The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-06-05
SELECTED STORY.
"He Stops to Conquer"
by Mary Cecil Hay, Author of sold Myd-
delton's Money! &c.
CHAPTER I.

OppTeSSeS MIN none Ll6 less neaVlly anu ulod-
greeably for all that.
You seem slower than usual, Foster. DO
the contractions puzzle you?"
Very much they puzzle me tonight, olr !;
but shall manage them in time"
The face the young man bends above Inc
written page is face which any one mlSnt
like to look upon, yet Sir Victor turns ms
ewes from it hurriedly, and walks down the
room.
This young Secretary of his has become
strangely useful 10 hm-almost necessary, as
it seems-and yet he feels it would have
been better for him to be alone here, now
that his daughter is coming home-his only
daughter and heiress. Doubly this thought
Expresses him when he remembers how, IN
another year, she is to be the mistress!of the
splendid home which had been his fathers,
and which would have been his hut for the
birth of this nephew, who is soon to be his
darling's husband. True, it was he himself
who won the baronetcy in that long time Oh
war through which his head and hand mad
done so much in England's service; but his
elder brcther's son must inherit it from him,
lust as he inherited from his father the grand
old abbey which even yet Sir Victor likes to
speak of as home. The quiet, handsome face
of the young man has not again been raised
from his copying, when carriage rolls past
the unshuttered window; and when 1t stops
a girl springs from it, in the silvery moon
light, and laughs out her joy at being home,
with such bright music as the old house has
not echoed since this girl left it, eight years
before.
"My first glimpse was the brightest and
best Of ala papa" she says, as she enters tne
library with her hands clasped round her
fatker's arm. 81 saw the dear old room
through the uncurtaineG window-as, OF
course. YOU meant me to do. l saw every
thing look exactly as it has looked in my
dreams. / saw you at the window watching
for me, and l fancied-"
"Clare, this is my secretary. Mr.. Foster.
Foster, Miss Luhorne."
The Young man bows, but Sir Victor's
daughter offers him her hand with certain
grave and simple courtesy which is natural
TO her. and in no part the result of her for
eign education. She has detected from her
fathers introduction that this gentleman is
dependant in the house, and as such Clare
Luhorne recognizes instinctlVely the claim
be has upon her courtesy.
This evening at the Roveres is one to be
remembered through whole life. For the
father, because he has his daughter back with
him once more; for the child, because she is
home again. And for Allan Foster too, al
though, as soon as his absence is allowable,
he leaves the father and daughter together
work. He has scarcely glanced at Glare
through the lingering dinner; has scarcely
once addressed her; and now she watches
his receding figure with her brows drawn a
little.
SIS he copying your MS, papa-the great
book on the war? Sometimes, do you know,
have been vain enough to fancy you might
give me that task. Father dear, can he be-
stow as much care upon it as would have
done?'
She is sitting close beside him, and he
bends to kiss her with infinite tenderness.
"Neyer mind him, pet. He will only be
here until. his task is finished. He can re-
ceiye only courtesy and attention in this
house and beyond that he looks for nothing
but quiet"
Glare wonders little at her fathers quick,
decided words wonders whether he fears, or
fances, that her coming will hinder this work
on which for years his heart has been set.
81 wish you could have done the copying
for me, DEAR" he adds, with change OF tone
that is almost pathetic in its earnestness.
SIT would have spared me doubt and harass
but it would have taken me year at least to
teach you to read my short hand"
Sand can Mr. Foster do it without any
teaching at alp"
"Of course not, of course not" the baronet
answers almost sharply; ''but men are quick
er at that sort of thing than women are"
"And more patient, papa?'
He glanced at her with swift scrutiny.
Has she guessed already at Fosters patience,
or his skill? And then she goes and he PAGES
TO and fro, muttering to himself in his Vexa-
ton:
.sWhy has he made himself so necessary to
me that dread the thought of losing him
If he were gone 1t would be safer, safer far.
A Young romantic girl, with all her mothers
proud indifference to wealth. and her fathers
admiration of intellect. But she is good
child" adds Sir Victor soothingly TO himself
as he re-enters the library, where the young
secretary sits engrossed in his copying, "a
good, obedient child, and Victor will be over
soon. Besides that, she knows full well
what is due from daughter OF mine and the
future Lady Luhorne."
'Foster," he says aloud, as takes his own
chair at the fire, '.just write letter for me,
will you, to Victor Luhorne, ESQ.,, Chine
Abbey, Cheshire? Say believe this to be
the time he fixed for his return to England,
and therefore we are expecting him on his
promised visit here. Say nay daughter has
returned from Italy, and l think it high time
the cousins renewed the intercourse which
has for so long been personally suspended,
"Is that all, Sir? 1 have written it."
The baronet's eyes are upon the fire still,
but his voice catches a little OF the pleasant
brightness of the voice which questions him.
fsThat is all. Mr.. Luhorne will understand
the rest, He will need no Fastening when
he hears that my daughter has returned. But
he may not be in England yet, SO write on
the outside, Not to be forwarded There is
no occasion for the letter to be sent from
England, but fancy he will be home now.
I hope so. For the last two eyears he has
been in Africa, exploring-a wild chimera
Al l,,k l. 1ao nd Ibis
and energy, he may as well indulge his hobby
while he is Free"
No question yet.
''But why should he question me" the
baronet argues with himself. ''What is it all
to him, that he should afford me opportunity
of telling him our private affairsP Still they
had better be told"
"You have grown to be so thoroughly a
part of my household, Foster" he continues
looking kindly, il keenly, into the young
mans face, "that l may tell you what is yet
only known Ito ourselves. For many years
there has been an engagement between my
nephew-a young man still, though now the
head of our house-and my daughter, and it
is to be ratified as soon as she is eighteen,
when, according to the terms of my will, she
comes of age. By this uniop, you see, the
Id estate, which has belonged to our family
for five hundred years, will revert, as it were,
to my branch, without departing from Its
lawful inheritor, and my daughter will share
the title of which / am so proud"
No answer. Foster is leisurey sealing his
letter, gazing indiferently down upon the
Luhorne arms emblazoned in vermillion on
the envelope.
'Foster, when may promise my manu-
scriptP Can it be completed by-at any rate
the end of May?"
"Hardy, Sir Victor. cannot promise any
greater progress than l am making now, as l
devote all my time to it, 1t would be safer
for you to say the end of June.
''Very well. OF course l shall be glad when
it is finished, though shall miss you from
your post then"
The baronet says this with an effort, per-
haps because he is trying to think the wish
matter of duty, perhaps because he is trying
to think the matter of duty his wish.
"What do you think to do after you leave
the Roveries ?"
81 intend to try for similar employment
elsewhere, Sir Victor; but l do not need to
think of it until the time comes"
Remember always, FOSTER says the bar
onet. meeting almost wistfully the grave,
handsome eyes which he has grown so
strangely fond of meeting in his solitary
rooms, shat whatever writing have which
you can do for me, shall like you to do, es-
pecially when-when my daughter has, lett
me again in solitude"
The young man thanked him with quiet