| Show BANNER SERIAL SE RIAL FICTION she painted al need her face A of we tow mid d f DORNFORD YATES 0 yates aric j CHAPTER XII continued 25 afie duchess continued you bear a very good name and im sure you are proud of it parish remembers usage which was your ho home his sister was your mothers mald maid and when your mother died dietshe he stayed on till thi the house was sold cold it should not have been sold of course course but your father was killed in action and as you known know things went wrong very well now 1 I too bear a good name my family name is saying and though you end and I 1 know better the Al manach de gotha will tell you that it Is royal and if you will change your name iva its easy enough by deed poll and will cau call yourself saying exon from this time on I 1 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 p proper Q per that she should bear my name and in view iview of all that tha has happened it is most right and proper that she should take it from you butchi butthi but the principal thing is this lou that at I 1 am very fond of you richard and should derive infinite pleasure from the thought that you and your sons were to bear my name tor for I 1 know you will do it honor and igind I 1 find it hard harato to believe that with suca a mother to bear them your son swill prove unworthy to hand it down she hesitated there and put a hand to her eyes then she shel went slowly on the workings of fate are very wonderful saying is my own name when I 1 was married I 1 took my husbands title but nathis not his name and because the name is royal his sons by me would have borne it but you see I 1 have had no children and when I 1 come to die the name will die too unless you you care to humor a sentimental old fool what I 1 said I 1 cannot remember because my heart was too full but I 1 know I 1 was donnon down on my knees ancher hands were in mine as I 1 tried trl edmy my best beit to thank her for doing to me what only a king can do then she kissed me on either cheek and told me to ring for wine forwe a a drink she said to celebrate this occasion you seem to like the idea and as good goodjohn john herrick would say it suits suit me down to the socks the thought of th that at biame name going out has given me sleepless nights but now all alls livery very well for if you and elizabeth virgil arent fit to fly my flag then thenny my eye is dim and my natural force farce abated and that I 1 refuse to believe tor for I 1 never wore word glasses yet and though I 1 take it easy im still as strong as a horse when the wine was brought she pledged me and wished me luck and I 1 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 simp simply eat you can have it now cowand and can an eat it as soon as youve changed your name name A marriage has bai been arranged and will shortly take place between richard a exon late of usage in wiltshire and r now ow of I tracery in austria and elizabeth virgil countess of brief I 1 lifted 04 i my head bead to stare at the duchess of whelp 11 now mow of Tra tracery cerAl madam what it says said old harry you can cut it out if you like but I 1 understand yo youre ure short of a residence and it would give me great pleasure if you were to make this your home after lunch I 1 left for raven L where I 1 was to stay tor for three nights lights ak after which I 1 wa was s to return with US the Count countess essof of brief and herrick to settle future arrangements and generally chew the cud but before I 1 went old harry hairy ma made de me promise that I 1 would drive straight to raven and would not visit brief until the following day you owe john herrick something hes hels been a good friend to you a and in d he feel left in view of all that had happened I 1 could not protest r otest but I 1 could not nol help thinking that merrick herrick could hardly teel left it if I 1 paid my lady a visit before returning to raven to spend the evening with him still if old harr harry was willful lowed I 1 owed her caprice so much that if she had seen aitto direct that the countiss countess and I 1 should not meet for another ten days I 1 must have honored her kp precept without a word sol so I 1 took my leave and entered the rolls once more and driving leisurely came to raven at six fix As air we stole between the two chestnuts and on to the apron beyond I 1 saw that brenda Brend awas was stin standing ding at the foot of the steps she must have seen the car coming along the road of approach I 1 brought the rolls roll to her ber side a and ad put out my hand well brenda I 1 said tow how are you you see ive come back shu shi took my iny hand in both hers hen 1 I am am so glad to I 1 see you she he said aid your room ls li all ready of ft ourse mr herrick Is not cot back yet he goes to brief every day and I 1 doubt if he will be here tor for another halt half hour houi I 1 think you will sit in the meadows until he comes youre perfectly right said I 1 and got out of the car but first I 1 must have a drink will you go and draw me me some beer while im washing my hands brenda hesitated then you you wont have a bath will you I 1 mean the waters not hot in some surprise id like one before dinner I 1 said but why I 1 have one now it would take too long said brenda the meadows are now at their best but the sun Is low with that the she was gone I 1 turned to my faithful man glad to be back winter he smiled all over his face this is the place for me sir air them jah ate an mighty louses auses Is all very well in their way but the country seems frightened of them you see you are my dream am A week ago I 1 rendered you unto caesar and tore my heart and now caesar has given you yoli back has given me back my dream well all right but the wound in my heart will reopen if ever I 1 leave you again and that I 1 tell you frankly 1 cannot face when I 1 left you I 1 knew very well I 1 was leaving my life behind but not until I 1 was gone did I 1 know what it meant to be beadz dead a dead man having his being amid 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 so thankful I 1 mean so much you see ive given you all ive no more to give heart and soul and body you hold them in your strong hands not mine any more at your disposal rich ard and it if ever you ceased to WC I 1 C w 0 k V va 1 I think you too may very well the woods and thi the meadows seem shy but here come right up an eat out of your hand youve said it said L and take it easy tonight wash the rolls tomorrow id rather do her tonight sir air it wont takebe very long an when you come to think she deserves the best and that was another true saying do as you like said 1 I and algid walked into the house bouse I 1 do not know