THE HEART OF VIRGINIA KEEP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16408, 9 December 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE HEART OF VIRGINIA KEEP.

BY EDWIN BAIBD, Auihor of "The C it*- ©; Farpla Dreams." etc. (COPYRIGHT.? CHAPTER XVl.—(Continued.) Moving about in the obscurity of the room. Keep went on: " You have nobly ignored the stigma, upon our name, hut you haven't known its foulness. Now that you do, let me bear it alone. I am the one who should suffer." She looked at him pleadingly. '' I—wish you—hadn't told —this." " It's time you realised what it will mean to you. Virginia." "But why? Why? "What would you have me do?'' He paused in his pacing.

" I was thinking,'' he said, choosing his words carefully. "of marriage." " How can you suggest such a preposterous thing?" "It seems to he the only wav out for you."' She did not speak. "Isn't there anyone? Harrv Sampsell say ?" ' She shook her head dumb] v. staring at the floor. " s Then suppose when your Aunt Harriet, comes you and she take a trip. No mat ter where, just so you meet new people. Please understand me. I wouldn't for the world have you marry anyone vou don't—" " Father !" j She was on her feet, cheeks flaming, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. In another moment she had rushed from the room. An hour later she returned with a copy of the morning's Publicist. She had undergone a complete change of mien. Eagerly she showed him a twelve-point "howler" on the front page, headed: BRICKS MADE WITHOUT STRAW. " Yes. I saw this." he recalled, running his eve over the editorial. "Isn't it perfectly splendid ?" " Uum-m ! Strange, too." He spoke absently. " 1 can't understand their motive." "" Which makes it all the more admirable. I hope you have shown them your appreciation." '• Lewis attended to that." He laid the paper on his desk. To revert to what we were talking of just now—what do you say—" ■" I say." interrupted Virginia, her enthusiasm vanished, "that I am going to bed. Good night " But you will sleep on what I've said," he urged. following her to the door. - •' Xo. I won't." she retorted. He watched her until she entered her room at the end of the corridor. CHAPTER XVII. THE MIRTH OF EREBUS. Virginia, in a middy blouse, white duck skirt, and a wide sun-hat. was tossing bits of meat to her yardful of dogs the following afternoon, when the parlourmaid came from the house to say that a man wished to see her in the library. " Who is he ? Didn't he send his card or anything?" " No, miss. He looks like a refined book-agent." She gave the remainder of the meat to the dogs, barking and cavorting joyously all around her; then went inside, stopping on the way to visit the disabled pup, who. transported with happiness over his newly found home, was mending gratefully.

Not until she reached the threshold of the library did she have any interest in the identity of her caller. Trude stood before her.

" Your lack of interest in literature." said lie, ''is reprehensible, but your taste in flowers is excellent. I've been admiring your orchids."

"Aren't they exquisite? Mr. Fraser sent them."

She st'nil >iiy iy in the doorway. terliii_ a- contused as a demure schoolgirl. She -■xiid not : now how distracting]}- love' • he thought he- n. the wide brimmed hat and snowy blouse, with the deep V at the milkv throat.

He wondered where his flowers were. (At that moment they were in a dustbin in the alley. ) * "Did you read the - editorials ?" he asked.

" Yes. and they're positively sple lid. \£ho wrote them "I helped a little," he modestly cu-miti-ed. "'Here's one for to morrow"— rw-iing her a sheet of galley- f oof. "Is yc father at home, Miss Keep?" .• i; lie's down town."- r.

'«'< I particularly wish to see him.*' #1?^ " Oh, but. this. is splendid!" she cried, ' reading with sparkling interest. "Glad you lie it," said he, fascinated by her fleecy skin in the V-shaped yoke, : J§ "Do you mind my saying that dress is— -If ef— uncommonly attractive jjs

She bent her dark head over the proof sheet, repeating to herself that this man was no more to her than a stranger in the street. "I've been romping with my dogs.' 1 she murmured without looking up. "That accounts partly for the becoming appareJ." "Fond of dogs?" he asked., quickly interested.

" Very! Would you care to see my trio V

"By all means. Introduce me. If I didn't live in a furnished room I'd have two or three myself." She led the way to the kennels, feeling less self-conscious with him now; anS she observed with approval the way her English -terrier—a hot-tempered "beast who rarely made friends with anyone—> instantly took to him. Nothmg could, have more amply attested to his knowledge of dogs, and in hep eyes it sent his stock up another point. After a while, chatting desultorily, they strolled to the sunken flower-garden, Westward of the house, and paused by common consent at the stone cade. Th« dying sun was gilding the world a gorgeously golden hue. Both fell silent. Leaning against an ivv-covered 'bainstrade. he flipped pebbles into the fountain below, splashing rhythmically in its mossy basin. She, watching him verily, noticed how the sunlight burnished his yellow hair, his lean, tanned face, his "shapely hands, his tall, straight body, clad in brown tweed; and for a magical instant he was to her as some heroic figure wrought in bronze, yet pulsating healthily with the glad throb of life. Her heart swelled. Beneath the loosely fitting blouse, her young bosom lifted with a deep intake of breath, fell very slowly, then rose again. Tier black lashes drooped to hide the light she dared not haw him see. He shifted his position and leisurely faced her, and when she met his matter-of-fact blue eyes the witchery Vanished. Involuntarily she smiled. *' Do you find studying by profile amusing he asked. "Egotist! I didn't suppose you wsr* posing." , - , . He stepped toward her, crushing his soft hat in his hand. •' I was thinking," said he. At the unexpected seriousness in hi face and voice she grew strangely disconcerted and sat down abruptly on an wort bench behind her. A lazy Saint named Plato stretched comfortably' at her feet. ..«•*. " I'll venture to say about me, she bantered daringly. " About you and a man named Roy Fraser—a man you seem to know rather well." As well," she observed with, careful carelessness, "as a -girl usually knows th® man who has asked her to marry him.

