The Fighting Chance
And now, above the roaring undertone of the cars, from far ahead floated back the treble bell-notes of the locomotive; there came a gritting vibration of b
e uncut magazine he had been dreaming over and, picking up gun case and valise, followed a line of fellow-passen
itating, leisurely inspecting the flashing ranks of vehicles-depot wagons, omnibusses, and motor cars a
eted expected guests; laughing young men climbed into dog-carts and took the reins from nimble grooms; young girls, extravagantly veiled, made room in comfortable touring-cars for feminine guests whose extravagant veils were yet to be unpacked; slim young men in leather trappings, caps adorned with elab
ed, leisurely manner for anybody or any vehicle which might be waiting for him. His amiable inspection presently b
dexterously into rank with its fellows. "Say, one of Mr. Ferrall's men
familiar livery was kneeling beside a dog's travelling crate, attempting to unlock it, while be
ched the scene fo
rrall's men?" he asked
ooked up, t
, So
Shotover House. I dare say you h
key from his fingers, knelt, and tried the lock. It resisted. F
it; I know you're in a hurry-and we'll have you out in a second-steady
pened, but the young man caught him by the le
by the frantic circling of the dog-"beg pardon, Sorr, but I'll
ot one of Mr.
hadn't anny orders
nything here t
r-I'll lo
the gravel drive where now only a steam motor and a depot-wagon remained. As they looked the motor steamed o
rall expect me?
for Shotover House does ginerally
ve gone on to Black Fells Crossing; Mr. Ferrall wrote me!" T
phayton"-h
t a phaeton
dy says so-beg pardon, Sor
Miss Landis a gues
d joost ask her-the phayto
ecuted side-steps; blue ribbons fluttered from the gl
aeton drew up; the young lady looked inquiringly
characteristic of men of his sort,-and even his smile appeared to be part an
sing," observed Miss Landis, coolly controll
now that such were the
d with more curiosity at the dog. "Is t
is,
with you?" And, to Siward: "There
e?" he ask
more pup, Flynn. Hold him between yo
tacle of himself and an agreeable picture of his driver; then the pretty little phaeton swung northward out of the gravel driv
am, Flynn?" she asked w
id,
ncluding Siward, until the horse began acting badly again. Her slightly disdainful and perfect control of the reins interested the young man. He
nged infinitely in hysterical cresc
ter with him, Fl
should let him r
sing concerning her telegram. She drove on for a while, and might have forg
r a mile or two? Do you thi
a new
wagon-broken, steady to shot and wing-" She shrugged
I try him?" su
you are going t
hink
f he b
ake my
my chances, Mr. Siward. Th
ought
s a horridly expensive creatur
auty of patience; great thing, patience!" He took the leader; the dog sprang from the rumble. "Now, my friend, look at me! No, don't twist and squirm and scr
rd unleashed him, looked down at him for a second, stooped and caressed the silky head, then with a laugh
d-broken," he sa
u think he wi
hink
back over her shoulder at the dog who l
out the moving phaeton, splitting the air with yelps of ecstasy, then tore ahead, mad with the
disappeared far away up the road she turn
, glorious in his new liberty, enchanted with the confidence this tall young man had reposed in him-this adorable young ma
use his voice was pleasant, partly because a vague memory was beginning t
but, absorbed in the overwhelming importance of her tele
the present, and mentally turned to the next and far less important problem-the question of this rather attra
asantly, conventionally, touching idly any topic that might have a bearing; and, under a self-possession so detached as to give an impression of indif
ence to please her, and something listless, at times almost absent-minded, almost inattentive, that might have piqued her had it not inoculated he
d why some ace blinkers. From sport and its justification, they became inconsequential; and she was beginning to
her own kind, self-possession and reserve, if not inherent, had also been drilled into her, an
were advancing
ought to call the
e's had
more pup, dusty and happy came romping back. Siward mot
between us. And you might occupy yourself by pull
't try to lick my face, for that is bad manners
anners, isn't it?"
