The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1869-01-26

had a headache; the last day she neither
appeared at dinner, nor vet in tue eve
ming. Brian, who had made up hi, mind
To speak out, WAS down an hour before
any one else, next morning, but Kate only
showed herself when breakfast Was hall
over. So, as time waits for no one, he
had TO take his departure minus the
hoped for intervie, and there was nothing
for il but to trust bis fate TO the post. So
after reaching London he wrote . manly,
straightforward letter, telling Kate the
truth, and asking her TO be his wife.
in two days the reply came. aud Brian's
fate was sealed.
81 am deeply grieved," wrote Kate |;
"more deeply than can possibly tell
you Thought you knew l was engaged
to General Alaberly. John should have
told you, and 1 cannot understand how
il was you never heard the fact is so uni
versally known amongst my friends, that
/ never doubted you knew, and that will,
/ hope. enable you to forgive me in my
conduct has helped to pain you. showed
your letter to the General, and he bids
Inc say that he feels as / do, very, very
sorry, and that as your fathers friend,
you must look upon him as true friend"
Over and over again, Brian read this
letter, quietly enough, too; but with the
quiet that comes Of despair. He saw 1t
all and there was not q shadow Of re
proach or blame in his heart against
Kate; but the light seemed to go out OF
his life, and for three weeks Brian tried
the old trick of driving away his misery
by life of riot. At the end Of three
weeks, nature gave way, and he was raw
ing with brain fever, Dissipation did
not suit him, and, luckily, the stop came
before he was utterly lost.
"You must leave London" said the
doctor, "quiet Is necessary-try sea
voyage"
81 must see her first" thought Brian.
" and then / don't care where l 60;
shall see what want to know in her face
So soon as he could move about, Brian
took the morning express, and hiring a
-gig at Fast Fross Station drove over to
The Cedars." Mr.. Mellish was on, I;
the mistress was with the baby, but
would be down directly" So Brian went
into the morning room to wait, snd,pres
emily, coming from the garden, he saw
Kate. She walked up to the house rather
slowly and, hidden as he was behind the
curtain, Brian could see without being
seen, and his heart grew sick, even while
a wild triumph seemed to Oil his being ;
for he saw what he had hoped, even while
he dreaded, in Hates face. She stopped
opposite the window, and looked at the
dog cart, as if uncertain to whom it be
longed, or whether to go on; then sud
denlp a flush came over her, and she
turned quickly down the avenue Brian
had come out OF his hiding place, and
leant against the window; he was dcs-
perate just then.
When Kate WAS out of sight, came the
remembrance Of where he was, and the
certainty that if he stayed he would have
to face Mrs Mellish If the thought of
this interview had seemed difficult when
he first sat down in the room. it became
still more hard after seeing Kate, aud at
las grew so intolerant that Brian turned
and bolted, and the dog cart was half
way to the station before Mrs. Mellish,
who had waited for the nurse to come up
from her dinner, deposited the baby in
that functionary's arms, and having seen
that her HAIR was straight, descending to
speak with Brian, found the bird had
flown.
what could he mean2" she said af-
forwards, to Kate. And Kate, looking
very pale, answered:
He wanted to see John, perhaps /;
won't John go up and see him y
And John, who was one of the most
goed-natured men in the world, went up
to town next day, taking Mrs. Mellish
with him, and they, having done some
shopping, proceeded to Brian's chambers,
where they heard the fat pronounced BY
the doctor, and learned that Brian, hay
ing tired of reading law, meant to try a
settlers life in Australia.
you'll come back to us some day, old
fellow Y was the squire's farewell.
"Aye; in ten years I'll spend Christ.
mas Day with you"
"Well, that's bargain; in ten years
we'll lay knife and fork for you"
Brian laughed bitterly, repeating, Z" In
ten years" and Mrs. Mellish coming up
to him, put her hands upon his shoulders
and kissed him, whispering /" her bless
ing to Brian; you are a noble fellow"
She followed her husband down stairs
and taking cab, they drove to Eustou
Square. ft,
Kate was sitting by the library FIRE
when they reached home, and very wist.
fully the girl looked at her elder sister,
who said, as she took of her shawl
ave have seen Brian, Kitty; he is much
better, and has been ordered sea voy.
age; so he is going to try how Australian
air will suit him. He has promised to
spend Christmas with us ten years hence.
How did baby get on without me?' .'a
Spring came but the General was no.
well, and the marriage was put off until
Christmas but when autumn came. the
old man was PROSTATE lie fingered on
nearly two years, Kate nursing him; and
to her be left iiisproperty. Once or twice
during his illness he had asked for news
of Brian, and by his request, the squire
had written to relations and friends but
no tidings could be obtained
" He might have had the grace to write,
said John, when he told the General the
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