The Portland daily press., 1874-08-01

little to do with this contempt for COM
mon Saxon custom; and had not Edwin
Keller been constant visitor to the old es
tate III the troubled hills, as well as bona
fide cousin, he would never have come to be
called Eddie, darlingv' by the only daugh-
ter. or hold the place he did in the family as
a sort OF tanned attache, whom Tottie was not
unlikely to take into her head to marry some
fine day.
."'Only Tn sure don't know where you
are to get bread and cheese from, Tottie, if
you do" said Mrs. Wylde, one day Ton her
way TO Seasurf), sitting half-stifled in gor-
geous drawng-room of Brooklyn street
hotel. eve can color photographs, ma,
dear" answered Tottie, laughing merrily at
the folly. Not that she meant to marry Ed
win or any one else; she was very fond of
him-as she was of her brother Jack or Har-
ry-but she had no intention of being wor.
ried with husband at all-that she hadn't,
and told him very plainly, when for the
thousandth time he tried to get her into a
sentimental mood.
The Wyldes with Edwin for their guest),
when they arrived at Seasurf took half the
ground floor at the" Royal, with wide French
windows opening on messy grass, gay flow
ers, with shrAbS and green's of all shades; and
below, the heavenly violet sea, reaching away
unbroken into an eternity of msts that sent,
at times, deep growing echoes of warning
back to murmur ceaselessly on tie wave-worn
beach. A glorious place for love-making, q
glorious time and a glorious prize. Hills, and
sea, and flowers; and warmth with scented
breezcs; and calm and seclusion-opportuni-
ties everywhere and in every respect; but in
spite of all, Edwin Keller made no progress.
Tottie only laughed at him, and he sickened
with despair sometimes; sometimes contem-
plated with norrcr his crushing poverty, as he
almost dreaded lest he should drag that bright
bird down to a level she was unsuited for.
He was but a poor barrister, and taking short
hand notes in special cases for the law Jour-
mails brought him in more than any other
branch of his profession. Not seldom he
raved against himself as culpable, against
Tottie for encouraging him, and against her
parents for throwing them so much together
such is the folly of man.
So Edwin Keller had lost the race, broken
his arm, got cut on the head that would
mark him for life, aud dssipaGed all his
chances Of marrying Totte Wylde, as the re-
suits of one mornings nonsense. For lying
on a couch out in t. c veranda of the "Royai''
one day, when the heavy heat seemed to press
on the air in masses, he resolved that, come
what might, he would adhere to his silly
promise, and never again mention the subject
OF marriage to his cousin. Poor little Tottie
was inconsolabe for the mischief she had in.
nocently caused; she tended and watched
over Edwin with the closest care; she gath
cred flo~ers for him; she read to him nov
els, magazines, dull newspapers, even musty
law reports; she sang to him; she played
chess with him; nay, she even kissed him !;
but not ope word could she extract from the
white, pain compressed lips TO prove that he
had forgiven her silly freak by speaking of the
old subject between them. He kept his prom
Use sternly; she would not speak of it, no, not
for the whole world-still so proud was that
coy maiden; and gradually there came be-
tween them coolness-a sort Of stapd-off ish-
cry, while it rendered the young RI misera-
bic with the bitter misery of selt-baffled affec-
ton.
CHATTER Ii.
'sBy Jove! old Sam Hall, as lvew Ed
win half rose from the great easy-chair in the
verandah-he was convalescent now-as a
tall, brown-faced dragon swung across the
bottom of the fowpr-dotted lawn on the way
up fiom the beach.
'Sam halo, Samr' he called; the dra-
COON paused to look up. With him there
walked fine, stately girl, also dragon, as
you could see by her unmistakable barrack
walk, and that noli me taDgere air that gen.
orally appertains TO the female soldier. The
UlOtutI anu ololCl CttluC SlOWlE dCTUSS lut
grass toward the verandah.
Cant think who the deuce the fellow is
do you know him, Carp"
mo. unless he's young Bartlett, of the
'Crashers' = at Fyzabad, you know, SAM"
mot he---dead long ago---.yellow jack at
Bermuda. Why, it's old Eddie Keillerp'
Misunderstanding, ''dear old boying," ETC.,
etc., ad lbitum. Then introductions; for
these two men had been public school chums
together, therefore of the same caste, and
therefore al liberty to bring their womankind
together. Tottie and Carrie Hall set about
reckoning up'' one another with that mar
velous instantaneous grasp of character in
stinctive with the keener sex. The sum to-
tai in either case was a compromise.
1t was not to be sudden, gushing, death
less friendship; nor yet sharp, mutual dis
like, scarce yelled decently over with Judas
kisses and plenteous ''my dear" and s'my
darlings." They felt at once that their pres
ent position must be dignified one of nom
Intervention, an armed neutrality capable of
transformation. should policy so demand.
The Halls had just come home from India,
and down TO the 'sRoya" at Seasurf to
recruit.
"Like it? oh, it IS so jolly!' answered
Carry az she lay out under the tree shade
with Eddie fortnight or so after her arrival
her brother and the Wildes having gon off
on rough-and tumble picnic some twenty
miles away. Carry Hall would not join
them unwell, she said; and Edwin couldn't
on account of his arm.
Jolly as MOntone, and without the gamb-
ling" he added to her description.
''Without the gambling! Don't YOU ever
play, Mr.. Keiller?''
''Hate it, Besides, have no money; so
couldn't if would"
Just trifing shade passed over her face,
he thought, as he explained his absence OF
wealth. Then she laughed uneasily.
'Some people play without much money
of their own-Sarl does for one-and as for
me, am regular gambler-a professional
one. | gamble with everything. Even
with"
s.You aflec-'' Eddie was insisting. but
she pretended not to hear the interruption,
and went on
My Leck, Sam says, when out pig-stick-
ing"
And have you actually-stuck pigs? LIE
asked, maliciously, half rolling over on his
sound arm to have better look of her face.
ssDont be absurd, Mr.. Keller. l have
been out and ridden hard to see men do it,
though-.here, don't say it's unladyIike, for
it isn't; besides, your Tot-Miss Wylde, 1
mean-would do the same If she had the
chance"
HOW 90 you knoW? he asked curiOuSiy.
wreathing his cigar-smoke in circles from his
nostrils.
''Oh l know she would" was the incouse-
quent answer. Carry Hall was rapidly pluck
ing daisy-heads and aiming them at the very
elegant bottine that peeped out at the f ,ot of
her dress. II know she would; she is Just
what Sam calls little devil (don't you be
shocked Pm soldier, you know at any
thingp
Eddie Keller was not shocked at all; in
tact he rather liked straightforward bit of
slang in regular girl of the world-more
particularly when she happened to be a re-
markably handsome one, with brains and
reserve power of being lady-like to extreme
when she choose.
''Fancy poor Tot a little devilr' he mur-
INJURED softly and halt TO himself
Carry Hall blushed up bright passion
Color
you know I didn't mean anything of the
Sort" she deprecated; besides, if did, it's
not likely / should have said it, knowing
how fond Mr.. Keller is of her. though she
did break his arm.''
''But she didn't. Miss Ha.l!' retorted the
other warmly, for he had not entirely forgot
ten the old love, though, indeed, he choose to
regard it now as mere brothery and sisterly