The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-13

hand side facing the lake as the place OF meet
inT l;oth letters were deposited by George
FITZGERALD with the OOotmaker and mi inner
above mentioned, from whom George cndcaY'
nred 10 extract much information regarding
his correspondents, But they hal none 10
owe. Crispi4 could only say that Ariadhc
note had been left by a small boy, who sara
he had received Il shilling from lady TO take
if TO that address and say that she would schu
acoln in the course of Il few days for reply
The milIncrs explanation was that com
missarc brought the letter of Adonis from
military club, but that he did not see the
gentleman who sent II, IA 1t had been denver
Cd to him by the club porter.
Funny, his thought George. They are
determined 10 keep the affair dark but We WI!
let the light on it presently. Patience III
Friday, patience"
The milliuer was, on her part, very curious
to learn all she could from Fitzgerald about
what was going on, but did not obtain very
much satisfaction from that gay young olhceT
Il am sure, Captain Fitzgerald SAID She
it's not marriage in joke but marriage IN
earnest we've been looking for between you
and Miss Nina, the handsomest sweetest,
charmlugcst young lady in all Dublin at TINS
mnHit.
Although the millincr called herself Mad
ame,' she spoke no French or English, but, IN
fact, Irish
You compliment us BOTH madame said
George
Whist now, Captain and be aisy, wild ye'
Shurc they all say that Miss Nina will have a
iligant fortune from Mrs. Villiers.'
i am not that lady's lawyer, SO cannot say
God.by madame and gayly resisting ner en-.
treaties to stay an chat Fitzgerald made MS
escape into the street and, hailing a cab, drove
of to the barracks IN rather a moody dispo'
Siton that day.
On this peculiar Friday there happened to
be a review Of troops in PhcniX Park, close
by, that proved more attractive 10 the IdIers
than wild beasts, and the gardens were, COM
parativcly speaking, empty when George and
Nina Fitzgerald entered them. The cousins
rode to the gate and left their horses in
charge of some ragged hangcrs-on OF cqlcS-
trians then they walked down to the bears
den, Nina little nervous, but full Of cNpec-
tatiOn Of the scene she was to witness. George
looked at his watch and found that it wanted
ten minutes of The time, which he employed
IN selecting u secure position for himself ana
cousin behind some dense laureSlanS close TO
the den. lie could not have found better
place for his purpose, for it commanded the
bench, which was not out of earShot, and yet
1t was ut the same time so concealed in toll
lage that no one would have suspected the
eaveSdropper or thought of looking for one
there. Three o clock passed, and five min.
utcs more in this state OF agony OF suspense,
and George was thinking of gong home when
Il step was heard coming down the winding
walk, the step Of a man, and the cousins peer.
ed anXiously out Of the bushes.
HalloOl Why, heres the governor" said
George, almost aloud, in the excess Of his
surprise. What on earth can the old boy be
doing down here
Uncle" exclaimed Nina at the same time
disappointed. 1T is very awkward he will
certainly drive our friends away; besides, il
he was To discover Us here" and she blushed
at the notion.
10y Jovc, that would never do observed
George, in no little alarm.
Meanwhile Nh. Fitzgerald, senior, >trOled
iauntily down the path, twirIing cane will
one nicely gloycd hand and arranging his wig
with the other He was dressed as usual
with great care, and was so padded and
squeezed by hi, tailor and valet that ut DIS
lance he might have well passed for man OF
fiveand.twcny. 1t was only when one de
teCed the brown wig and false teeth. and The
wrinkles so carefully disguised on his old
vsagc that speculation As to his age became
impossible. Somewhat 10 the relief OF his
son and niecc-DcrdVS in the bushcs-hc
passed the bench without even SianCing at il
and walked 10 'he bears cage, where he was
salutcd with rumbllng grow that seemed
to come from the depths of lis occupants
stomach. The two cJu-ius were 50 intent on
watching MS movements that they never no
tiCCd a rev arrival upon the scene; but at
length Nina, happening to look around
could scarcely suppress scream on seeing
her aunt seated on the bench.
George! George, aunt, aunt" was all she
could utter under her breath, and it Is al
most needless to say that if George was agi
tatcd by the presence OF his father, he wa,
now ten times more so by the near proximity
Of lady 10 whom it would be impossible &c
explain the anomalous situation in which he
found himself. 1t was in vain that the two
cousins cudgclcd their brains to account tol
the presence of Mrs Ni)lers in such Il spot
That Mrs. Nillicrs should choose t. comC
and walk all alone in the Geological Gardens
in blue silk dress and bonnet adorned
with rVSe-budS, was Il circumstance of aston
ishmCnt that Nina halt forgot her fright it
admiration Of her auul'S toilet. Not so ouI
gallant young iIusslr. That officer tried t,
make himselfaS small rs possible by knecl
ing on lllc n0Tu CIOuH IN lAC SnruDDtfN, uut
IN this attempt he made such "A a rustic tina
his father threw "A stone AT him, supposing
no doubt that lie was a goose, or some of tn
watertowlS that had strayed off the lake
The stone ratified among the branches within
II foot of young Georges head and he Wa
expecting another when happily his paren
observed the lady on the bench and approach
ell her with much caution. The old bea
was a wag IN his way, and perhaps though
to surprise Mrs. Niliicrs for he took off nj
/ hat and ran his fingers through his wig, the
placed The hat hchlnd his back and stole t
ward her upon tipioc So carefully as Eardl
To crush daisy in his stcalthy approach.
lie is going TO blindfoid her with h
hands whispered Nina.
And kiss her ii she can't tell who he i:
. answered George in the same tone.
:, And apparently, if this was his design, Il
old beau must be SucceSSSul, for the lady 4
the bench never moved, but sat with her fax
l TO the lake and her back to the den reading
! book under the shade of her parasol. 81
g seemed quite unconscious ofanythinC gUir