The Portland daily press., 1874-08-01
ct must stop this. did not know my

brother could act disgracetully."
She spoke in a passion but very deter
minedly. Eddie, too, was in a passion-tur-
MOL of many conflicting passions, rather
and scarce knew what he said. There was
seaside pony chaise standing for hire at the
end of the lane they had just come down.
''She is my cousin-a mere child-and her
father does not know of this" he muttered
hoarsely. as he made toward it, followed close
ly by Garry.
'fTo ACKNOWLEDGEMENT as YOU can" said
Eddie to the sunburnt boy who squeezed in
between them to drive-thus preventing hap
pily, any further conversation on the note
and away they went
The ruined chapel at Burcombe. a couple
of miles or so from Seasurf, stands pictur-
esquely at the sea-end Of lovely dell, well.
wooded, well-fowered, well-watered by
sparkling trout stream, and very well known
as a trysting spot for lovers with art procliv-
tiles. 1t was called ''chapel," but in reality
the shattered ruins of a good-sized monastery
occupied the lovely spot; and it was not by
any means easy to find any person who
might be wanted, amid the numerous blocks
of decaying buildings that crowded the undu-
lating ground.
$50 they've found us out at last, have
thew" laughed out Sam Halls jolly voice, as
he wiped his heated forehead and sat down
on a stone in an arched recess of the old ruin
close by, where Tottie was making a pre-
tense Of sketchirg. (Her brother Jack had
wandered away, boy-like, down on the
beach,
s'Hush there may be people about; don't
speak so loud" warned the girl as she toyed
with the dainty hat she had just taken off.
can right. But wh"t have they said about
me-anything awtul?'
''Oh, no! Only am forbidden TO see you
any more in private. They found that out
somehow. People do talk so. And 1 should
not have been here to-day, only Jack and
arranged it so long ago. Mamma looked very
odd when l told her l was going, and
shouldn't wonder bit if she followed me,
she seems so queer about IL"
'About what?" he asked, lighting cigar,
and making himself comfortable by unbotton-
ing his waistcoat.
1.Well, about our-sa6surd love-making,'
she calls it.' Tottle fairly burst out laugh
ing, and Sam joined in with q boisterous guf-
faw.
'.But what do you intend for the next
move" he inquired when he had half choked
between tobacco smoke and laughter.
81 don't know, I'm sure. Everything
seems to go wrong and thwart u.s." she re-
piled, meditatively, and gathering gloom
creeping over her fair young face like thun-
u6T-SlOTUl TlSiUS Uu Il April udys w udt
can we do. We can't well run away--e!Ope."
She smiled again, but only little, at the
word.
''Why not? Jove! Just the right thing.
Post-chaise to rpoin.-train-exp if
you like-cross-country route-splendid!-
bring 'em all to their bearings-od Eddie and
all-in no timev' The dragon was quite
carried away with the enthusiasm the idea
evolved in his romantic brain.
Hash-oh, do hush-you-well. dear old
fool there! People may hear you-and-"
''Well, but it would really be our best plan;
wouldn't it now? Jove, it would stir the
jolly old boy up though! But after us like
shot"
'And your sister," put ia Tottie quietly.
She was flushed with the eager conflict going
on in her mind, but she spoke calmly; "what
would she say of it? and, above all, what
would she think of poor me after running
away with her brother?'
.sOh, Car be hanged! she can console her.
self with some old fellow; old Eddie Kei-"
Capt. Samuel Hall never finished that sem
tence; his sister and Edwin burst out on
them from behind the turret.
''She would think you braZen-faced girl,
Miss Wylde, to run away with married
man. as my brother isl So, Garry Hall.
"'Some fellow as you are pleased to call
me, will put stopper on your game, Captain
Hail." cried Edwin in a towering passion, CO.
ing toward Tottie, who had bounded to her
feet at the interruption, and now looked the
picture of dsmay
''Oh, by Jove! here's the ID to pay and
no pitch hot!" groaned out the Captain,
who was thunderstruck at the sudden appear
ance and words of his sister-he did not
notice Keiller-just when he had expressed
lin most uncomplimentary terms) his views
on her future prospects.
''DO you mean to say that your brother
is really married, Miss Hall" asked Eddie.
"Really," she answered, flushing all over
as the bitter memory of sad misalliance
came over her mind.
''You hear that, Totte? The mans a"
'Stop!' shouted Sam Hall, before the
other could utter word. "Miss Wylde be-
came aware 1 was married a week OF two
aflet she first knew me. Did you not?H
81 did," answered Tottie, simply. She
was regaining her calmness now, and her
own darling Eddie had her hand once more
in his with the old warm grasp that sent
thrill through her.
''And knew it, too," said Master Jack,
who had come up during the scene. "Why,
Tottie, and I and Captain Hall were only
serving you out in your own coin, when you
went off on the high stills after your tumble
down-hilr'
'And you never told me your brother was
married, Miss Hall.' said Eddie, in rage
at being deceived in so barefaced a manner.
Garry Hall drew herself up to the full extent
of her stately figure as she answered him
with great dignity mingled with scorn flor
she had well noted of late how his temporary
passion for her was waning); 81 am not in
the habit of gossiping about my brothers
affairs, Mr.. Keiler!' She made him a stately
courtesy, turned ON her heel, and left them
with all the dignity of an injured queen;
three minutes afterward they heard the rat
tie of the pony-chaise, and knew she was
driving into Seasurf.
Then, and on the walk back, and in the
pleasant family rooms at the Royal" in the
presence of Mr.. and Mrs. Wylde, the whole
business came out by degrees. Tottie, in the
simplicity OF her trusting nature, had turned
Sam Hall from a flirting admirer into
friend, by disclosing to him her passion for
her cousin Eddie, while he, on his side, told
of his ma riage, and between them, they con-
cocted plot of sham love-making, to pique
the latter to return to his allegiance-Tottie's
maid and Jack taking an active part in the
performance by silly mentioning before Keller
the various places where the pseudo lovers
were about to meet. Sam, of course, dared
not tell his sister, because she held the secret
OF his welded misery, and he did not wish it
spreau all over Gle place-IOf ne knew ner
temper when aroused-and, as he justly re-
marked, Scar can pick up good fellow any
where-one spoon more or less will be moth
ing to her!'
But wheri Major Ralston, who knew the
Halls well, so unexpectedly turned up, and
informed Mr.. and Mrs. Wylde of all tine Cos
sip he had heard at the Marine Hotel about
their daughter and Captain Hall lat whose
marriage Ralston had actually been presently,
the whole plan fell to the ground, and hence
the meeting at Burcombe Chapel, that even
tuated so differently from what had been
expected.
There is no Tottie Wylde now; but should
you this season visit that vely excellent
hoslelIy, the ''Royal,' at Seasurf, you would
lind plenty of people to tell you OF her de
vice" to win back her cousin lover-'which
her name is Keller now, STRIP as the staid
head chalnbermad said to rs only the other