oke
shortly.

"No, of course not." Owen hesitated, but as Toni evinced no signs of
wishing to continue the conversation he went out of the room hurriedly,
leaving his wife alone with the evidences of Mr. Dowson's good-will.

The next time Eva visited Toni she said jocularly:

"Well, I do think you're mean, Toni!" They had recently advanced to this
stage of intimacy. "Fancy not telling me that Mr. Dowson had once
proposed to you."

Toni, taken aback, blushed vividly.

"He didn't--at least--not exactly. I mean----"

"Oh, I know what you mean!" Eva laughed. "Of course you couldn't have
accepted him--he's a nice fellow in his way, but impossible as a
husband." At times Squire Payton's daughter was quite blatantly
aristocratic. "But you might have told me, all the same."

"Why? It doesn't matter--now."

"Not to you, dear." Eva jeered lightly. "But the poor fellow is quite
upset at meeting you again. He told me to-day he would never marry, and
when I asked him why he said surely I could guess."

"Very impertinent of him," said Toni sharply; and Eva smiled inwardly.

"Oh, you mustn't blame him, Toni. I'm afraid it was my fault. We Irish
are so sympathetic, you know--people always tell us their secrets. And
anyhow there is nothing to be ashamed of. If he likes to go adoring you
privately, you needn't be angry."

She said no more just then, for Toni's manner displayed her displeasure;
but Eva smiled again when she was alone; and her warped and twisted mind
seized eagerly on the idea of the very amusing situation which a little
careful engineering might bring to pass.

Like all true intriguers, Eva kept her thoughts to herself; and Toni had
not the faintest idea of the plans which her so-called friend turned
about in her mind as the autumn days glided swiftly by under the golden
and blue skies of a perfect season.

CHAPTER XXII

Owen and his wife were sitting at dinner one evening when a note was
brought to Owen whose contents brought an angry exclamation to his lips
as he, read.

"By gad, Toni, this is a bit thick! What the devil does the woman mean?"

Toni, suddenly pale, bit her lips, while her eyes filled with
apprehension.

"I ... who is it from, Owen? What does it say?"

"There--read it yourself," said Owen, throwing the blue-grey sheet
across the table. "I suppose there is some explanation, though I confess
I can't understand it--yet."

Still deadly pale, her eyes shining like blue jewels,