| Show I i BANNER SERIAL FICTION FICTION- She Painted Her er face 4 of- of o ewe twe e e fy DORNFORD YATES SATES 0 o Tat Tolee CHAPTER XII XII Continued 25 The Duchess continued You bear a very good name And Im I'm sure you are proud of it Parish remembers Usage which Usage which was your home His sister was your moth mothers mother's mothers mothers ers er's maid mold and when your mother died she stayed on till the house was sold It should not have been sold of course but your father was killed In action and as you know things went wrong Tong Very well Now I too bear a good name My family name is Saying and though you and I know better the de Gotha will tell you that it is royal And if it you will change your name- name its it's easy enough by poll deed and deed poll and and will call yourself Saying Saying-Exon Saying Exon from this time on on I think you may very well marry the Countess of Brief Apart from anything else it is as the three of us know most right and proper that she should bear my name and in view of all that has happened It is most right and proper that she should take it from you But the principal thing is this that that I am very fond of you Richard Rich Richard ard and should derive infinite pleas pleass pleasure ure from the thought that you and your sons were to bear my name for I know you will do it honor and andI I find it hard to believe bell eve that with such a mother to bear them your sons will prove unworthy to hand it 11 down She hesitated there and put a hand to her eyes Then she went slowly on The workings of Fate are very wonderful Saying is my own name When I was married I took my husbands husband's title but not his name i. i And because the name is royal his f sons by me would have borne it r But you see I have had no DO children And when I come to todie todie todie die the name will die too un tin unless less you you you-you you care to humor a sentimental old fool What I said I cannot remember because my heart was too full but butI I know I was down on my knees and her hands were In mine as I tried my best to thank her for do do- doing doIng doing ing to me what only a king can do Then she kissed me on either cheek and told me to ring for far wine for we must have a drink she said to brate this occasion You Y seem m to o the e the Idea and aid d as good John Herrick would say it suits me down to the socks locks The thought of that name going out has given me sleepless nights But now alls all's very well for if you and Elizabeth Virgil arent aren't fit to fly fly- 11 my flag then my eye is dim and my natural force abated bated And that I 1 refuse to believe for I never wore glasses yet and though I 1 take it easy Im I'm still as strong as a borse horse When the wine was brought she pledged me and wished me luck and I tried again to thank her and drank her health Then she picked up a sheet of paper and put it into my hand Your cake she said simply You can have it It now now and and can eat it as soon as youve you've changed your name A marriage has bas be been n arranged and will shortly take place between n Richard Exon Saying Exon late of Usage In Wiltshire and now of Tracery In Austria and Elii- Elii Eliiabeth abeth Virgil Countess of Brief BrieL I lifted my head to stare at the Duchess of Whelp Now of Tracery madam That's what it says said Old Harry You can cut it out if ti you like But I 1 understand youre you're short I of a residence and it would give me I great pleasure if it you were to make this your home After lunch I 1 left for Raven where I was to stay for three nights after which I was to return with return with the Countess Cou less of Brief and nd Herrick to settle future arrangements and generally chew the cud But be be- before b before fore I went Old Harry made me promise that I would drive straight to Raven and would not visit Brief until the following day You owe John Herrick some some- thing Hes He's been a good friend to you fOU and he be feel left leftIn In view of all ll that had happened I could not protest but I could not help belp thinking that Herrick could hardly feel left if it I paid my lady ladya a visit before returning to Raven to spend pend the fie evening with him Still if it Old Harry was willful I lowed owed her caprice so much that if she had seen fit tit to direct that the Countess and I should not meet for another ten days I must have ha honored her precept without a word So I took my leave and entered the Rolls once more and driving leisurely came to Raven at six As we stole between the two chest chestnuts chestnuts nuts and on fro to the apron beyond I 1 saw that Brenda was standing at atthe atthe atthe the foot of ol of the steps She must have bave seen the car coming c along the road of approach I brought the Rolls RoUs to her side and put out my hand Wen Well Brenda I said how are you You see s e rye Ive come back She took my band hand in both hers hersI I 1 am so glad to see you you she said Your room is all