Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1907 — A SMILING VILLAIN. [ARTICLE]

A SMILING VILLAIN.

By VIOLET M. FLINN.

CHAPTER X. " lAtcr in the day, 'when Terry and he Ink! returned from a long tramp along: the shore in the teeth of a strong nor’wester Mowing up from the sea. ho entered the drawing room to find Moyra Its only occupant. The lamps had been lighted, but were burning very low, and she was lying back in ,a big easy ebair evidently taking her ease. “Pm not asleep, only lazy.” she said, -opening her eves as he hesitated whether, to advance or retreat. ‘‘l am qjiite deserted. Tito school room crow has gone to see Lulu's old nurse —they always do on Christmas day—and Aiken has vanished I don’t know where.” She leaned forward and poked the fire Into a vigorous blaze, and lie saw tears shyiing on her eyelashes, even as she talked cheerfully about the cold and a*sked how they enjoyed their walk and where they had been. “1 think I should, have done better to have gone out. too,” she said simply, as she noticed he had seen she had been crying. “One always grows sad when one looks back, and, although she does not know it, to-day is Lulu’s birthday. She was born on Christmas day, and mo;tier feed two dais later. Father forbade any mention of it at the time, so we.always celebrate Lulu’s birthday In the summer. We all do our best to forget it now. but, when one is alone ” He saw tire tears rise again as she looked into the tire. "1 was so miserable at that time.” she continned, almost as if she we.re thinking aloud. “I was in great trouble, and aiother was so kind and good to me. 1 thought then it was the greatest trouble 1 could ever have, and 1 know I was dreadfully impatient and worried her fearfully. And then, not a wel'k later, the little trouble was all swallowed up in the greater.” She paused for a second. “1 shall.never forget my mother’s last words to me as 1 stood beside Tier with poor little Lulu in my arms. ’She must be your baby, Mbyra. Heaven knew your trouble and has sent you consolation.’ And she has been that —my

baby. It is so strahge, Isn't At?" shteasked after a little pause, "how things change in one? I have been looking backwards this afternoon, and I am so sorry for the old Moyra who suffered so foolishly and so needlessly. The present Moyra is so thankful that her young foolish •elf did not get her desire.” , "Then you do not now regret?” he asked involuntarily. “Oh. no! I know only gratitude now that the decision was taken from roe, |ind that I was shown clearly ‘this is the way; walk ye in it.’ But it is too bad of me to talk like this. You must exercise some charm over me, Mr. Robertson.” She never called him “Angus” as the others did, nor did he ever address her aave as Miss Beresford. “Yon make me talk of things I have, generally kept sitent about,” **l feel very honored by your confidence.” he answered gravely. He wondered who the man had been—for he knew she had been speaking of an interrupted love story—and what the trouble had been. She ujust have been very young. He felt tenderly sony for her, but he was conscious of a secret feeling of relief that it had been interrupted, and that there was still a chance for another man. “And you have mothered the family?” he said, after a pause. “I have done my best, although Lulu is of course only my very own. The twine were quite big when Lulu was born, and they can remember mother well. It is a great responsibility, but I think I may be proud of my family. I am a regular snatch-making mamma”—with a little laugh. “I often build. castles ia the air about their marriages, and think how I shall visit first one and then the other.”

“And do you never make plans for yourself?’’ He could not prevent bimaelf from asking the question. It was evidentlv n revelation to Moyra, she lookad so astonished. “Oh. no 1” she said simply, pushing back her chair as she hoard Hammond bringing tea. “I shall never leave father and Lnlu. They could not spare me.” Vera Fenton, who arrived with commendable punctuality, proved herself to be a very charming and unaffected child a year or two younger than Dekla. She aoon lost her shyness on being introduced hito the school room. Christmas evening was always given op to the children, and It had really resolved itself into a children’s party composed of some of their Most intimate friend, and of which Aileen, as the possessor of the greatest knowledge of games and no lack of good suggestion, was always the moving spirit. It was she who planned the tableaux, arranged “singing lancers," and knew the best places to hide the thimble, and so it was not surprising that the Rector, bringing in Mr. Heywood Fenton, who bad been kind enough to call for his sister at ten o'clock, should look round for Aileen. that the young man might be introduced to the mistress of the revels. Bat Aileen had vanished, and Mr. Fenton's face fell ludicrously, which was unaccountable to the Rector. “Perhaps she has gone to dress •f the little ones." Mr. Berraford said cheerfully.

