The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-19


far as that station there was no likelihood OF
its being blocked mp again further on.
On this MIR. Fyle had certain orders given
him; and then Rawdon Daripgham, Major OF
"0urs," and his friend, Dick Jocelyn the
Guardsman, walked, talking rather earnestly
together, through the struggling streets OF the
Kentish village where the last red rays OF the
wntry afternoon sun were cleaning on frosted
window panes, and so through the lower
lodge.gates and the lepg avenue OF snow
draped elms back OF Dane Court.
Bx-private John Fyle watched them briet
while, stroking his moustaohe as he had seen
his master stroke his.
"Ah % he thought aloud, as he turned
away; 'that's the Majors little game, is itY
And a very pretty little game, too!'
U.-seulo IL SeuIe.
"Hda You love him %
go Helenr'
Miss Jocelyn's confession in two words,
m made with such a piteous little sigh, such a
tell.tale hiding OF a blush.rose face in her
confessor's lap The said oOnfessor looked
grave, but stroked the penitent's fair hair
iondly and forgiVingly enough, notwithstand-
ing.
Then there was silence for space in that
little chamber where the cousins sat that
wintry cleaning over the log-fre. Cousin
Helen's room, they called il at Dane Court.
II looked over the lawn upon the park and
Dick Jocelyn and his friend were walking
just then, after their visit to Lucia's loose
box.
II was of one OF those two out there in the
snow that Helen Carew and Hilda JOcelyn
had been talking for the last halfhour till
their talk had ended in that last question
and answer we have overheard. 1t began
again, of course, in a minute or two. Natu-
rally II couldn't be let to die there.
my poor darling!" Helen said, bending
over the golden head nesting in the folds OF
her dress. "Since when"
"Always, / think. Always, since that first
night saw him. oh, Nell, l couldn't help
itp'-as though the child anticipated rebuke,
and were trying to deprecate it.
But the other hadn't apparently, the heart
to be hard with the criminal. Nay, she bent
over her pet closer, and put her hands under
the criminals cheek and chin, and lifted MP
the flushed, tear-stained little face, and kissed
it. That kiss was absolution in full. Hilda
felt that; so the tears fell faster Helen let them
have their way awhile before she said:-
THAT was six months ago, Mignonne.
remember; at that ball at Princes Gate. Dick
brought him there. Just after you had let
them tie you to the other it must have been.
. Hilda, why did you ever let Them 7"
As if Mignonne had ever had a chance
against mamma. That match between her
daughter and Jeffrey Marsden, the city banker,
it was SO likely any objection on the child's
part to the arrangement would have carried
weight My lady's word, as she proclaimed
to all the world, was law; Hilda had never in
all her life dared dream of disobedience, as she
told her cOnfessOr now.
"What cOuld do :" she pleaded. "Mamma
said was to take him; and he asked me--O
Nell his cold, hard voice made me shiver =
and | did as / was told. And then he came
Rawdon. And then | knew what had done.
We went away to Homburg, mamma and |;
and tried not to think about him. 1t was no
use, Nell. He came to Homburg, too, with
Dick. Mamma was terribly angry with me
because he did. And l deserved it, for was
go happy He never said word to me any
body mightn't have heard; but l thought
but knew he cared for me before we went
away. / don't know whether Mr.. Marsden
fancied anything; but in his ICY way know
he hated him. Mamma said cruel things to
me abouts him. l didn't mind; l was so
hsppy-happy in such a strange painful way,
dear Ito think he cared for me, my brave,
strong Rawdon Then We came home.
Nell, l thought should have died that night
1 said goodbye to him; the last night should
ever see him, perhaps We came home. |
think if / hadn't got i'll, and you hadn't come
down here to nurse me and fight for me,
mamma would have had me married to Mr..
Marsden in the autumn. AS it was, got a
won't do it |" poor Hilda sobbed out.
The elder girls soft voice and loving hands
soothed her tenderly.
81 begin to think you mustn't, Mignonne,"
Helen said. "And if you mustn't, you shant
But let me hear the end of it. How came
Major Daringbam down here this Christmas 2"
Migno nne smiled through her tears.
'Dick brought him again." she answered.
"Dear old Dick He's been so good to me, in
his quiet, cool fashion, all through. think
he and Rawdon are bosom friends, you know,
like you and me; they've no secrets from
each other; and"
~ see |" Helen nodded. And moreover
Dick detests the Cr@sus. Yes, quite under
stand"
"And you know" Hilda went ON, mamma
never quarrels with him, somehow; and Dane
Court really belongs to him; so when she found
Rswdon in the drawiDg-room one day, Just
before you came back, dressed for dinner, and
Dick told her he'd brought him down for the
shooting, why, she had to accept the situation.
Only she wrote OIL to Mr.. Marsden, think,
to come down too, fortnight sooner than had
been arranged. And before he oame-''
Mignonne made pause here. The fair little
face paled and flushed; the golden head began
to drOop again. 1t was clear enough to Miss
Carew what had happened before JEFF Marsden
came.
"He spoke to your You lot him, Mig
| nome :"
'Iet him Do you think oould stop him,
HelenY ! hadn't the pOwer-nor the will,
| perhaps. Yes, he did speak to me; he did
tell me he loved me And | listened to
HIM"
She lifted her head up with sudden, proud
little gesture, and looked her questioner fairly