Tfude gasped. _ n '' Of course von turned him down. * The sentence was a statement, "not 6 question. . . She looked at him serenely from the shadow of the wide-brimmed fast. '' Why do you assume that?" " Because he's unfit — bad cTeas through." " Actually * What particular grudge hare you against him ? ' " None," he said tersely. " Did you refuse him?" Though vexed by the impression lie was giving her, he was fievertheles burning to get' at the troth. She was silent, trying; to shape be* thoughts for speech. Her eyes narrowed, accentuating the length of the ~blafik lashes. She felt he bad no right to ask the question; "knew she bad been "unwiftß to render such a question possible; yetS some impish sprite of impulse made bee say jestingly : " Mr. Fraser is very tenacious. Who shall say how it will eTid ?" He sat down beside her desperately, his face reddening. " I don't want yon to marry Mm— Virginia." " Why ?" she inquired, astounded at the length to which she could go with this man. " Because I want you to marry me." She poked the toe "of her slipper agalnsi the dozing Saint Bernard, "who lifted bis enormoraß bead without moving his looked at her over bis shoulder, thnmpetl his tail against tire ground, and settled back to his dreams of indolence. " I suppose I ought to be offended with you; but I'm only amused. ' " I fail to see anything funny." " Well, you shouldn't talk such nonsense." '"Nonsense!" "We scarcely know each other. We're hardly acquaintances." She smiled. " I don't even know your first name." He turned sidewise on the bench, crossing his knees and facing her, forearm resting near her shoulder. " Yet I feel as though we hud known— and loved each other—-always," be breathed. Haven't you, too?" " Not in the least," ah& hurriedly denied, wishing he bad ercobrinßd. what the "A " stood for, yet loath to betray any desire to know. If you'll pardon me, I believe you are quibbling." "You have a flattering opinion of yourself."

" I'm not blind," he remarked. She drew away from him, laughing Hp into his eyes. " Positively, you're the most remarkable man I ever met-. I worker why I don't box your ears." Because —" he began. '•Oh. chile! A passel o' young ladies is in de house axin' fo* you." Unobserved by either. Lizbeth tsd come toward the garden and now* stood near one of the big stone flower-pots at tH» head of the facade. " Thank you. Beth." Virginia stood up. TV de, wbr. had also risen, confronted her. " Virginia" " Don't be silly." Then Josephine Middle to:: and two other ebullient, stylishly-dressed girls "if eighteen or twenty swooped down npvi them from the house.

"We saw you from the window,** chirped one, a. pretty, brown-eyed creature with a peaches-and-cream complexion and dimpled cheeks. " Oh, isn't it too ' poetic here. I've always adored this spot." Her brcv ,1 eyes flashed momentarily at Ti ude. then hack to Virginia with roguish inquiry. Josephine, siso bubbling orally, as was her wor.i. i-JloWed sr.' % wiih. he" boyish eve? of srey, and tho third gi'"r appraised him siylv with a vin'_t g?.z-*-Introductions ensued ics'? a - j-.v-efsational effervescence.

It was several r;-nates before he could edge in a regret that he mast be off. Excusing herself to the girls, Vi"g rv» walked with him across the lawn.

The thought crossed her mind that- in hour ago ?h< vc-tM have been gladd?s*sd inexpressi .il." t; that Jo MiddJttton and the o hers were- still loyal friends; but -.iow al'. perspective was distorted by a jumble of emotions. They had almost reached the box-hedge' when he halted and faced her. 41 Anything to say to me?" " Why. yes; good-bye— if you must go.*' '• Please don't joke." "Was I joking 7 surprisedly. He began rolling a cigarette, nut suddenly tore it up. " Are you going to marry me?** You are really the most' ab»mr<J person I know." "You implied that before. $o-j goine to marry me?" " No. Certainly not. Yo'? n-ast be very peculiar—" '"Then.'" said he, half in earnest. " I'M use force. Some moonlit night I'll uick you up bodily and crrry you off in my arms—or in ati automobile. I'm gomg to have you Virginia!" She brought her level gaza leisurely upon his face. "I'm afraid :nv friends are waiting for me." she said. "I'm going; but I'm coming back. Re* member." 4 She laid her land on the massive Head

of Plato, who had followed them. . hCC " You are too utterly impossible, 2 wish you'd so, t>, >• 1 IT. stared at h-tr a:at?ly; but her f»G» ■was .verted, and he cc>Jd only gueac 5* --- what lay in he' «yes. - (To be continued <a • v -if