The men of the bouse formed a very favorable Impression of young Fenton — Billy Fenton, as his friends and acquaintances called him. perhaps because his name was Alan Hamilton I ley wood Fentan. and Billy was more suited to the needs of daily life. lie was a simple, unaffected young fellow who possessed many friends and very few enemiea. He anas cleverer than be gave himself credit for being, his attention having been devoted to the getting of goals and the neat fciah of his "feathering," rather than to dm acquisition of medals and scholar •kips. He was. in abort, absolutely nor Ml, until he had performed the feat — I* mast astounding to Uo intimate friends — of falling in love with the bluest of bluesOorkings. Little did the worthy Rector imagine the tender interest—as “her" father — Ant he aroused in bis visitor's breast;

llttlc-did he iimagine that it was not his own attractions that made Mr. Fenton linger- tmH • Moyra "cafne’ in to sajr' Vera was quite ready and was afraid her mamma would be getting anxious at the delay. Half an hour later Moyra. going into Aileen’s room, was “surprised to find her in bed, u • — —-e“Oil. 1 called down ‘Good night !' Didn’t you . hear me ?” 880 Said. I%answer to her inquiries. “My head ached nfter so much noise, and 1 wns glad In sHji :m-a-v qnietly. What a visitation that young man madewith an elaborate yawn. “I thought he was. never going.” ’’So did I,” Moyra confessed frankly, “nut he,is very pleasant, so natural and unafTecti d.” There was a suppressed laugh from amongst the - bedclothes. “I promised we would call on his mother

to-morrow. They scorn very anxious to be friendly.” ■ ' as she ndpiiriug Aileen's pfetty things, when her eyes here attracted by a nirrow gold chain which she had not seen before. She took it up and found that a small heart studded with diamonds was on the chain. "Why,. Aileen. how pretty.!” she exclnimcfl-, “Is it .something—new? l’vc never seen it before.” 7 She stopjied abruptly. remembering tfye packet That Aileen -bad not opened. “I had it sent to me,” Aileen answered briefly. She had forgotten to put the chain away.- “I'm going to send it back.” “Oh, then, it is not from Prof, son? I thought it might be.” “So.” , But Aileen did not say whom it was from, and she seemed sleepy, so Moyra. with a farewell ki.ss, went away. Lulu raised a sleepy head as her sister'entered her own room. “That you, Moyra?” she asked, her eyelids drooping again. “Haven’t we had a happy Christmas?” As Moyra looked at her reflection in the glass, at the brooch, the center stone of which gleamed and” flashed with lurid, many-colored lights, her face suddenly broke ihio a happy, quivering smile. She put her hand tip and touched the brooch tenderly,- * ° , - “Yes, darling,” she answered, “we’ve had a very happy Christmas.”

CHAPTER XI. For over a week Aileen played the game of hide-and-seek with much satisfaction and growing amusement for herself. Try as he would, Billy Fenton could never catch more than a passing glimpse of her. The occupants of the .big house and of its smaller neighbor had become exceedingly friendly. Vera and Delda had struck up a violent friendship that necessitated their meeting three or four times a day. When Terry was not at the big house, Billy was at the Rectory, and even the seniors found it very convenient to compare notes with great frequency: Only Aileen held herself aloof, but she did it so naturally that there were times when even Billy was deceived and inclined to believe in the “reading hard,” “bad headache” excuses that met him. But, if this happened occasionally, it was certainly not often, and in church his eyes met hers with a look half humorous, wholly determined. He had often played on a losing side and had •known what dogged perseverance could do. At length his opportunity arrived. A casual remark of Lulu's revealed the fact that Aileen was going to Caterliam on the following morning to buy certain things for a big parish entertainment to be held some days later. A little dexterous questioning put Billy in possession of all he wanted to know, and he went home chuckling. The next morning, just as the eleven o'clock boat was moving away from the pier, a tali young man ran hastily down the stage and jumped on board, and as she saw him a very smart, well-dressed young lady passenger uttered an exclamation under her breath,, and, turning away, bowed very graciously to a lady whom up to that moment she had done her best to avoid. When Billy’s eyes appeared above the level of the upper deck, they saw his charmer, with an access of color iu her face, talking very animatedly to Miss Prior, altogether oblivious of the smiling young man who advanced with outstretched hand. "Good morning! You are far more punctual than I." Aileen gasped, but put her hand in his for one brief second, while the look in her eyes said very plainly, “I will be revenged for this.” But, having gained hi» point, Billy cared nothing for future -penalties and basked happily in the sun of-the present. He made himself unusually agreeable to Miss Prior, whom he had known only by repute, for he felt he .owed her a debt of gratitude. It was only because she" was-, present with her sharp eyes and that Aileen had been obliged to fellow his lead and talk and laugh as if she shared in the family intimacy. Such good actors did they prove that Miss Prior was quite deceived, and indeed came to a not unnatural conclusion that the meeting on the boat was not entirely unexpected. “Are you going to help Aileen to buy toys, Mr. Fenton?” she asked. “I am sure you will enjoy yourself very much” —with a meaning smile that brought the color to Ailren’s face.

