Show I 1 I 1 if OWEN DOLINE DANE I 1 by mrs W IL I 1 0 at it 11 of a soft april morning ales alex vincent stepped from the tile elevator at the fifth landing of the equitable building and entered his office a few yards distant mr vincent was a handsome young fellow of 20 26 with a refined face dark eyes and mustache he ile wore a light gray overcoat and derby hat he had bad a dandelion in his buttonhole and carried a cane there was a general air coflan of languor and disaffection about him this morning what earthly use was there hewon he wondered deredin in taking tho the trouble to come to his office I 1 during nine months occupancy he had a dozen cli clients eniz in fact nothing ever came to tho the office but bills and book agents and he would gladly have avoided both he was beginning to consider seriously what he was going to do about it for the present however lie did nothing but throw the window up and sitting down on the broad sill gaze over the wide aide prospect that his lofty height commanded the wide blue charles the low misty hills the thin white clouds were soothing he sat and I 1 thought about miss ands musicale and dreaded to turn about and face the perpetual problem of income and expenses his ills reverie was broken by the abrupt opening of the office door dispatch for alex vincent thirty ce cente ants charges sung out the district messenger boycho boy who confronted him ae as he lie turned it was with a feeling as near surprise as our philosophical young lawyer was capable of that he tore open the yellow envelope and read gideon dane was buried yesterday his beira heirs will meet for consultation on the you are requested to be present the message was dated queenstown Queens town va and signed dane who then speculated young vincent was gideon dane and who were his heirs his grandmother who had died before his ids remembrance was as he recalled a virginian and her name was dane this gideon dane might have been her relative he went out ont and telegraphed at the end of an hours cogitation for further information am I 1 one of gideon danes heirs and durin during the day he received the brief answer you are with the same signature as before it was about the middle of the afternoon on the that alex vincent found himself at the tile end of his long and rather stupid journey he had bad come I 1 over a single track road by a slow train in a common car among his fellow passengers the tike women were sallow and the men slovenly he ile had had a bad nights rest and a poor breakfast A good many young fellows of vincents ago age would have enjoyed tho the novelty and adventure of the journey but vincent was of 4 cool fastidious tempe temperament ramen t critical and fond of his comfort before leaving home he had taken the precaution to visit an elderly aunt his mothers sister who in response to his inquiries conid could only tell him that as far as she knew the virginia danes had been ruined by the war and that the northern branch of the family had never been able to ret get along with them anyhow 0 Z they were a hot tempered pet set said the old lady with no manner of reason or judgment according to our notions but better go on and see to left since they bid you vincent as has been said was left standing on the platform at quel queenstown Queens town and the train moved on he was among the mountains in the midst of a wild and picturesque scene A colored boy whom he beckoned from a sunny door step informed him that the dane place was a I 1 good bit distant and that it if ho lie would wait for him to bor borrow row a fish line hed show him the road were there no horses to be hired the boy rolled his tongue in his cheek there might be a mule cart vincent decided te to start on foot he ile persuaded hia his guide to give up tho the I 1 scheme and carry his valise as a more profitable investment and then together the two struck into the cool wide gorge already green n with april drapery with rushing waterfalls foaming a down the side of the monn mountain tain around which they pursued their way reckon miss u gwen would a 0 for o r you jou sho if shed known you was coining coming remarked vincents guide as the dark began to close about them and the mountain fog to obscure the road I 1 has she servants and horses inquired vincent with irritation la yes drawled the boy lots on em vm and is she ayoung a young lady queried our traveler you know that was the surprised reply vincent walked on reflecting upon these items of information well how much further have we got I 1 to gov go ho lie inquired at length tired shivering la ia the cold white mist and thinking of tho the condition of ot his boots I 1 were right there sab sah heres ai the lane waa was the cheering response A few moments more and they saw raw the lights of the house blinking through the fog and then through the windows the I 1 ruddy glow glov of firelight the tile house as vincent could dimly distinguish was large old fashioned with a wide ve randa the door at which he knocked was opened by a white haired colored man wrinkled bronzed bent and silent a deaf mute as vincent learned afterward A moment later lie was standing on the threshold of a large room lighted by tho the firo fire rather than by the two candles candies which burned in tall silver candlesticks on the shelf in ia his momentary survey