Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1907 — A SMILING VILLAIN. [ARTICLE]

A SMILING VILLAIN.

By VIOLET M. FLINN.

” CHAPTER XII. On the whole Aileen enjoyed the mornbusiness extremely. It was pleasant to shop with any one so generously inclined a* Heywood Fentop, and both the Caterham West and the orphanage children had reason to blase his presence in the toyshop that morning. And Billy was an entertaining companion, with a fund of easy conversation. As she listaned Aileen began to understand the secret of his extreme popularity. A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men, and the highly strung, intellectual girl found Billy’s commonplace conversation a decided relief. "I’ve really enjoyed myself,” she commented, as they parted. The Rectory was very quiet when she entered it, but a light Issued from beneath the drawing room door. "Visitors again 1” she thought, as she stood with her hand on the handle. Then her quick ear caught a .familiar tone. "The professor, of all people!” she exclaimed. She gave a hasty glance at her reflection in the glass- that faced the doorway nod went quickly in to the room. She expected to find Moyra making friendly talk with the reserved, silent professor, who was held in awe even by the most audacious of undergraduates r but instead, to - her intense astonishment almost openly expressed. Bride was presiding over the tea table, and Bride was talking easily •nd freely to the visitor, who listened with an indulgent smile, on his dark face and managed to appear very interested •ver the news that Bride was giving him. “Wonders will never cease,” Aileen thought, as she looked from her future husband to her sister, whose lovely face war aglow with excitement. “ What a beauty she is—our Bride! How do you do, Professor?” she said aloud, as he started almost guiltily. “So you have really found your way to this benighted region? I am so sorry we were all out except my sister. I hope she has looked after you well?” “Oh, yes—thanks ! She has been most kind.” > • Bride flushed a little and shrank into heraelf. No longer obliged to rely upon herself, she went back to her customary attitude of dependence upon her sisters. She gave up her seat to Aileen, and presently, when Moyra entered, clipped quiet - ly out of the room. Moyra waa agreeably surprised at the sight of Prof. Lewisson. Instead of the •Id gray-headed, untidy man she had vaguely imagined was one certainly not more than thirty-eight, with a CleverJooking, dark face, kind, grave eyes, and a black pointed beard and hair as short ’"'jjTerry’a Nor did he wear jglass&frim-' tetually, Jid, EEough they hung ready for use. He was tall nd thin and stooped a little, but he was no bookworm in appearance. “If Aileen takes him in hand and trims him up. he will be quite good-looking,” Moyra told herself, as she listened uneomprehendingly to the conversation that was going on between master and pupil. How clever and how very dull it was! she thought, as Greek quotations slipped flawlessly from Aileen s lips, and the professor waxed eloquent over disputed readings. , Dinner was a little later that evening •wing to Terry’s and Angus’ late return from a football match, and as Moyra stood at the dining room window, waiting for them, the postman arrived with some tetters, one for Angus with a foreign postmark. She sent it up to his room and forgot all about it until later In the evening, when his extreme quietness and preoccupied expression attracted her attention. . It was a dull evening. Conversation at dinner was monopolized by the Rector and professor, and afterwards, when Mr. Beresford had gone to a meeting, a blanket of dullness seemed to have settled •ver every one. Only the professor and Aileen seemed to be enjoying themselves. Tetry yawned openly and finally went •ut, "while Bride went to sleep without any disguise. Moyra glanced at Angus, and be met her gaze. He rose and seated himself beside her.