what made me do it but when I 1 had bad washed my hands I 1 strolled across the landing and entered the pleasant bedroom I 1 knew kaw was mine for a moment I 1 stood looking round then I 1 moved to the open windows window a commanding the friendly meadows and the sheltering woods beyond the scene was as rare as lovely for the sun was going down and the pleasant georgic georgia was flooded with amber light AU all things were throwing shadows as clean and as black as print slashing the turf with sable cable and making the vivid green more vivid still on every side the tapestry y of woodland was shot with gold the stream was afire with splendor and sitting beside its water was elizabeth countess of brief her beautiful head was bare and her eyes were fixed upon the treetops as though she were expect expecting ng the heaven above to open and make her rich but for me the heaven had opened and I 1 seemed to be regarding some idyll that did not belong to earth but had been sung by shakespeare to please the gods so I 1 looked upon my fortune then I 1 went down to the meadows s to see the light in her eyes aws to see the light that was in her eyes herrick arrived for which I 1 was very thankful because his car was to take elizabeth back arwe As we heard the drone of his engine oh dear said the countess of brief now that ive got you back I 1 dont want to let you go but you wont go mad again will you remember mem berthat that the duchess of whelp has set her be hearton arton this match and that after all that ashes she done you cant let her down with a sudden movement I 1 picked her up in my arms shall I 1 tell you something I 1 said yes please A warm rm arm surround slid sUd round my neck today I 1 came back to my dream and as long as my dream win have halve me I 1 shall never leave it again I 1 must go to london later if only to change my name but I 1 will not go unless you go with me take what com comparin compan iun you me like take half a dozen women to shut mouth kick your heels while im doing my busi business neEL only be there then marry many the countess of brief brid 11 care the body would wither for the heart and the soul would die I 1 would have answered her but wi the words would not come for I 1 could think of nothing but the look in her glorious eyes I 1 cannot can tell what exquisite language they spoke but I 1 understood their saying better than any words I 1 had that day been ennobled by the duchess of whelp but now I 1 was exalted in spirit and a spring seemed to break within me for joy oy that elizabeth virgil had bad come to love me so well then she smiled and I 1 kissed her mouth and set her down on her feet shall I 1 tem tell you something she said yes yea please when we got the telephone mes sage to say that you had been stopped and wore were going to come backi back I I 1 burst into tears my sweet it was natural enough but listen old harry called me a fool and then burst into tears herself we turned to john lor for comfort john who had been our mainstay stay and simply kept us going for 31 hours and john was standing there with the tears running down his cheeks so you see my darling im not peculiar theres something about richard exon that ge gets ts us all under the ribs which was ol of course absurd for else I 1 should not have suffered in red lead lane four hours had bad gone by and I 1 was sitting smoking with herrick Herr lck under the stars raven was fast asleep asloeg only our sitting room casements were framing two squares of light the rolls was within her coach house bokusei winter had gone to his rest 1 1 I suppose its all true said herrick but I 1 must confess there are ara moments when I 1 wonder if ive been translated before my time I 1 mean a month ago I 1 was not only down but out the immediate future was bide hideous ous pawnshop pawn shop doss house and gutter were staring me in the lace face and andi 1 I like the look in their eyes you see id met them before and now im ruling a castle with 50 servants hanging upon my ups lips compared with me elizabeth count im a sort of lord protector appointed by the duchess of whelp and when done im due et at tracery I 1 have been desi redby old harry to take her estate in hand band put my house in order she said youre just the man to do it and its time it was done it if my agents right just about carry you home he gives your uncle sli six months so you see my gay crusader youve made my fortune too to say nothing at all of the tact fact that ive never enjoyed myself as I 1 have in the last three weeks three weeks and one day no more yet their burden has been so brilliant that though ive seen quite a lot the rest of my life beside them seems strangely dull and not really strange for never before have I 1 entered the middle ages and tasted their mighty fare talk about food tor for the gods our first view of brief gray against green in the sunshine as we stood on the bridge that trembled before the vials of wrath percy virgil afraid to writhe whilst I 1 drew his description from life for the eager police elizabeth here at raven rosalind viola beatrice rolled into one with the secret of all the ages snared in her glorious eyes the dead king sunk in his stall staring before him as he be had stared before him day and right night for almost years dinner for four at tracery gold and silver and scarlet and powdered hair elizabeth worshipful and the duchess of whelps most excellent majesty percy virgil confronted with winter the count of brief at bay and the awful uncertainty flaming in bertrams eyes and then one evening at five the stammer of a telephone bell and old harrys voice rock steady and very clear Is that you henderson yes stopped and returning t tomorrow amor im much obliged and you can add to that list est some very monstrous moments elsas laugh in the staircase turret the darkness of palfreys Pal freys court the shock of that icy water the straws you caught at to save ae your tottering life and then lord ferdinand virgil broken and craven and cringing to be permitted to bury himself alive I 1 shall never get over that as long as I 1 live youre a blasted lion eon in cheeps clothing and the truth you sit there as meek as mild and apparently patently ly dumb with aan admiration for old harrys efforts and mine to kick at the gates and the next day before were up you wa walk ak bung in into to the fortress and kill the giant then you put on the cheeps skin again when I 1 think that you came into breakfast straight from the field and merely begged my pardon for being late As though overcome with emotion he be threw himself back in iii his chair and covered his bis eyes im sorry I 1 said it seemed better P TO BE CONTINUED |
