Part 10 (1/2)

”All right.”

He prepared to go. At the door Hagar said to him, ”Shall I see you again?”

”Probably in the morning. Good-night.”

Telford went back to the hotel and found the horse he had ordered at the door. He got up at once. People looked at him curiously, it was peculiar to see a man riding at night for pleasure, and, of course, it could be for no other purpose. ”When will you be back, sir?” said the groom.

”I do not know.” He slipped a coin into the groom's hand. ”Sit up for me.

The beast is a good one?”

”The best we have. Been a hunter, sir.”

Telford nodded, stroked the horse's neck and started. He rode down toward the gate. He saw Mildred Margrave coming toward him.

”Oh, Mr. Telford!” she said. ”You forsook us to-day, which was unkind.

Mamma says--she has seen you, she tells me--that you are a friend of my stepfather, Mr. Gladney. That's nice, for I like you ever so much, you know.” She raised her warm, intelligent eyes to his. ”I've felt since you came yesterday that I'd seen you before, but mamma says that's impossible.

You don't remember me?”

”I didn't remember you,” he said.

”I wish I were going for a ride, too, in the moonlight. I mean mamma and I and you. You ride as well as you drive, of course.”

”I wish you were going with me,” he replied.--He suddenly reached down his hand. ”Good-night” Her hand was swallowed in his firm clasp for a moment ”G.o.d bless you, dear!” he added, then raised his hat quickly and was gone.

”I must have reminded him of some one,” the girl said to herself. ”He said, 'G.o.d bless you, dear!'”

About that time Mrs. Detlor received a telegram from the doctor of a London hospital. It ran:

Your husband here. Was badly injured in a channel collision last night. Wishes to see you.