“Hasn’t h been a dull evening?” Moyra •aid. "Terry has gone to the big house.” "And Bride is asleep, which is a sad comment on our general liveliness. Card playing and the easiness of the school room party have spoilt us for respectable life in the drawing room,” he said, a smile lightening his face. “I must acknowledge that two or three times I have felt inclined to join the crew.” "Vera is here. But you haven’t done much to increase our hilarity,” she added, with gentle reproach. "I have been wondering why you have looked so miserable all the time.” He did not answer at once, and she looked up inquiringly, to meet his eyes fixed upon her with an expression that made the color rise in her face. She bowed her head over her work again, not * knowing why she should feel- so foolish and yet so pleased. “I am afraid,” Angus said, “if I looked miserable, it was because I feel so. I shall be obliged to go away to-morrow." Moyra's hands dropped ; she looked up at him astonished. “Go away?” she echoed, and it was happiness for him to hear the soqpow in her tone. "Not —not to South America?” "Not yet, although I must hold myself fa readiness for that, too. To-morrow I must go to London” —his brows contracting. “My father Is growing impatient at my laziness and is loading me with commissions in town. Lt Is an unpleasant business, too, and one I would infinitely rather leave alone, but needs must •hen .the 'chief drives.' My father is an exceedingly impatient man. I came to England with a great task set me, one that demands a great deal of care and involves anxiety and trouble, yet every letter says, ‘Have yon done what I wish.' and, alas, every latter mys in return. ’I have not’!" “I am afraid you are very dilatory.” . Moyra Said. He had certainly done noth iMRAiIe he had been with them. “Have

you ever begun to do what your father wishes?” “Oh, yes!” he answered gravely, not noticing her surprise. “Everything is set in -train. But my father, like other clever men, thinks only of the end, and cares nothing for what has produced it” They were silent for a while; then Moyra asked, with her usual serenity: “Shall you bfraway long?” He started as if his thoughts had been far away. “What? Oh, I beg your pardon! I am afraid I cannot answer that —It depends so much on how my business progresses—but I stall certainly return here before I finally leave the country. How will you get on at the tea party without Miss Prior or myself?” She laughed and made some light reply, although her heart had grown very heavy. She could not tell how it was, but his words had made her very uncomfortable. It. was late when the professor left and the elder sisters could ge to bed. They did not stop to talk over the dying fire as they usually did. Each had thoughts she could not share with the other. '»

Aileen gazed long and critically at herself that night as she undressed. She was looking unusually well; her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkled, her face wore an animated expression that was not usual to her. She had enjoyed her evening; it had been intellectual in the extreme, and the professor had thrown a fresh light on a difficult passage that had defied her in her readingyet she was conscious, deep in "her heart, of a little dissatisfaction. “I might just as well have worn my old gown and been seventy and an old witch,” she said half a loud, as she turned away to blow out the candles. “He never noticed if I looked nice or not. He regards me just as an intellectual machine.” CHAPTER XIII. It was-surprising to all the Beresfords to find how much they missed Angus' presence and unobtrusive help when they were removed from the Rectory circle. Every hour of his absence intensified this loss to _ Moyra, and she recognized the little kindnesses, the help, and the prompt assistance that had been hers. She had been alone so long and the break in her old habits had been so brief that she could not understand why the resumption of thorn should be so filled with pain.

The day of his departure had still another event to mark it unpleasa.jfiiy in Moyra’s memory. t That evening the Rec-t°r-■’Terry g[ r ] s were uihe at the big house, but that did not prevent Billy and Vera from making their appearance in the school room at tea time, Billy with a request for Prof. Lewisson’s address, as Mr. Fenton was anxious that he should join the dinner party. After the gloom of the day the spirits of the family began to revive, and tea became a very lively meal. In spite of his sister"# protests, Terry was mimicking Prof. Lewisson, when suddenly Bride, who was facing the window, jumped up with a scream. “What is the matter? Are you going to have a fit? What did you see, Bride?” were remarks that were distinct in the hubbub that arose, but Bride had flown to the window and was unfastening it as quickly as her excitement would allow. She threw the sash up, and the next instant a laughing voice cried: “May I come in? Or must I say, like Paul Pry, I hope I don’t Intrude?” “Why, it’s Charteris!” Terry exclaimed, open-mouthed and open-eyed, as Bertram sprang lightly into the room. “I assure you, cried, in laughing protest of her grave face, “I was intending to make an orthodox entry, but the way was long, the wind was cold,’ and the light across the lawn tempted me, and then Bride finished my fall” —looking at her with merry eyes. “Why, Terry, I never expected to see you! And how are you, Aileen? It is ages since we met.” He went around the table, shaking hands with those he knew, smiling in very friendly fashion as he was introduced to the strangers. “I met a man in town, charming fellow, who knows you very well,” he said to Fenton, as he sank into a seat beside Bride. “He is a Trinity man named Ormond.” “Yes,” said Billy, rather indifferently. *'l know his name, but the acquaintance does not go any further.” “When did you come back. Bertram?” Bride inquired. The color his sudden appearance had.brought was still in her cheeks. She was looking radiantly lovely and so unaffectedly happy that Moyra clenched her hands at the sight.