ho took in the dark heavy eavy furniture 1 which sparsely furnished the spacious room the skin rugs on the bare floor the small round table laid for supper and the broad red couch before the fire on I 1 which a young woman was stretched at I 1 fall tall length surrounded by sleeping dogs vincent rather recoiled from the unconventional aspect of the scene ile liked the proprieties as ho he understood them ho ile expected a proper reception from somebody he ire stood stiffly on the threshold hardly knowing whether to advance or retreat an inquiring growl from an aroused dog broke the silence the lady started at the sound and eat sat upright the dog too was on bis his feet she laid one hand land quickly on the hounds lio unde neck and rose u facing the doorway where vincent brood as it were at bay I 1 while the deaf mute held lih his candle at arms arins height beight its naif if to light the visit tors otle face for liis bis ink inspection I 1 I 1 I 1 1 I 1 1 1 I 1 I 1 I I 1 I 1 I 1 k 11 il I 1 1 4 I 1 I 1 W alex vincent the lady asked doubtfully she was a tall diana diann like girl with a mass of dark tumbled hair and in a riding habit vincent bowed coldly have I 1 tho honor of speaking to miss dane AV S 1 k I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 i r I 1 1111 I 1 I 1 I 1 M I 1 i I 1 I 1 1 haw have I 1 the honor of speaking to miss dane 0 cousin vincent where did you come from how did you get here she cried coming toward him 1 I said vincent and stopped to smile and extend his hand in response to danes rapid greeting while even his cool new england blood tingled at sight of tho the young beauty who was holding his hand in hers looking with superb scrutiny into his eyes with w which her own were level while sho she said hurriedly 1 I see you got off the train at queenstown Queens town barmore is three miles nearer but how should you know that I 1 rode to barmore taking an extra horse since you were not there I 1 sur supposed you had not come and so went oft off 0 on n a long ride I 1 been home halt half an hour but how tired you must be and liow low hungry and how damp come to the fire she turned toward the old negro with a gesture he apparently understood supper sho she said and a fire in mr vincents chamber the dark cloth habit she wore was not long enough to interfere with her impetuous movements sho e wheeled a big leather chair toward the fire the dogs who had followed her discreetly getting out of her way sit dow down bhe blie said to vincent in an imperious way to which lie ile was certainly not accustomed but which he could not refrain from admiring so well weil it suited t is superb great haughty girl who claimed his cousinship 1 I am ashamed of such a scant welcome she said seating herself opposite her guest and keeping a light hold upon he collars of the two most uneasy dogs my visit is purely one of business bus business iniss miss dane I 1 had no expectation of laying claim to your hospitality vincent had recovered from his ills momentary surprise at miss danes beauty an and d totally ignorant as ho he was as to the nature of the situation in which he lie found himself was inclined to stand upon his dignity yes she said with a little sigh 1 I had no alternative but to summon you as I 1 did but cewill we will not talk business tonight to night tomorrow to morrow will be soon enough by this time the supper was served the fragrance of coffee with mountain cream the platter of fried trout the haunch of cold mutton with a salad of brook cresses caresses cr esses followed by cakes and jellies was sufficient to soften vincents mood his young hostess watched him and waited upon him with interest mingled with a delicate air of amazement evidently she was unaccustomed to young and hungry men vincents surprise was likewise growing was this young princess the only member of the family it began to seem so since no one else au appeared M miss iss dane ho lie said as they resumed their seats before the fire 1 I find myself here by your command now I 1 must as ask in what way I 1 can serve you houi you wish to know the story tonight 1 I do if it is your pleasure we are distantly related mr vincent my grandfather was your grandmothers cousin I 1 suspect that lie once hoped to be something nearer but no matter for that tha he ile adopted me when all the other danes were dead and gone five are buried on oil the battlefields within the past few years lie began to talk to me of our northern relatives evidently be he made inquiry concerning ybur whereabouts for a few weeks before his death he lie told me that when he was gone I 1 was to telegraph you as I 1 did ho ile said you were a lawyer and would know how to manage the business and that you and I 1 were the only heirs of the dane estates this young beauty mused vincent can tell a very straight story for a woman may I 1 ask miss dane it if you live on this lonely place alone alone well yes since gr grandpa andria is gone oh I 1 have a companion miss chatworth chatsworth Chat worth she lias has gone to queens town today to fetch the mourning which was ordered there she will return tomorrow morr ow I 1 danes face flushed slightly 1 I had no idea that you were a young man she said frankly illas your grandfathers will been opened asked ked vincent no I 1 preferred to wait till you came you yon hare hafe