, 1874-07-12

1
quite unconscious Of his presence, and when he
spoke she started.
=. ~ =, bee pardon" he stanan,ered II hope1
did not disturb you :"
He drew his chair near to her side. anu tf'ed
to take her hand; but, remembering VINO mad
held it last. sho drew it away with sucn gesture
that he alipped bis chair back again. ~.
.haTe written to Mclyor about the-fhe
diamonds, he ventured to SAY.
"OL, dear!" she exclaimed, before she had
time to check herself II hope not"
He looked quite confounded. "fou-hope-
not! Why, my dear Miss Isobe!, Lady Drumlie
| suggested that should writa."
Can you do nothing without consulting Lady
Drumlie?" she said, .pe.u!:atly. 1T really
It mas vary awkward to be snapped up in this
manner. even by beautiful young, wonan;
this morning, but snap him up. He stinened,
interrupted him.
had better let the matter rest, and ieave every
thing to Lady Urun1e ut once"
She looked 80 lovely and stately and indiHer-
ent that she bewildered and bafled him CON-
pletely.
"How could be angry with you?" he re-
Somehow seem alwavs to say the wrong
| things; and cao't help thinking sometimes
that-that you are not as fond OF mo as am OF
you, ana having got mus 1ar, he rose lo ', tahe
her hand, and made as If he would have kissed
her cheek.
The red color, like flame blazed out on her
| face. She freed herself from his grasp, and
| stood erect in an instant.
'rou srUsr NOT DO THAT, INDEED"
she protested, almost aueri1y "You-you for
| get yourself, Mr.. Strathspey."
"f5ut." faltered her beirothed, "you hava
promised to be nv wife. YOU kniov: and you
have never allowed mo to kisa YOU vet. l
! thought that when -"
s.OhI" said Bell. in terror aud desperation,
"Plcase do sit down again. Here is Lady Drum
| lie."
| Lady DrumIe came in marsha1ed by An
| drew. All her servants feared hor. Taking q
| look ct the lovers, she perhaps guessed, with
her usual scetch shsewdnsss that =. VAS not
| aud awkward !; Bell stood With the air OF sur
nrised culprit. It was all yerv well to pretend
10 appear at wondcous ease, but there was an
angry look on both their faces.
had taken his leave. 1t vas not her way to let
outsiders into the secret OF her omiable homo
rule Bell was about to make her escape from
the room, but was called back
| "Come here" said my lady, in a significant
tone. II have something to say to yoa.'
it was to bo beauty, aud despot in court Of
! humble admirers. aiu then to be obliged to
kneoI meekIy for het daily scourgiugs il pri-
vate
| "Clanda1re1 has been here" said her lady
ship. when her victim stood before her.
| 'tYes, grandmam1na" replied Bell, derrecat-
| incIy; and most heartily despisin. herself in
secret for her conardice
Long ago ono Of the children at Drunal;e Axis
poor Little Helen, who was the youngcst-llad
| privately compared Lady Drumlie to the dread
| ful Eoif-grantmother in the story Of Rcd
| Riding Hood !" and Bell had never forgotten the
smile. Those white, false teeth Of my ladys,
and her strong-featurcd Scotch face, her ami
comfortably suggestive AZ ali times. but they
we're specially suggestive to Bell this morning.
Reunited 10 break forth with pathetic terror t1lto
| tho old childish cry, "Wl,at great, large teeth
YOU lave. grandmarnma," aud to Listen for the
answer, IAN the better to cat yon up With, ny
dear" Bell knew, By experience, that abe was
on THE POINT or BEING EATEN rP
"Ho was not hero very long, grandmamma, ~
| ehe faltcred,
| .Oht" said her ladvship pretending to Joke,
ESQ! He was not here very long, Was he! Uo,o
long, pray? Long enough to make little love
and few sweet little speeches? I should like
| to have heard them. Nice boy, that CLAN
darrell"
ssListon to me. Young lady, !" vent on her1ady-
ship. 1.-THE next time Clandar1el presumes to
come here will see hun. Not yoa. Ncrer you
| nrain And think thot will be the last hour he
ever darkous nv doors. You rccollcct Col"
Miss Lurkie. sitting in the little private room
sho enioyed posseesion Of as the family compan-
ion and Ion.ckeeuer, was reused from her rorerie
| over her knitting by the entrance Of her young
! mistress. Bell shnt the ooof and returned 10
her footstoo1 in tears and tr!bulat!on.
I "Oh, Mics I11rkie!' she said; 'p!easo let ne
stay NTH you for while and be quiet don't
| oh. don't know what to dol"
Eli, Miss Dell my bairn?' cried tho friendly
old creature. ''le must ma gle way, ,dess. Dinna
greet"
But Bell E:s driven to desperation: She was
f1in to ''grect" for few minutes, IN spite OF
her pr1llo-
"fou do not know wt.t hare to bear, Mics
Lurkie, she said pi:eoaeiy: lyon and poor
mamma are the only friends have in the world
Aud tnen, ttinkin. Of llereuard and his soot-
by, she flung her stately reserve to tho winds
and vept openly.
Between tho future Earl OF Dunblane aad her
grandmother, 1sobel Lowthcr lod pleasant life
during tho next few weeks. His visits becamo
more frequent; and under the sharp eye Of Lady
Drumlie she dared not rebel. Civil she vas at
least compelled to be, and he became 80 loTcT-
like that she Tas Goaded to secret frenzy. Added
to this wns the pleasure Of Watching the prepare
tons for. the marriage Lady Drunllie would
allow OF no delay, and certainly tho bridegroom
was eager enough. The two held confidential
In N.Y.