The Portland daily press., 1874-08-01
(From the London Society,"
TOttie Wylde's Device.
CHAPTER l.

digging holes with her parasol in the soft
sward OF the down overlooking sea-surf, on
the southern coast Her younger brothers
had wandered away to roll boulders down
into the level below, and her usin, Edwin
Keller, pinned for her to say she loved and
would marry him.
sit isn't rubbish. Tot" he replied warmly:
''You know you like me, and yet you drive
me mad with your childish ways. Can't
you"
mo can't, sir, and + won't-I won't tie
myself to any man. l am going to be an
old maid, and travel about the country
featuring on women's rights, with that dear
Miss Faithful
He chewed the end OF his cigar with vex-
alton as she chaffed him: ''Pll not ask you
again, Tot; you must deliberately mean to
make me miserable, or you wouldn't go ON
like that"
''Oh. yes, you will-you know you will
won't you. Eddle?' She laughed all over as,
certain of her prey, she teased and petted
him, and put tiny hand in his, while
making little mOae.
II won't, tell you. Pm not going to
be made tool of all my life, by Jove! I'll
go back to town tomorrow, and grind away
at law"
''Oh, Eddie, Eddie and leave your own
Tottie lamenting?' Again she laughed out
right, aud looked bewitchingly, while the
sweet south wind tossed her brown locks
wilGly. He got up in rage, flung his
cigar away, and turned as if to go down
home. Tottie relented, but she could not
help irritating him a little more: eddie,
Eddiep' she called, ''don't leave me; now
come back here, there's good boy! and
I'll tell you what I'll dol really w''
She pleaded, as brilliant idea flashed across
her brain, and he could not help turning
round to listen to the winning tones: "I'll
marty you, die-there-if-if-but will you
promise me you'll agree to what say?''
She acted capitally, did little Tottie Wylde,
and she attracted his attention at once.
He answered.
''Ill agree to anything, if you are in earn
est"
II am in earnest: You promise ?'
''Very well. Now I'll tell you," she said,
jumping up from the grass as her eyes spark
led with fun. "But where aye the BOYS?
Oh, there they are, coming back. Well,
Eddie inow mind, it's a bargan). you are
not to ask me any more If [ win what 1 am
going to tell you; and Pll promise to marry
you whenever you like if you WINS it a
bargain?"
''Yes, 1 promise" he said, entering into
the fun OF the thing, and thinking that it
must end to his advantage, whatever it
was.
"Well, so do on my side. Now, what
mean is, that We shall run foot race for it
down the hill, right to the bottom"
"What bosh, Tottie! Why you'd fall on
your head before you got ten yards, and then
there'd be q nice row at the Royal!' He
laughed at the absurdity Of the idea,
"Would l, indeed, Mr.. Impertinence-
we'll see. You've promised, and mean to
''Y u are really in earnest?''
"Of course l amp she answered, beating
a wee foot determinedly on the ground.
"All right" he laughed out gleefully,
you're mine thenw
'sDou't be SO sure" she smiled a little
slyly. She knew what she could do on her
own rugged Welsh mountains; she knew
also pretty well what used to be her Cousins
capabilities in the same locality, and ex-
perienced little fear for the result. The boys
rolled on the turf in ecstasies OF fun when
they learned the terms of the bargain.
"By Jove, she'll beat you, Edden' said
Jack, who rather locked down On lis cousin
as an atheete.
''That she won't-I bet you half crown
she won't"
Edwin Keller did not quite like it, the
descent was very steep, broken in places
with hollows that could not well be seen
until one was just in them, and it was an
immence dis anse to the level at the bottom,
which rose again before eliminating in the
final cliff that overhung Seasurf. He had
no fear whatever for himself, but he had on
T0ttie's count; she would not, however,
be gainsaid, but kept him to the race AID
began to get ready.
snow, Harry, you shall start rs fairly:
Jack hold this for me, and this;' handing
him her fairy hat and delicate mantle. Then
she tied her hair in a firm knot behind,
shortened her petticoats with one light hand,
and kept the other free to balance herself.
''Oh, nonsense, Tottie! let us give it up
it's SO silly" said Keller.
'tYou're afraid!' she laughed out, flushed
with excitement.
''Pm not! "he retor!ed, Indignantly. placing
himself in position.
"Are you leady?" asked Harry, in high
.gee, while Jack absolutely howled with
delight.
"Resdyv'
"One, two, three-off! he shouted and
away they bounded, the boys keeping a
little behind.
'sRun Tottie! run ruu! they screamed:
and Tottie, brisk ed maiden of seventeen
as she was, hill-born and limb free as fawu,
dld run her best; flying with shortened
clothes down the ragged steep; bounding over
the forze bushes and intervening rocks;
never Sinking, never swaying, save once,
when an ugly hollow yawned before her.
from which she saved herself almost by a
miracle; till she reached the bright green fat
at the bottom, and turned triumphantly to
see where the beaten Edwin was in the race.
She could not see him; she could not see
her brothers even; was i. possible that they
had all fallen in the Heacherous hollow she
had so narrowly escaped? So back up the
steep hill she ran again in strange .ismay
till she gained the brink of the pit, wherein
lay Edwin on his back, his face snow-white
and laced with blood from horrid ragged
cut on the forehead; and by his side her two
brothers, kneeling, as useless as boys always
are IA tne presence OF pain, sickness or trouble.
In second she had gained the bottsm of
the hollow: sob, Eddie, Eddiev' she cried.
kneelDg on the grass in passion of tears.
with the long, brown hair now tumbled i'm
confusion all over her sweet face .'What
have lone? oh, what has happened?
He did not speak, but tho useless boys
said in their ignorance; ooh, nonsense, Tot
tie! he's not hurt-oply shaken bit p
She, girl-like, turned on them furiously:
Hes killed for all you know or care.
Water, get some water-down there at the
bottom, where ramp Jack bounded away,
delighted to escape the fierce look, and soon
returned with hatful, to find Tottie sup
porting Edwin's head against her breast,
while she wiped away, with her dainty
pocket-handkerchief, the clotted blood from
tie wound in the forehead. Then she
spfinkled his face with sharp dashes of the
water, until at length he came to and family |
smhed; You've beaten me, Tot" he feebly !
uttered, as he opened his eyes ard saw whose |
arms arm were supporting him. She smiled |
III.
darling, I'm so sorry" /
; Never mind it, Tot he said. sIm all
right nowV' and in proof Of tha fact he |
turned TO get up. A sharp yell Of pain dis
PEELED the idea ~ the maps left ann Was bro
ken, and poor Totlie's heart was very sad 90
she and Henry helped him down to The
Royal Hotel III Srasuri, where they are All
slaymg-Jack baviDg flown on ahead to have |
surg con in readiness.
'ihe Hon. Mark and Mrs. Wylde, with
Tottie and the two boys, made up in all a
strangely clever family. Proud aud humble
in breath; despisng wealth while they
reveled in it; disliking poverty, and famous
Tor the number OF poor friends they cult
waited; scorning society aud yet enjoying it
with keen zest; utterly uncomfortable Ivy
caste or It's traditions, and at the same time
proai OF their bgh birth :fhey stalked, no.
Pc savages to the hunting grounds Of fashion
he grand Welsh mountansr from whose