“I am hoping tha| sflss Berestnrd will help me,” he answered. “My mother gives a tea every year to some orphanage children and presents them with toys and oranges, and when she heard that Miss Berepford was going into town she gave me a list of things that she wanted, thinking that perhaps you”—addressing Aileen —“would give me the benefit of your taste and judgment. I called at the Rectory to ssk. but Moyra told me yon had already gone and said I had better run after you.” “Oh!” aaid Min Prior, not quisle sure that she understood this elaborate explanation. When the ferryboat arrived at Ike

stag* Billy made himself useful In engaging a porter to c§rry MlsS Prior’s luggage to a cab. The lady Was delighted. , “Really a very charming young man! {So very .dean!" she' Said approvingly. “Well, good-by, my dear! I shall be away a week. I’m afraid the tea party will come to griefs blit I really could not stay’’-—preparing to descend. “I hope that young man has paid the porters. Their charges nra exorbitant” Aileen l followed her slowly and found Billy waiting for- her at the gangway. She did not* speak until they were free of the stage and going slowly up the floating bridge that led to the .open square where tramenr terminus whs. Then she said slowly: , - “I suppose it is useless for me to say I prefer my own company, Mr. Fenton?” .“Yes, it is,” Billy answered stoutiy, though his color rose. “I’m not going to play hide-and-seek any longet\ and I am determined to have the whole matter out once and for all. It is entirely your own -fault —that t had to bluff before Miss Prior. You should have given me ah opportunity of being properly intoduced.” Aileen shrugged her shoulders. There was certainly something very fascinating ■ about this mere undergraduate, for when she was with him her resentment invariably melted into amusement. Billy saw his advantage and hailed a hansom, entirely disregarding her protests. “We are going to settle this matter,” he observed placidly. “Drive to Sefton Park gates, cabby. Now then” —as they drove away—“will you marry me?” “Indeed I won’t!” “That's the fourteenth refusal I have had from you. For the future I am going bn a fresh tack.” “I am glad to hear it; and, by the by, please take this back;” She drew a small leather Case from hen pocket. “I ■ am sorry, but I cannot accept valuable presents except from my relatives.”

’ He took the case, looked at the contents, the tiny flashing heart, in silence, and then stretched out his hand to throw it out into the street. Aileen ©aurally j caught his wrist; her woman's instincts j rtwolted at such a foolish proceeding! “How can you be so foolish and ridicu- j kras? The idea of throwing away a thing ! like that! Give it to your sister. But don’t be so absurd. Really men have no idea of money.’ 1 -— __ “I suppose you would have accepted it if Lewisson had sent it?” he said, twist- ! ing tile chain round his fingers. “Of course I know Lewisson is expected every , day. Bride told me. I told her she ; needn't have any fear that he’d take any notice of her.” , - —Aileen made no answer. Thceab bad left the crowded streets behind, and they were rolling along a quiet, residential’, avenue." —— ' , “1 suppose—well, of course every one j knows why Lewisson is coming here, so there is no harm in my asking if you are going to marry him.” Aileen hesitated and reflected, and finally said quietly: “Yes, I am.” “Well, that bare my chances,” he said at length. “I suppose I had better make up my mind to the inevitable. Hobson always betted on the professor ; he said I hadn’t a ghost of a chance. He was evidently right.” “I am very sorry,” Aileen said gently, touched by some tone in his voice. “But it really was not my fault. I like you very much, and in different circumstance* perhaps. But there, I should not be myself. You must see that as things are a great deal is expected from me, and my marriage is not altogether an individual thing. It sounds a conceited thing to say, but it is the truth.” “Oh, yes, I know you have been dedicated to the woman’s cause! Well, it’s no use talking about that now, and there's no necessity for me to try any new tack. But perhaps, as you say I’m not altogether objectionable to you, you would still continue, or rather you would let us start now, as friends for the futirre? I promise I’ll behave myself, if you are thinking of Lewisson.” “I shall be very pleased,” Aileen returned graciously, her busy brain already revolving plans by which he might be led to grow in his interests with the cause she had so much at heart. “But only as friends,” she added warningly, as his face brightened. “I understand. I shall be as friendly and as brotherly as Terry. Lewisson need have no fear” —and then he turned the conversation in a very practical manner to tha toys which they were to buy. (To be continued.)