The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-05-22

| found everything secure nn"c'c,' INV
next morning, and our second moor !ouger
quietly waiting for his breakfast. he to"k !,
at half past seven, leaving home al ciSh', anu
seldom returning until nearly the same hour
in inc evening, when he rarely went out
again, doing this so regularly that John be-
o9n TO leave of justing and terrifying me
about my burglar" and once, happening to
meet him on the doorstep, he asked Mr Ar
lie in to have cigar and a glass Of ale.
Our lodgcr accepted the Invitation, and sat
and talked for over an hour, during which
saw John was trying to learn something about
him but Intellectually. H##
my dear" said, smiling, when We were
alone. II suspect you know now about as
much about our burglars rs do"
Near about the same" he answered mes
as close as the two shells ofa walnut but
know this
THAT he is exceedingly good.looking' l
broke in.
"Goodlooking' Ba! That i all you
women think of" ,
Exactly, or perhaps shouldnthave mar
ried you, John"
That made him laugh, and getting up III
gave me q kiss for my compliment
mo he went on, rceumlng MS sea''
what meant to say was that he has some
thing upon his mind. Though he can't oe
more than twenty-scvcn at the most, he hasn I
n Bit of spirit and talks with all the air Oh a
pre.occupied man, who is ever brooding over
some trouble Perhaps" said john extend
ing his slippered feet to the tre, "he has rob
he'd. or is about to rob, his employers"
John | cried; you horrid monster
How can YOU say such dreadful things? It's
only out OF spite, because my burglar has
turned out the very pattern of dodgers
| stopped, checked by q gentle tap at the
door. 1t was Miss Kathleen Millbrookc Her
uncle was asleep, and she had made an ex'
cuse to come down for a chat, know, poor
child: so, as she was favorlte OF johns l
asked her III.
When she again went up stairs, after pause,
John said
Il say, Meg, suppose Mr.. Airlie and that
Young girl should fall in love-"
Nonsense, John Mr.. Fortescuc would
never hear it,
"Why not?'
because am certain, from what have
caught here and there, that he is much richer
than he lets be seen. SO it is scarcely likely
he would permit his niece, who is his heir
ess. to marry a man who has probably rob
bed his employers"
you have Inc there, Meg, SO We had better
have supper"
What subject Is more prolific Of ideas to
woman than marriagey John had put a
thought into my head, which, though as small
as pin head at first, soon grew to large al,
menslons Whenever / saw Mr.. Airlie,
thought OF Miss Mllbrooke, and whenever
saw her, | thought of him, until, in my mind
at least, they were united And | began to
hope that what JOHN had supposed mtgM
be possible for the more l saw of the two,
the more liked them. They appeared both
in need of happiness, reflected. One might
bring 1t TO the other.
But how could it ever be brought about?
Love at first sight is possible. But love at no
sight at all is assuredly not and, owing to his
early departure and late return, MIR. Airlle
and Miss Millbrooke never met even upon the
stairs.
ASK them both down to tea suggested
John, as we sat in our cosy parlor, at work,
and he doing some writing.
/ "Mr Fortescuc would not let her come" |
said.
ASK Airie alone, then, and make an ex.
cuse to get her down afterward. AT any rate,
it will be a relief to him, seated mopisg up in
| that little room every evening, with not a
friend with whom to exchange word.
That might do" Ipondere9, pressing the
| tip of my needle thoughtfuly on my lips
then gave such a start that pTiCked myself,
| as | exclaimed: GOOD gracious John, what
| Is thatY'
SLOW can | tell, Meg," he answered,
rising quickly at Is Mr.. Fortescuc's voice"
! "He IS quareling' exclaimed in alarm,
as hurried after John TO the door
TIM words which had made me start
were:
"Yon unmitigated scoundTclr
| Opening the door, John was about TO has
| ten out; but, abruptly drawing back, motion,
ed to to silence. Then, mute as mice, We
! listened Remember, We were lodging house
keepers.
The speakers stood on the landing above,
and were Mr For,escUc and Mr. Airllc,
"You unmi,gated scoundrel, You mean
pitiful hound," burst from the old man S
passionate lips You have tracked me, have
you? You are playing spy upon me-
4, CAS- Heaven is my Witness replied the
clear, firm tones OF Mr.. Airlie, 81 never dream
ed you were under this roof; or, as | stand
here, would meyer have placed foot IN IT.
p, you expect me to believe that
you must, seeing that could gain moth
ing by such proximity to you"
p Nothing nothing You sneaSng hound
= Do YOU think um blind = cried the old man
and We heard the stick with which he walked
: strike sharply on the floor, Not gainKathleeu
I. 1 suppose? How do | know you would no
persuade her TO wed you on the sly, and thus
rob ne OF my money! How do know tha
you have MT done So: You arc both capabl,
of the trick
i beware, sir calculated our iodger, hi
: voice all OF a culver Call me what yo
.plcase--all terms are alike TO me, comm
r from such fathers lips-bu,, by Heaven
4 you shall not malign tina, poor, noble cir
y y who has sacrificed herself 10 you When 20
10 drove mc--your ,on-igori your doors, o
= Tered to share my home with her, KNOWN
: the miserable life to which left her, bu, sh
: sacrificed love TO gratitude; and, because yo
q brought her up, poor orphan from her cr'
= die, bowed her gentle head to your cruel vii
i and renamed under your tyrannical rul,
70 You have used hard words TO mc, sir, IN
~ words % her whose memory - dearcr lo II,
NO. than life but have managed {" ,.cup. M
- hands OIL you. Dot take care there al
=. bounds TO every mans forbcaraucc DO n,
=. speak III Of Kathleen"