HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9225, 24 June 1909, Page 2

HER SILENCE JUSTIFIED.

CHAPTER XXlX.—Continued. During Mr StuartV hist visit some remark of has had elicited that during his years of active service General Haydon had kept a journal. He had been induced to read h few extracts from it which tended to throw light on a topic just then agitating the public mind. The publication of these extracts in a daily paper had drawn attention to the journal, and its compiler was being urged so strongly to give the whole of it to the world that he had been inducted to consent. Pie had been lining for occupation, and entered upon this eagerly. And so he might he found busy with his papers whenever he felt equal to the task,. Hal Dartford acting sometimes as his reader, sometimes as his amnuensis. As often as the weather permitted, their books and writing materials were carried to a summerhouse at the end cf the lawn, and Lois fancied she learned a great deal more from sitting at her grandfather's feet, listening to Hal's questions and the general's explanations, than Miss Braysby was able to impart. But she might not make her escape and join them now. Her father was looking back, and his sharp "Come!" must he obeyed.

CHAPTER XXX

AN UNAPPRECIATED SUITOR

Since his recontre with Lois in the park Sir Rollo, who was a wary youth, had made inquiries which satisfied him that in wooing her he should be wooing an heiress, and his admiration had been on the increase ever since.

While Laurence Haydon went in search of his daughter the baronet stood watching the door and saying "Yaas?" at intervals to Lady Marcia.

She prosed en in her usual style, lamenting that her defective memory refused to recall whether it was early in the previous summer she had last seen him or late in the autumn; and wheather it was he who had taken her in to dinner at Lord Endtrby's, or waltzed with her at Lady Mary's, or both. ''lt's so unfortunate for me that I never can remember, isn't it?" she' sighed. "It's such a bore for other people," responded baronet, more frankly than politely. "Couldn't you go to an aurist?"

"I am not deaf!" said Lady Marcia bridling.

"Oh, no, of coarse not; but isn't there a memory man somewhere, who puts everything into figures or letters for yon? For instance, if you wanted to recollect always that Polyphemus was the winner of this year's Derby, you'd say to yourself 'Pig,' and that would mean —well I don't quite know what it would mean, but it k would impress it on your mind somehow. Very clever, isn't it?" Before her ladysihp could reply, Lois came into the room, and Sir Rollo's heavy features brightened.

"Oh, here you are, Miss Haydon!" and he shook her rand till it tingled, "How di —how do? 'Pon my word, I've thought of you ever so many times since that day you lost your hat; and if I hadnt been due at oandown races ail the early part of the week, you'd have seen me here before now." "Lois has to thank you for saving her headgear, Sir Rollo. It was too becoming not to be valued," said Laurence, with a look at his silent daughter that bade her exert herself to be more courteous.

"But, really now, Miss Haydon looked just as well without it. Quite a picture, you know, with her hair streaming loosely about her face. You'll ride this mornir.g, Miss Haydon? Pray don't say no! You will ride?"

"In the same way?" asked Lois, with an amused smile,,

"Well, no, perhaps not exactly," and Sir Rolio's loud, vacuous laugh rang out; but my horses are at the door, and if you'd like a canter, the ground is in excellent trim after last night's shower." "Lois would enjoy it immensely," her father answered for her. "We will give her ten minutes for putting on her habit, and while.she does that you and I will go and look at that brown horse your groom is riding. I am tempted to give you a bid for him."

The young girl went reluctantly, but she was learning to avoid rebelling against the dictates of those m authority over her. She contrived to run into the garden, here to say good-bye to the general, and tell him with truth how very much she would have preferred to remain with him. Yet, true to her resolve, she did not i. ,lance towards Hal Dartford and only by a shy bow acknowledged the attention when he followed her with a glove which in her haste she had let fall.

Miss Braysby had been invited to join the riding-party and to her Laurence would have attached himself leaving his daughter to the society of Sir Rollo; but this arrangement was soon defeated by Lois herself. She grew tired of hearing her own praises and if heing assured that she was always in the baronet's thoughts, " 'pon his word she was," he had even dreamed of her ! And when she was asked confidentahy if she would lay a dozin of gloves with

2* BY HENRIETTA B. EUTHVEN. 5 1 Author of "His Second Love," " Corydon's Infatuation," t« ]* " Daring Dora," " Au Unlucky Legacy," £ I Etc., Etc. /

liirn that they should both be married on the same day, Lois curtely answered that she never betted, wheeled round, attached herself to Miss Braysby, and could not be induced to leave her again. "Did Sir Rollo say anything that offended your childish Jadyship?"asked Laurence, as he followed her into he house. "Not exactly," was the hesitating reply. "Then why did you behave so rudely to him?" "Was I rude? I did not care to listen to him any longer, that was all." "Not care, when he was doing you the greatesst honour in his power? Not care, when he was distinguishing you above all other women 7 Setting aside engagements of importance to dangle after you, and making every girl jealous who saw his attentions?" "Oh, then, please ask him r.ot to ccme any more!" cried Lois; "for I don't like him at all." "Stop!" for she was rushing up-stairs to avoid any further discussion of the subject. "This is nut the.way a sensible girl hears that some one of the other sex has discovered that she is attractive! Do you not wish to be admired?" Blushing deeply, she faltered her reply: "Not by Sir Rollo Rawlings." "And yet he is of suitable age, arid I think 1 may say tastes. He has a good income, and is considered amiable. If he should ask me for my daughter, I should feel flattered, and and give her to him with pleasure." "Aye, because you would be so glad to be rid of me!" she retorted passionately. "Nonsense, child! I should be very fond uf you if I saw you trying to overcome your natural doggedness. Let us shake hands and be better friends for the future. We will turn cur backs on the past altogether, and you shall show that you are really desirous of obliging me by behavirg nicely to Sir Hollo." "Are you so very lond of him?" t-he queried dubiously. "If not, why speak of him now? You can be a kind father, and I can behave dutifully without the help of a stranger." "But I should like to see you his wife my dear. It would be an excellent match for you, and it would please me very much to get you well married." "Why? lam no tnuble—no expense to you," the pluir.-vi.'C-aking Lois reminded him. "And my grandfather in no such hurry to be rid of me. Till he bids me go I will not leave him." • | TO UK COXTINu'KH }