aU ready of course Mr Herrick is not back yet TeL He goes to Brief Brie every day and I doubt If he will be here for another half hour I think you will sit in the I meadows until he comes Youre perfectly right said I and got out of the car But Dut first I must have a drink Will you ou go and draw me some beer while Im I'm washing my hands Brenda hesitated Then Then Then- You wont won't have a bath will you I 1 mean the waters water's not nol hot In some surprise surprise- Id like one before dinner I 1 said uld But why mustn't I have ha one now It would take too long said Brenda The meadows are now at their best but the sun is low With that she was gone I turned to my faithful man Glad to be back Winter He smiled all over his face This is the place for me sir Them an an mighty is all very ery well in their way but the country seems frightened of them You see you are my dream drem dremA m. m A week ago I rendered you unto Caesar Caesar and and tote toie my heart And now Caesar has given you ou back- back has given me back my dream Wen Well that's all right but the wound In my mf heart beart will reopen if ever I leave you again And that I tell you frankly I cannot face lace When I left you I knew very ery well I was leaving my life behind But Dut not until I 1 was gone did I 1 know what It meant to tobe tobe tobe be dead dead dead-a a dead man having his being amid a workaday world For two or three moments she held my head against hers Then she let it go and turned to look into my eyes My blessed she breathed Im Imo so o thankful I mean so much You see Ive I've given you all Ive I've no nomore nomore nomore more to give Heart and soul and body you body you hold them In your strong hands They're not mine any more They're at your disposal Rich Rich- ard And if it ever er you ceased to I r W 4 t rc H 1 N i e it 1 14 A. A r rV V r t 1 l 1 I Think You Yon May Mar Very VerJ Well Marry the Countess Countes of Brief The woods and the meadows seem shy But here they'll come right up an an eat out of your hand tend Youve said it said I. I And take it easy tonight Wash the Rolls RoUs tomorrow I Id rather do her tonight sir It wont won't take me very long an an when I you come to think she deserves the I best And that was another true saying Do as 88 you like said I and walked into the house I do not know what made me do doit doit doit it but when I had washed my hands I 1 strolled across the landing and entered the pleasant bedroom I knew was mine For a moment I stood looking round Then I 1 moved to the open windows commanding the friendly meadows and the sheltering woods wood beyond The scene was as rare as lovely for the sun was going down and the pleasant Georgic Georgia was flooded with amber light All things were throw throw- throwing throwing ing shadows shadow as clean and as black as print slashing the turf with sa sable sa- sa sable ble and making the vivid green freen greenmore greenmore more vivid still On every side the tapestry of woodland was shot with gold the stream was a afire Ire with splendor and sitting beside its water was Elizabeth Countess of Brief Her beautiful head was bare and Her eyes were fixed faced upon the tree- tree treetops treetops treetops tops as though she were expecting the heaven above to open and make her rich but for me the heaven had opened and I seemed to be regarding some idyll that did not be belong long to earth arth but had been sung by Shakespeare to please the gods god So I looked upon my fortune Then I went down to the mead meadows I to see the th light In her eyes eye to see the light that was in her ber eyes Herrick arrived for arrived for which I was very thankful because his hI car was Wal Walto to take Elizabeth back As we heard the drone of his hI en engine gine gine- gine Oh dear said aid the Countess of Brief Now that Ive I've got you TOU back I dont don't want to let you go But you wont won't go mad again will you yo you 7 Re Remember member that the Duchess Duche of Whelp has bas set her heart on this match and that after all that she's done you rou cant can't let her ber down With a sudden movement I picked her ber up in my arms arm Shall I tell teU you something I said sold Yes please A warm art arc sUd slid round my neck Today I came back to my dream and as long as my dream will have bave me I shall never leave lean it again I must go to London later if it only to change my name But I will not go unless you go with me Take what wha t companion you like Take half halfa a dozen women women women-to to shut Propriety's Propriety mouth Kick your our heels while Im I'm doing my y business Only be there care would wither for the heart and the soul would die I would have answered her but the words would not come for I could think of nothing but the look lookin lookIn lookIn in her ber glorious eyes eye I cannot tell teU what exquisite language they spoke poke but I understood their saying sayin bet bet- better better ter than any words I had hud that