Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-06-01

nCoLCll q
Both Lavender and Pointing, talking
the matter over. agreed that the extrava-
gance OF the late earl, not long deceased,
accounted adequately for Miss" Muir
rays appearance in Farmouta.
Before many weeks had fitted by He's
ter found herself overworked over
tired. She was contemplating engaging
an assistant when Eustance Pointing pro-
posed marriage. He made his offer pre-
maturely. Hester had guessed that he
was in love with her and on that ac-
count had given him no encouragement.
Modern maids deal, each after her own
fashion, with these exigencies. Hester
had come reluctantly to the conclusion
that it might be better for a young
woman in her position to be loved rath-
er than to love. If Eustace POINTING
really loved her she might learn to love
him.
She refused him with such delicate
consideration for his feelings (and her
own) that he may have taken perhaps"
for granted. He said cheerily: Il quite
understand; we carry on as before" Hes
ter said with decision: II hope So" The
gossips, including Miss Sacheverell and
the archdeacon, believed that a hand
some pair were carrying on" Taven-
der was of the same opinion.
Invitations to tea and luncheon as
sailed a high born damsel. She declined
them, pleading work" as an excuse.
BY this time Hester was getting fright
ened at the publicity which she had
achieved. Her experiment had turned
out too big a success. When she walked
along the Marine parade eyes were TO-
cused upon her. When she vent a-shop-
ping. tradesmen were o~bsequious. Far
mouth, gentle n simple, accepted her
&C T,adv Hester MURRAY
VII.
With fortune at the flood, Hester
found and engaged a capable assistant
and worked in an office of her own. Sud-
denly the tide turned. Mrs. Tutfin took
Hester aside and showed her a paragraph
in the Evening Echo:
Some of our fellow townsmen-and
townswomen-will not be surprised to
learn that the Earl of I~nvercauld is
in Yarmouth. On arrival at the Hotel
Windsor last night, his lordship ex-
pressed the hope that he would cap
ture with rod and line both pollack
n bass"
Il thought you would like to see 1t"
said Mrs. Tuffin. Perhaps the earl might
be persuaded to stop here. l should do
my best to make him comfortable"
After the first shock Hester pulled her.
self together, saying quietly: Thank you
for showing me this. I am sorry that
Lord Invercauld has come to Yarmouth
Please don't ask me any questions. 1t
is unlikely that he would come here"
Mrs. Tutfin accepted this as final. Prob
ably brother and sister had quarreled.
She hoped that they would make 1t up.
Nothing would make her believe that q
belted earl had come to Yarmouth for
the fishing.
Hester rushed upstairs and flung her
aching head upon a pillow. Lord Inver-
cauld might or might not read the para
graph. II he did he would ask why his
visit excited no surprise in Yarmouth.
Then he would learn that his sister was
the talk of the town. Hester quailed at
the thought of what would happen next.
Five minutes later she sat up. half
laughing, half crying, as she glimpsed a
way out Of the wood.
Its my only chance she
And I haven't a moment to lose"
Nevertheless many moments were spent
on justiaable prinking.
VIII.
Lord Invercauld had come to Yarmouth
to catch bass from the rocks, but the
guiding finger Of Providence is indicated.
He happened to be q keen sea angler,
and a friend had told him that Yarmouth
was famous for its bass fishing.
He was ten years younger than his sis
ter; and he had LANDED at Southampton
a few days previously. He was thinking
lazily that he would o dress for dinner
when a servant told him tina q Miss
Murray wished to see him upon business
Of private Importance.
Miss Murray"
Miss Murray, my lord
Il know a dozen Miss Murrays. What
does this Miss Murray look like?"
she looks a perfect lady. my lord"
Really? All right. Show her up. Wait.
l don wan to dim in the dining room.
I'll have a tray here. / think l can tackle
a lobster. a cut off the joint, and a
tankard of your lightest lager"
Very good, my lord"
Within a minute Hester was ushered
in. AS soon as they we're alone Inver-
cauld asked bluntly: Are you one of my
innumerable cousins?"
In Scotland Hester might have claimed
kin. Being in Yarmouth, she said shyly:
You have never seen me before, Lord
Invercauld, and it is likely that you will
never see me again"
I'm hat case, Miss Murray, sit down,
please, mi let me make the most Of the
happy chance which brought you here
She sat down.
Chance brought you here?" she said
tentatively.
"No-my little two scatter"
May I ask If you have read this?"
She handed him the evening paper.
Invercauld read the paragraph and
whistled. staring at his visitor.
Apparently" he said slowly, "the good
people of Yarmouth were expecting me.
Why?"
II am a typist and stenographer," said
Hester. Il am building up q decent liv-
ing"
Invercauld bowed with transporting
politeness. The bow conveyed somehow
his surprise that she was a typist and
his conviction that she could make a
decent living anywhere.
My small business is imperiled be-
cause you are here"
Miss Murray, will you be offended II l
tell you that you are a most interesting
note of interrogation. why does my pres
ence in Yarmouth imperil your bust
ness?"
Il hate to tell you, but I must. My
name is Hester Murray. l have made
good simply because a lot Of snobs arc
convinced that l am your sister, Lady
Hester Murray, masquerading as a typ
What a jolly rag"
You call it that. 1t is almost O mat
ter Of life and death to me-
Forgive mel / saw the funny side
first. l am tempted to claim the privi-
Of q brother. Come now, will you
with ms and tell me all about IT?
And then tomorrow I'll leave Yarmouth,
If my being here distresses you. What