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"Thank you, Aunt Meda," he said quietly; "your congratulations are premature, and the subject so far as Alice and I are concerned is taboo for three years at Mr. Van Ostend's special request." "Quite right a girl doesn't know her own mind before she is twenty-five."
You don't get this point of view up here, mother, but you will when you see the development of these great interests. Then it will be each for himself and the devil gets the hindermost. Shouldn't I take every legitimate means to forge ahead? You heard what the priest said about Mr. Van Ostend's mentioning me to him?
This marriage he still intended to make, if possible with Alice Van Ostend; and the fact that young Ben Falkenburg, an old playmate of Alice's, just graduated from college, the "other man" of the cotillon favors, was the first invited guest for the prospective cruise on Mr. Van Ostend's yacht, did not dovetail with his intentions. It angered him to think of being thwarted at this point.
Van Ostend's confidence, and I am sure, sure, that by that time he will have something for you that will satisfy even your young ambition. I think, moreover, it is a necessity for you to accept this, Champney." "You do; why?" "Well, for a good many reasons.
Caukins'?" she asked in a matter-of-fact voice that struck like cold iron on the girl's burning intensity of feeling. "Yes, I'm going." "Well, be back by seven." The girl made no reply. She left the library at once, closing the door behind her with a force that made the hall ring. Mrs. Champney smiled again, and proceeded to re-read Alice Van Ostend's letter.
Van Ostend's plan over and over in his mind, viewing it from all sides. It was not what he wanted, but it might lead to that. His eyes were on the rough ground beneath him, his thoughts busy with the pending decision, when he was taken out of himself by hearing an unexpected voice in his vicinity. "Good morning, Mr. Googe. Am I poaching on your preserve?" Champney recognized the voice at once.
This meeting is the one thing Champney has been dreading and yet longing for. I'm glad it's over." "So am I; and I am inclined to think Father Honoré brought it about; if you remember, he said nothing about Mr. Van Ostend's being here when he stopped just now." "So he didn't!" Aileen spoke in some surprise; then she added with a joyous laugh: "Oh, that dear man is sly bless him!"
In the midst of his wonderings, he suddenly remembered the evening's mail. He took it out and struck a match to look at the hand-writing. Among several letters from New York, he recognized one as having Mr. Van Ostend's address on the reverse of the envelope.
"You're sure you really didn't mind, Champney?" He laughed out at that. "Mind! Well, rather! You see it knocked one of my little plans higher than a kite a plan I made the very day I decided to accept Mr. Van Ostend's offer. Of course I minded." "What plan?" "Wonder if I'd better tell you, mother? I'd like to stand well in your good graces " "Oh, Champney!" "Fact, I would.
"What's Van Ostend's daughter's name, anybody know? they say he was sweet on her " "She's a good haul," a man laughed hoarsely, insultingly, "but she didn't bite, an' lucky for her she didn't." "You're 'bout right them high rollers don't want to raise nothing but game cocks no prison birds, eh?" The men passed on, twenty or more.
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