and went on with her
work. but her hands trembled. and
she peeled the apple extravagantiy.
Arnott watched her for q moment
with perplexed eyes. "You don't
mean--me?" he asked then
"You-no!'
He gave little exclamation. "Not
--Peter!'
Mans hdnd Jerked suddenly. and
the knife slipped and cut her finger
an ugly cash.
She found her handkerchief ana
wound It round anyhow: she would
not let Arnott look at It.
TITS nothing" she said-''nothing.
Please don't bother"
IF you mean Peter" Arnott said
| presently. Its all tommy rot.' He
looked at her with sudden suspicion.
| Who II he supposed to be engaged
to- foS Neaven's sake!" he asked ir.
ritably. !.
- never said meant him." Nan
cried I'm o panic. Its nothing to me
II he chooses 20 get married. dare
say shall be married before he Is. /,
anyway-an6 -
YES" said Arnott. "I should think !,
that Is quite possible.
| Blessed tf I can understand you!
thought you cared 50 much for
Lyster that ON. all right. I'm
sorry. 80 He sauntered away 10
the window and stood staring into
the garden. "Lyster has applied to
the war office to send him back to
France" he said suddenly.
He heard Nan catch her breath.
But they won't take him. will
they?' she asked. ct should have
thought oh. you don't think they
will take him. do your"
Arnott shrugged his shoulders.
| Hes soon got tired OF being here"
Nan said.
He made up his mind in q deuce
or a hurry. anyway" Arnott On
swered. only yesterday morning he
said he hoped they wouldn't send
him for a month or so. and then lest
| night he came In and said he was
going to write at once and ask to
be sent back-he wrote. too.''.
Last nightn'
'Yes--he's rum chap-can't
make him out. We did our best to
disuade him. but he wouldn't listen.
thought Doris had some influence
with him. too"
Yes" said Nan quietly. IT thought
she had"
Arnott swung round: ne stared at
her for moment without speaking.
then he said:
You don't like my sister. Miss
Marraby."
Nan tried to deny it.
II do-howS absurd-of course I do:
why I've only seen her once in my
life"
/ "She takes n bit Of knowing" Ar.
mott said thoughtfully. But she's
one of the best when you do know
her. She, behaved like a brick when
her husband was killed-and she
adored him. too ia like to make
bet that she'll never marry again."
Nan sat very still. her left hand
clasped tightly over the wounded
finger.
"I don't believe It," she was saying
; in her heart. IT'S just that he
doesn't want to hurt me. -
The kitchen door opened abruptly.
, Mary thrust a scared face round.
, Mr.. Seton, please, Miss Nam"
Arnott swore under his breath.
Nan rose hurriedly.
an q moment-asle him - the
: schoolroom-I'll be there in a mo-
ment." She turned to Arnott: you
son't mind IL ask you to go?''
IT was going, anyway" he an.
swered.
She went with him to the door
q they passed Seton in the hall. He
scowled as he saw that Nan was not
alone.
. Where Is my ring?" he demand.
r ed.
q Nan fished 1t up from her pocket
;. fished up piece Of apple-core with
1t.
z II took 1t off to make TART" she
a explained.
you've 10 right to do work like
4 that. When you're my wife shall
not allow it."
"a I'm not your wife yet" said Nan
" She followed him into the school,
!. roonn-there was q big dish Of prim
, roses on the tahle-she went over
to them and mechanically began pull
/" ing out q few that were faded.
10 To Be Continued