ing affec
d admitt
agamore? But never mind; I'll break
Siward's knee, looking h
"Mr. Siward! You are hugging him! This amo
e conspiracy," he said. "There's
ered recently kissi
agamore, give the y
e whip to her left hand, held out the right. And very gravely
rmured the girl,
ed for membership in our association for the promotion of ba
sorts of things because
ourse
tilted. "I never kissed a baby in all my life-and ne
more than
atural in me to feel that way about babies? And about people, too; I simply cannot endure demonstrations. As for dogs and horses-well, I've admitted how I behave; an
y features, anxiously; "
people. It is rather horrid of me I suppose to be like those silky, plumy, luxurious Angora
, but he did not know her well enough to pu
tion, and she sensed the laugh in his silence, and liked him for
s of gayest understanding presently, she gossiping about the guests at Shot
the time," she said-with the very faintest hint of challenge-too delic
ou sh
s;
led to the sh
vil of you. Sometimes I
ld I-som
n are waiting for you to start out after grouse perh
lau
ble dummy when every other living man will be off
! I need i
thing wrong with yo
ck her whip, but at her first
n't fit," obs
emembered; it is shameful to drive a horse improperly bitted." And, af
e uncomfortable it worries me. It's
e was very friendly. "Why doesn't a nic
he outlook at Shotover House had been unpromising with only the overgrateful Page twins to practise on-the other men collectively and individually boring her. An
out selfishness?" she asked. "O
tain
"Selfishness is so si
it?
e. That covers everyt
ion is weakness-isn'
case for
ppose we
u may take it
loved a man!"
beware! W
ld distress your fami
ive hi
u love
orest excuse for self
ruin your happ
lfish love than in love itself," announced Miss Landis
f you really do find more happiness in renouncing love
not acute. A woman is always an opportunist. Whe
u want to marry t
I probab
rry
sh
you won't,
the horse to a walk at
too fast," said M
g too f
iving, goin
you m
e on all sorts o
ntry, you k
d friends one makes at a week's end. But it has
think it over," he sugges
e to consider a suggestion made to her by a Mr. Howard Quarrier. The last week at Shotover permitted reflection; and while her telegram was no co
know Howard Qua
tion he replied: "Yes-a
o know
at-the
the L
x-and the
stranded on the shoals of an engagement to marry Howard Quarrier. Then her thoughts, errant, wandered half the world over before they returned to Siward; and when at length they
is I have heard about you," sh
ve on, lips compressed, following an elusive train of thought which vaguely, persistently, coupled his name with something indefinitely unpleasant. And she could not reconcile this with his appearance. However, the train of unlinked ideas which she p
lacking definite detail, lacking circumstance and c
the unruffled and very sweet profile of a young girl. Composur
were my five wits? Siward!-Stephen Siward!... He is very young, too... much too young to be so horrid.
andis,"
ly. It was her way to b
are beginning to remember wher
f a child, but the lovely eyes were troubled. His smile
l to ask me," he said, "after the
l is a dear,"
tured: "I suppose you
mpletely forgotten it
ave ventured to remind you that-that per
to me! Why shouldn't I be amiable? It was-it was-I
ty ba
er
y sa
your opinio
ry verge of laughter. What was it in the man that disarmed and invited a confidence-scarcely justified it appeared? What was it now that moved her to overlook what few overlook-not the fault, but
that meant social absolution. As far as that went she also was perfectly ready to absolve him if he needed it. But perhaps he didn't care!-She looked at him, furtively. He seemed to be tranquil enough in his abstraction. Trouble appeared to slide very easily from his broad youn
g up to encounter her clear eyes,
ing toward the vast pile of blackish rocks against the sky, u
k? Oh
blows rained upon the ramparts of
e subtle change in his face-the white worn look, then the old listless apat
ar the sea
ment to the top of th
r fascinated and repelled him-always wrinkled, always in flat m
" he said, unconscious
e s
g for a man to fight.... There are other tides more per
ch of colour; and, without understanding exactly how, she was aware, presently, that they had insensibly slipped back to their light badinage
as they came to the crest of the la
aid mockingly; "and now your
rs, Miss
herself, thinking of the teleg
sides, her theories and preconceived plans for the safe and sound ordering of her
th a 'Yes.' However, he was coming from the Lakes in a day or two. S
observed Siward, as the phaeto
e said, "but he belo
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