The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-11-17

want you to marry her Il give you TINS
last chance. Remember. shall pay no
more of your spendthrift bills"
g! shall be very happy, my dear
uncle"
Meanwhile, Birdie, though it was past
midnight, sat in her chamber, looking
out into the moon-lighted garden. 1t
had been year since she had been out.
side those garden walls. How tired she
had grown of its wearisome walks and
monotonous stiffness, only the bright
young thing knew. Her dimpled cheek
looked pale in the moonlight; her chin
rested in her little hand.
"But If l could only see him once
more, I would come back here and stay
a year contented. would, indeed! He
loves me; he is tender, gentle. kind. 1
only live, I think when am with him.
When I am not, seem to be dying by
inches day by day. Do people never die
for love, when they are young and
healthy as I am, wonder? No, 1 think
not" sadly says pretty little Birdie.
And then she turned her mind in
tently upon other things. Birdie could
not sleep that first night of Rolfe Rath-
burns coming.
He could not sleep very we himself,
when he first sought his chamber. Here
was an unexampled piece of good for
tune. Birdie was SO beautiful and be.
witching. He would marry her, pay
tho1e tormenting debts, set up city
house and enjoy life. He would show
Birdie to the men of his set-so fresh, so
pretty and charming. Wouldn't they
grow green with envy? He laughed in
the darkness with thinking of it.
Fresh and sweet as half-blown rose
bud Birdie certainly was, but Mr.. Rath-
burne. to his surprise, found her also a
little thorny.
No. she didn't care to walk in the gar
den and she did dislike cigar-smoke, and
she wouldn't trouble him to carry her
parasol or fan her.
But wouldn't she show him her gold
fish and perch?
They were in the pond Birdie said and
the maid would give him some crumbs
to call them up.
Mr.. Rathburne retired, discounted.
"Birdie," said the Honorable Christie
pher, the next day, don't you like my
nephew
mot particularly" answered Birdie,
with rare courage.
"Highty tightly! Such airs are not be-
coming to you, miss. have invited my
nephew here to pay court to you. l re-
quire you to treat him civily. You will
do so of course. You are not Of age, re-
member"
81 shall be in two months" replied
Birdie quietly, who seemed to have
stitched her eyelids down" to her sew
ing.
The Honorable Christopher was
amazed. Was it possible the girl was nc
longer afraid of him? 1t could not be-
Where had she found courage? No in
Ause ueeu-orodg ht; To uear oh nef. He
took no notice of her last remark, but
passed from the room.
But days and weeks passed and though
Birdie would sometimes converse with
Role Rathburne, would sometimes let
him attend her in feeding her birds in
| the aviary and her fish in the fount.
ain, he ever felt the little beauty's dis.
dain.
In vain he oiled his hair and concealed
his tobacco. Brides lovely eyes looked
him over from head to foot coldly. Some.
times, when she was very weary of idle
ness and dullness, she would consent to
play a game or two of chess with him,
and she allowed him to teach her to ride
horseback-by the Honorable Christie
piers directions. taking the most Sc
| questered roads, and attended also by a
favorite servant, fellow with rat like
black eyes, who riding after, watched
her like ferret. But Birdie did not try
to run away, and nobody communicated
with her.
'These rides-1 suppose they are safe
enough" said the Honorable Christie
pher to his nephew. but feel obliged
to be little careful. Mordaunt is a
determined fellow. When he finds that
be has been deceived and comes back
from France, there is sure to be trouble.
But hope you will have safely
married Birdie by that time. Let
me see-he will ransack the converts in
the shortest possible time, and you I'M
derstand, refused to give him the name
Of the school-and will probably be back
here fierce as q lion, this fall. Birdie
seemed to droop this summer. She
needs these horseback rides; no doubt;
otherwise should not allow her outside
the garden walls. No outside communi-
cation with her has been possible for six
months"
"You have full control of her money,
suppose?'