shown me rue a great 1 deal I of consideration as one who deprives you of part of your inheritance he ile rose as he said this as a signal that bo be was ready to bid miss dane good night she stood also for a second they looked each other over he ile was wondering at her perfect grace the faultless curves revealed by the clinging folds of the short shabby habit the delicate perfect perfection ien of throat and ears cars the brilliant assurance of the large eyes which looked unwaveringly into bis his own I 1 1 I need friends more than money she said finally and I 1 be returned lightly may say I 1 need money more than friends your want is the easier one to supply she drew a quick breath you do need money ehe she asked intently badly ho he returned smiling slie she put both hands out impulsively as eho the had at their kirbt meeting and I 1 nm am sure you need rest tomorrow to morrow we will talk the dogs had risen as she did and stood in various a attitudes of attention the deaf mute who it seemed to vincent like an invisible till lie was wanted appeared with his flaring candle the young man took the fine nervy band hand extended and pressed i ever exer s bo slightly dight ly I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 h I 1 1 1 14 za 1 I uch 1 ivo live or morrow tomorrow to so he lie said with rather more gallantry than ho he commonly indulged in then in his warm quiet chamber with a south rain dashing at intervals against the pane he lay awake only long enough to wonder what eort sort of an all arabian night adventure was this which had befallen him and to draw a dreamy conti contrast ast between this young virginian and the women of colder tints and lesser curves and charier manners the girls of his social set who gave him grudging waltzes and short tete a totes and said to their mammas oh dont be frightened frighten edl 1 we amov know well enough that alex A lex vincent cant marry for a agea to come vincent looked from his window the following morning upon a scene which remained long iong after in his memory the april sunshine flooded the rolling country the grain was springing the orchards in bloom the lane through which he had come last night had a border of magnolias just in bud in the distance the mountains rose in warm tints of purple and gray he ile descended to the parlor the breakfast table was laid the windows wide open and in the flooding sunshine miss dane and miss examining the tile black gowns in which the family were to be dressed for the dead master later camo came the lawyer from queens town and the old minister from barmore and gideon danes last will and testament was solemnly unsealed and read aloud gideon dane was a man of substance he owned broad rich acres flour mills and berds of cattle besides he had numerous investments which were duly described and anti he gave and bequeathed all these things to his nest next of kin dane and alex vincent with the hope that their agea ages being suited and their interests one their lives and destinies might be united the lawyer read these words in a distinct formal tone and paused there was a stir of sensation through the little company and vincent and were the only two who did not exchange glances at noon there was a grand dinner served soon after the guests mounted their horses and rode away vincent lighted a cigar and strolled down the lane under the budded magnolias the secret was out old gideon dane had chosen to provide a 1 protector for his ills heiress in this medieval mediaeval media eval fashion they had queer notions these southerners regarding family obligations turning lie saw and her great white hound blanche coming slowly toward him would you like to see where grandpa is bu buried riede she asked he assented and was about to throw away his cigar dont throw it away she said a little nervously cant you treat me and she laughed shortly ilas as if I 1 were a man or at least as it if you were under no restraint in my pre presence no he lie said 1 I cannot thecimar The cigar gar is no sacrifice but she said as he walked by her side wo we have got to be quite frank with each other and we might as well throw overboard as many formalities as we can dont yon think arl so possibly they walked on in silence the dog dropping her delicate pink nose within Gwendo lines palm mr vincent said the young lady at last 1 I had no intimation of the tile precise nature of my grandfathers will or I 1 should not have sent for you yon as I 1 did even though I 1 simply obeyed his injunctions what I 1 want to say is that the clause which places me under your protection is noway no way binding as of course you know and for the sake of simplifying things I 1 wish to say that we will regard it 03 it if it had not been written unquestionably you have such a right to ignore thia this clause legally and morally miss dane formy for my own part ido I 1 do not feel bo a free I 1 need not particularize but permit me to say that I 1 have fiade a decision I 1 shall make no claims to the estate under your grandfathers will she turned slightly pale you feel that your inheritance ia is condit conditional ionel yes 1 I beg you not fo think so the last thing that grandpa would have wished is that we should marry her lovely complexion turned paler still sho she held her proud head aloft the full lips trembled and her |