CHAPTER II.
Despite the fact that her "betrothed" was liable to arrive at anyminute, Kate started immediately after breakfast to visit a friend--oneJennie Fleming, living about ten miles from Hanley Hall--and did notreturn until evening. Passing the parlor door, she saw her mother inconversation with a strange gentleman, and at once surmised it was theexpected visitor from America.
As her pony was in good condition and anxious to go, she had given himhis head on the way home, and the road being rather muddy, she arrivedin a bespattered condition--although looking decidedly the better forher rapid drive.
Kate would have gone on to her room to make herself "presentable," butfor her father, who came from behind, and before she could object shewas being introduced to "Mr. Harry Hall."
Standing before her "betrothed," Kate looked very charming in herembarrassment, and Mr. Hall could not altogether conceal his admiration.
He was quite a handsome fellow of about twenty-three, tall and slender,sported a moustache of the most approved style, and dressed in exquisitetaste. A cool, elegant fellow was Harry Hall, and before a week hadelapsed Kate found herself thinking more about him than she would havecared to acknowledge. What particularly pleased her was his refrainingfrom hinting, in any way, at the "betrothal." Mr. Hall, however, was toogood a general to make any such mistake--he knew how to wait. The Frenchsay--"Everything comes to him who waits," and it soon became evident toMr. Stafford that, unless something unforeseen happened, his oldpartner's son would carry out his father's wishes, and carry off _his_daughter.
It is, however, the unforeseen which usually does happen, and oneafternoon Kate upset the little boat in which she was in the habit ofgoing rowing.
The boat, built for herself, was just large enough to hold one person,and Hall, who now accompanied her almost everywhere, had to be contentwith walking along the bank.
They had traversed but a short distance, when, in answering some remarkof Hall's, one of the oars slipped from Kate's grasp. In the instinctivemove to recover it, she upset the boat, and sank, with a loud scream forhelp.
Though but thirty feet away, Hall made no effort to assist or rescuethe drowning girl. He stood on the bank as though rooted to the spot.Great beads of perspiration stood on his brow, and he wrung his hands inagony--none the less great for its silence.
Almost every one fears some particular being or thing more than anyother. In Hall's case it was water; he had a perfect horror of it, inbulk, and for that reason could not swim a stroke.
It would have been all over with Kate in a minute or two, had not apasser-by, attracted by her cry for help, come to the rescue. Taking inthe situation at a glance, he plunged into the stream, and, from thevery impetus of his spring, reached the fast drowning girl.
An ordinary man would have found it no easy task--burdened as therescuer was with all his clothes, and the weight of a strong, healthygirl--to reach and scramble up the bank unaided; but the strangermanaged to do so, and with a contemptuous smile asked Hall if the ladywas known to him.
Like one awaking from some horrible dream, Hall replied that he did.
"Show the way then--quick!" was the command, and Hall leading the way ata rapid pace, they quickly reached the house.
Mrs. Stafford, who was rather nervous, was not present when the partyentered; but the family physician, who lived near by, fortunately was;and taking charge of Kate, ordered the stranger to change his clothing.
"Come with me," said Mr. Stafford. "There's some clothes up-stairswhich, I think, will just about fit you;" adding as he laid them outbefore the stranger, "They belong to my nephew, but Fred was in suchhurry to get away to Australia, he wouldn't wait for the tailor tofinish them. Regular Carden temper!"
"What! Fred Carden!" exclaimed the stranger.
"Yes! Do you know him?"
"Quite well, sir. And you, I presume, are Mr. Stafford, whom I promisedFred to call on. I had not intended to do so to-day, but----"
"But," interrupted Mr. Stafford, "in saving my daughter's life, you wereforced to do so! And now tell me to whom are we so deeply indebted?"
The stranger appeared confused for a minute or two, even irritated, andwhen he answered, spoke almost angrily.
"My name, sir, is Martin--Richard Martin--and I will feel very grateful,if you will allow me to try how my friend's clothes will fit me!" andthus shutting off Mr. Stafford's thanks, and promising to come down and"take something" as soon as possible, Mr. Martin proceeded veryleisurely with the changing of his clothing.
"So this is Fred's pretty cousin," he said, after Mr. Stafford had gone."She must have been quite young when he left."
Mr. Martin took so much time, between his thoughts and his dressing,that Kate was in the drawing-room when he descended, looking a littlepale and decidedly interesting.
He was introduced to everybody, and everybody attempted to thank him,and failed--except Kate, who said nothing, but looked a great deal.
"So you know Fred?" said Mr. Stafford, finding it impossible to get in aword of thanks on the subject of the accident.
"Quite well, sir, and as I told you, he wished me to call on you, to letyou know that physically and financially he is doing well. And now,(taking out his watch), if you will excuse me, I will go, as it ispossible that news may await me in London which will compel me to leaveat once for America," and with a promise to return shortly if heremained in England, Mr. Martin took his departure.
Shortly after Hall made his appearance. He was immediately besieged withquestions by Mrs. Stafford, and two ladies who had come home with her;but on being informed that Kate knew nothing about what had occurredafter the boat upset, and that the rescuer had positively declined totalk about the matter, wisely said that he, too, must decline to talkabout it--he felt too much upset himself.
He certainly was pale and nervous, and the ladies kindly forbore furtherquestioning; but Hall did not like the momentary smile which playedabout Kate's mouth while he was making this explanation.
At the table that evening, Mr. Stafford was full of praise for Mr.Martin, and rehearsed all he had managed to get out of him on the way tothe station--which was very little--but Kate made one remark whichsurprised all present, and startled her mother and father.
"Did you notice, papa? Mr. Martin wore a ring exactly the same as mine!"
"By George! Kate, I believe it is the same! I did notice it as we shookhands at the station--it looked so oddly familiar, I could not avoidnoticing it."
The story of the rings not being known to the other ladies present,nothing further was said on the subject. Mr. Hall was not present,having an engagement in town, and thus missed something which might haveinterested him.