The young man laughed lightly: "Well, perhaps I had a jag on. I'm not surprised. I'd been driving for

hours and had to drink to keep my nerve till morning. There were some

dandy spilling places around those mountain curves. One doesn't care to

look out and see when one is driving at top speed."

Heavens! What had he said now? The girl's eyes came round to look him

over again and went through to his soul like a lightning flash and away

again, and there was actually scorn on her lips. He must take another

line. He couldn't understand this haughty country beauty in the least.

"I certainly did enjoy your music," he flashed forth with a little of

his own natural gaiety in his voice that made him so universal a

favorite.

The girl turned gravely toward him and surveyed him once more as if she

were surprised and perhaps had not done him justice. She looked like

one who would always be willing to do one justice. He felt encouraged: "If it hadn't been for this blamed foot of mine I'd have hobbled over

to the--service. I was sorry not to hear the music closer."

"There is another service this evening," she said pleasantly, "Perhaps

father can help you over. It is a rather good organ for so small a

one." She was trying to be polite to him. It put him on his metal. It

made him remember how rude he had been to her father the night before.

"Delightful organ I'm sure," he returned, "but it was the organist that

I noticed. One doesn't often hear such playing even on a good organ."

"Oh, I've been well taught," said the girl without self-consciousness.

"But the children are to sing this evening. You'll like to hear the

children I'm sure. They are doing fairly well now."

"Charmed, I'm sure," he said with added flattery of his eyes which she

did not take at all because she was passing her mother's plate for more

gravy. How odd not to have a servant pass it!

"You come from New York?" the host hazarded.

"Yes," drawled the youth, "Shafton's my name, Laurence Shafton, son of

William J., of Shafton and Gates you know," he added impressively.

The host was polite but unimpressed. It was almost as though he had

never heard of William J. Shafton the multi-millionaire. Or was it?

Dash the man, he had such a way with him of acting as though he knew

everything and nothing impressed him; as though he was just as

good as the next one! As though his father was something even greater

than a millionaire! He didn't seem to be in the least like Laurie's

idea of a clergyman. He couldn't seem to get anywhere with him.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024