day been ennobled by the Duchess of Whelp but now I was exalted in inspirit Inspirit inspirit spirit and a spring pring seemed to break within me for joy jOl that Elizabeth Virgil had come to love me so well Then she smiled and I kissed her mouth and set et her down on her feet Shall I tell you something she he said sa let Yes please When we got the telephone telephone-mes telephone mee sage to say that you had been stopped stopp d and were going to come comeback comeback comeback back I I-I I I burst Into tears teara My sweet It was natural enough But lis 11 listen ten Old Harry called me a fool fool fool- and then burst into tears teara herself We turned to John for comfort- comfort John who had been our mainstay and simply Imply kept us u going for 31 hours hour and John was standing there with the tears tear running down his cheeks So you see my darling Im I'm not not peculiar Theres There's some some- something something thing thin about Richard Exon that gets geta us all under the ribs ribs' ribs I Which was of course course absurd for else I should not have suffered in Red Lead Lane Four hours had gone cone by and I 1 was sitting silting smoking with Herrick under tinder the stars Raven Ra was fast asleep only onty our cur sitting room sitting room casements were fram train framing training ing two squares of light the Rolls was within her house coach house Winter had gone to his rest restI restI restI I suppose Its It's all true said Her IIer rick but I must confess there are moments when I wonder It If Ive I've been translated before my m time I 1 mean a month ago I was not only down but out The Immediate future was hideous shop Pawn doss house e and gutter were staring me in the face and I didn't like the look in their eyes you eyes you see Id I'd met them before And now Im I'm ruling a castle with 50 servants hanging upon my lips Compared with me Elizabeth doesn't count Im I'm a sort of Lord Protector appointed by the Duch Duch- Duchess Duchess ess of Whelp And when that's done Im I'm due at Tracery I have been desired by Old Harry Barry to take her estate In hand Put my house In order she said Youre Just the tile theman theman man to do it and Its It's Il time it was done If Jf my agents agent's right that'll Just about carry you ou home He lie gives your our Uncle six months So you see my gay crusader youve you've made my fortune too too too-to to say noth nothing ing lug at all of tile the fact that Ive I've never enjoyed myself as I have in the last three weeks Three weeks and one day day no no more Yet their burden has been so brilliant that though Ive I've seen sten quite a lot the rest of my life be beside side Ide them seems strangely dull And that's that not really strange for never before have I entered the Middle Ages and tasted their mighty fare Talk about food for the gods Our first view of Brief gray against green reen in the sunshine as we stood on the bridge that trem trembled trembled bled before the Vials of Wrath Percy Virgil afraid to writhe whilst I drew his description from life lite for the eager police Elizabeth here at Raven Rosalind Viola Beatrice rolled into one with the secret of all aU the tile ages age snared in her glorious eyes the dead king sunk in his stall staring before him as asbe ashe ashe he be had stared before hIm day and night for almost years dinner for four at Tracery Tracery gold gold and silver sliver and scarlet and powdered hair Eliz Ellz Elizabeth Elizabeth abeth worshipful and the Duchess of Whelps Whelp's most excellent esty Percy Virgil confronted Win Winter ter the Count of Brief at bay bar and the awful uncertainty flaming flam flam- flamIng Ing in in Bertrams Bertram's eyes and then one evening at five the stammer tammer of ofa a telephone bell telephone bell and Old Harrys Harry's Harr voice steady rock-steady and very clear Is that you Henderson Yes Ye Stopped and returning tomor row Im I'm much obliged And you can add to that list- list some very monstrous moments Elsas Elsa's laugh in the turret staircase turret the darkness of Palfreys Palfrey's court the shock of that icy water the straws you caught at to save your tottering life and then Lord Ferdinand Virgil broken and craven and cringing to be per to bury himself alive I alive I shall never get over that as 81 long lone as es I live Youre You're a blasted lion in sheep's sheep clothing and that's the truth You sit It there as 81 meek as mild and ap ap- apparently apparently apparently dumb with admiration for Old Harrys Harry's efforts and mine to kick at the gates and the next day be fore were we're up you walk bung into the fortress and kill the giant Then you put on the sheep's sheep skin again When I think that you came into breakfast straight from the field and and merely begged my pardon for being late As though overcome with emotion motion he threw himself back in his hla chair and covered his eyes Im sorry I said It seemed better better- be TO DE BE CONTINUED |
