The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-21
MISS M0NKT0N'S MAR.
RIAGE.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "a FRENCH HEIREss
IN HER OWN CHATEAU"
CHAPTER III -(CoNIINUED.)


good-nature, could not bring herself to
rejoice in Captain Crosby's coming. Con-
sidering Letitia's excitablity, and the
fancy she had already taken to the young
officer, she had thought it serious risk.
She debated with herself whether she
ought to have warned Sir George of this
before the messenger started, but Sir
George had said so, firmly that it was a
matter of necessity, and whatever non
sense Lelitia might talk, there can be no
doubt of the real dignity and honorable
ness of her nature. Still she was very
hcadstrong girl, as no one knew better
than Florinda.
Mis- Mohkton was little vexed by
her cousins want of sympathy. She took
off all her finery and wrapped herself up
in scarlet cloak and hood, looking like
winter in its prettiest form. Then she
went out and walked about the garden,
disdaining to walk in the paths that had
been swept fors her, and wandering away
into the strawberries. There she walked
under the trees, which now and then
played at snow-balling, dropping soft
white Jumps from their heavy-laden
twigs upon her coax.
1t was pleasant afternoon, not very
cold. All the clouds had cleared away,
and the yellow sun, hanging low in the
southwest, shone softly in pale blue
sky. The shrubbcry, along which Lett
tia was walking, bordered the road for a
long distance; this was to her left. To
her right, beyond the belt of trees and
bushes, little river moved slowly, black
by contrast with its glittering white
bunks, and TIE great field that Stretched
away in fr5nt of the house and garden.
At the farthest end of the shrubbery,
which she presently reached, a light
wooden bridge crossed the river leading
into the field, and some rather crazy
wooden palings and shallow back-water
partly frozen over, divided her from the
road Letitia stood still moment look
ing about her, and was rather startled in
that quiet place by hearing voices on the
road little way of,
In those terrible times of distress the
roads to London were full of tramps and
beggars of every kind, and Letilia was
never allowed to walk out by herself be-
yond the grounds. Even here in the
shrubbery any determined beggar might
reach her very easily, and she wa, long
way from the house. But that certainly
was not the voice of beggar. Letitia
stepped from the path, and made her
way through the snowy bushes till she
could see the road. A post-chaise WIS
stopping. g.there, with piir of tired-look-
ing hor es, The driver was busy exam
lining them, and the passenger was stand
ing by him on the snowy road, and a
good deal interested in what was going
on.
"Have you never been on this road be-
fore, thenF' Letitia heard him say in a
clear, pleasant, impatient voice.
The driver grumbled something in an
swer.
What fool you were, then, not to
ask the way in that last village we passed
through! We may have mics further to
go, and the horse is dead lame. Your
looking at his feet will do no good. /
see house through the trees up there. |
sha ! 90 on and ask the way"
He acted SO Instantly on this determin-
alton, that before L"titia had quite re-
tired into the shrubbery he had caught a
glimpse of her red cloak. He came
close to the waters edge and stopped.
Some instinct made her stop too.
"Wiil you do me great favor" he
said, in so courteous and agreeable a
voice that Letitia came quite frankly
forward to the palings,. and made him a
polite bow. Seeing this little picture of
lady smiling in her scarlet hood among
the SHOW, he took off his hat with almost
the air of Frencbman, and looked at
her for an instant in silence.
Letitia afterwards remembered an un-
pleasant thought that came over her just
then.
80 dear! 1 hoped Crosby might be
something like this, and there certainly
can't be two Of them"
The hero OF the post, chaise was tall
young man, with decided and handsome
features, a charming smile, and black
hair curling close y. There was some
thing slightly foreign about him, a lively
eagerness Of manner. which showed itself
in the first moment Of acquaintance. In
his talk, too, there was a little accent of
some kind; Letitia hardly knew what.
Her Imagination had no time to work /;
the stranger revealed himself too soon.
81 shall be happy to do anything l
can" said Letitia, sweetly. 'i
"A Thousand thanks Gan you tell
me how far / am from Sir George
Monkton'
go, what funt Is it possible!" thought
Letitia, opening her eyes. She smiled
and answered.
"You are there already. The house is
at the end of this shrubbery; you see il
through the trees" .<fr
n had no idea l WIS SO fortunate. Is
it possible, then, that have The honor of
speaking to Miss MonktonF '.l
Letitia graciously smiled her assent.
"Allow me to introduce myself. You
may have heard my Nance Crosby"
20 yes. Papa often talks of yeu."
"Does he, indeedl May / send the
chaise on to the house3 shall be with
You directly"