"Exactly three hours ago—just time enough to have some lunch, change, and get rid of smoke and dust, and then I came here. 1 could not .stay away any longer,” he added, in an undertone that only Bride heard. She smiled and blushed. and her eyes shone with happiness. Bertram was evidently very pleased to be amongst his friends, and laughed and talked in his gayest, most fascinating manner. He did not seem to notice that his arrival had caused a cessation of the laughter and joking that had been going on. He talked little about his absence; be bad been very busy, he said vaguely; he was more anxious to know how the Bereefords had been spending abet? time, and he began making plans Tor skating parties and the like. A little later Hammond came in with a note, which she presented to Moyra. Aileen, who Mt beside her sister, mw her face brighten suddenly as she read, but it was not until Billy made a move to depart that she said to him : “Will you please thank Mrs. Fenton. Billy, and tell her Bride shall go with us? Mrs. Fenton wants you to gp with us too. Bride,” she Mid, addressing the girl, who seemed about to protest, and did so as soon as Billy had gone. “I would rather not go. Moyra,” Bride raid. “I—l wop Id prefer to. stay at home. I don’t want to go out .to-night."

Moyra glanced from the flushed taco cbnnteiunjisFT”®*' eyes, laughing as they were still, had a touch of defiance in them. He could see plainly when he chose, and bis glance told her that he saw’ through .her anxiety not to leave Bride fit-ar him, and he defied her to win as easily as she expected to do. “I wish you to go, Bride,” she said, with unusal authority in her voice, and siie began to talk of passing events, determined not to leave until Bertram had gone, and she could with her. Then the conversation became general again. Tgrry wanted to know something of Bertram’s foreign experiences, and during the talk that ensued Angus Robertson’s name was continually brought up by one or another of the Beresfords! Presently Charteris turned to Bride, who was sitting in her favorite attitude near the fire, her bands clasped round her knee, hen-face uplurned to him. “You have not forgotten your promise about the portrait, Bride?” he asked. “When may I begin?” Bride’s pink cheeks grew pinker; she pouted her lips like a child, and looked perilously near tears. “Moyra says I had better not," she said brokenly. Bertram looked at Moyra in mild surprise, but before she could make any,reply Hammond reappeared. Some one had called to see the Rector, and insisted upon seeing Miss Beresford. Moyra was obliged to go. She could only hope that Terry, who was talking of boating, was so enamored with the subject that he would talk until she returned. She hurried back to the school room, to find Lulu still playing with her dolls, Terry absent, and the other two in close confabulation " over the fire. Bride started almost guiltily as her sister came in; Bertram was gay and inconsequential as ever. “Terry has gone,” he said lightly, “and I must go too. I know you all want to make yourselves even more cliarming than usual.” He looked up at Moyra. with his good-tempered smile, and as he did so a slight change came over his face. “Some one has been increasing the contents of her jewel box,” he said idly. “May I look at that very quaint brooch?”

She unfastened it unwillingly, and he turned it over carefully, holding it -first , in one waj- and then in another. "Isn’t it pretty?” Bride said admiringly- "Angus gave it to her for a Christmas present.” ...t “It has no value,” Moyra put in quickly, resenting • his close scrutiny of her treasure. “It is simply a curio.” "Is it?” he said dryly, handing it back to her. “I have some slight knowledge of stones. I should say that was a very valuable one. Your new friend, Moyra, must be either a millionaire or”—with a little laugh“a receiver of stolen goods. That ruby was never put on sale to catch the fancy of globe-4 rotters at Colombo.” There was no reason to doubt hjs _s!&cerity and did so. It was so verx finhkcly, she thought, that Anr' vUe have made any mistake, au3' could not have bought it had he kngwn its real value, for ha was no millionaire, she reflected, with a tender little smile. But later in the evening, while she was sitting beside Mr. Fenton, the subject recurred to her memory, and she suddenly asked her host if he was a good judge of rubies, and, giving him the brooch, asked his opinion of the stone. (To be continued.)