Part 54 (2/2)

”No; we do not expect any word for some time.”

”I'm sorry. We're anxious about Mr. Vane.”

On the surface, the announcement appeared significant, but the girl's boldness in coming to her for news was inexplainable to Evelyn. Puzzled as she was, her att.i.tude became more discouraging.

”You know him then?”

Something in her tone made Celia's cheeks burn and she drew herself up.

”Yes,” she said; ”we know him, both of us. I guess it's astonis.h.i.+ng to you. But I met him first when he was poor, and getting rich hasn't spoiled Mr. Vane.”

Evelyn was once more puzzled. The girl's manner savored less of a.s.surance than of wholesome pride which had been injured. Kitty then broke in:

”We had no cards to send in; but I'm Kathleen Blake, and this is Celia Hartley--it was her father sent Mr. Vane off to look for the spruce.”

”Ah!” exclaimed Evelyn, a little more gently, addressing Celia. ”I understand that your father died.”

Kitty flashed a commanding glance at Celia.

”Yes,” the girl replied; ”that is correct. He left me ill and worn out, without a dollar, and I don't know what I should have done if Mr. Vane hadn't insisted on giving Drayton a little money for me; on account, he said, because I was a partner in the venture. Then Miss Horsfield got some work among her friends for me to do at home. Mr. Vane must have asked her to; it would be like him.”

Evelyn sat silent a few moments. Celia had given her a good deal of information in answer to a very simple remark; but she was most impressed by the statement that Jessy, who had prejudiced her against Vane, had helped the girl at his request. It was difficult to believe that she would have done so had there been any foundation for her insinuations. If Celia spoke the truth, and Evelyn somehow felt this was the case, the whole thing was extraordinary.

”Now,” continued Celia, ”it's no way astonis.h.i.+ng that I'm grateful to Mr.

Vane and anxious to hear whether Mr. Carroll has reached him.” This was spoken with a hint of defiance, but the girl's voice changed.

”I am anxious. It's horrible to think of a man like him freezing in the bush.”

Her concern was so genuine and yet somehow so innocent that Evelyn's heart softened.

”Yes,” she a.s.serted, ”it's dreadful.” Then she asked a question. ”Who's the Mr. Drayton you mentioned?”

Kitty blushed becomingly; this was her lead.

”He's a kind of partner in the lumber scheme; I'm going to marry him.

He's as firm a friend of Mr. Vane's as any one. There's a reason for that--I was in a very tight place once, left without money in a desolate settlement where there was nothing I could do, when Mr. Vane helped me.

But perhaps that wouldn't interest you.”

For a moment her doubts still clung to their hold in Evelyn's mind, and then she suddenly drove the last of them out, with a stinging sense of humiliation. She could not distrust this girl; it was Jessy's suggestion that was incredible.

”It would interest me very much,” she declared.

Kitty told her story effectively, but with caution, laying most stress upon Vane's compa.s.sion for the child and her invalid mother. She was rather impressed by Miss Chisholm, but she supposed that she was endowed with some of the failing common to human nature.

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