The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-11-15

They were in the pond, Birdie said,
and the maid would give him some
crumbs to call them up.
Mr.. Rathbourne retired, discounted.
"Birdie," said the Honorable Christie
pher, the next day, "don't you like my
nephew W
mot particularly" answers Miss
Birdie, with rare courage.
The Honorable Christopher stared.
"Hoighty-toighty! Such airs are not
becoming to you, miss! I have invited
my nephew here to pay court to you
/ require you to treat him civilly. You
will do 80, Of course. You are not OF
age, remember"
81 will be in two months" replied
Birdie, quietly, who 5eemed to have
"stitched her eyelids down to her sew
ing"
The Honorable Christopher was
amazed. Was it possible the girl was
no longer afraid of himp 1t could not
be. Where had she found coursge2-
No influence averse to his own could
possibly have been brought to bear up.
on her. He took no notice of her last
remark, but passed grandly from the
room
But days and weeks passed, and
though Birdie would sometimes con-
verse with Rolfe Rathburne, would
sometimes let him attend her in feeding
her birds in the avlary and her fish in
the fountain, he ever felt the little beau
tvs disdain.
In vain he oiled his hair and conceal
ed his tobacco. BRIDES lovely eyes
looked him over from head to foot cold
ly Sometimes, when she was very
weary of idlepess and dullness, she
would consent to play game or two
of chess with him, and she allowed him
to teach her to ride horseback-by the
Honorable Cbristopher's directions, TAX
ing the most sequestred road and atten-
ded also by his fsvorite servant, fellow
with rat-lke black eyes, who, riding af-
ter, watched her like ferret. But Bir-
die did not try to run away, and nobody
communicated with her.
"These rides-I suppose they are sad
enough" said the Honorable Christo-
pher to his nephew; shut I feel obliged
to be a little careful. Mordaunt is q
determined fellow. When he finds that
he has been deceived, and comes back
from France there is sure to be trouble.
But l hope you will have safely married
Birdie bv that time. Let me see-he
will ransack the converts in the short
est possible time. and you understand,
I.refused to give him the name of the
school-and will probably be back here,
fierce as lion, this fall Birdie seemed
to droop this summer. She needed
these horseback rides, no doubt; other
wise should not allow her outside the
garden walls No outside communica-
tion with her has been possible for six
months"
ou have full controrof her money,
l suppose?'
Eyes, until she is twenty-one, unless
she marries before that time Mordaunt
could take every cent any time, for she
always liked him better than she did
me, from child. But you see if you
cut him out"
"I see-I see."
But Mr.. RoIfe Rathburne did not look
hopeful
"Well, for heavens sake, get on
little faster!" grieved the fat honorable,
who was privately in misery lest certain
little liberties be had taken with BRIDES
money should be discovered by Mr.
Aubrey Mordaunt,
Rathburne thought he was getting on
a little faster next day. A happy smile
dimpled BRIDES rosy cheeks all day.
Though she seemed lost in her own
thoughts, and did not pay very strict at
tention to her companions converse
ton. she allowed him to walk with her,
and was far less thorny than usual.
"It's going to be fine night-moon-
light" remarked Mr.. Rathburne, when
they went in to tea.
Birdie assented.
..lts cooler out of doors, and the
fountain will look very pretty by moon
light"
so it will" returned Birdie.
"There is very comfortable seat
the rustic one, by the fountain"
Mr., Rathburne's heart rose with a
bound when Birdie, with a dazzling
smile said
"Wait for me there"
At tea he refrained from eating his
favorite salad with onions. He rushed
to his room, after hurriedly whispering
his hopes to his uncle, and drenched his
handkerchief with German cologne
Then hastily scrlbbling letter to a
pressing creditor, to the effect that his
bill should be settled soon, be went
down and sought the rustic seat by the
fountain to wait for Birdie.
He waited until the fountain had flung
up and the basin caught hundred gal
Ions of water-until the whip poor wills
bad whistled themselves hoarse and
gone to bed. Weary from sitting pos,
ture. sleepy and stiff from the dampness
of the heavy dew, Mr. Rath5urne rose,
at last, and abandoned his post in des.
pair.
Birdie had not come-certainly was
not coming, for (Mr Rathburne looked
at his watch in the moonlight) it was
past ten o'clock. s..
He moved stifflv along the path, en-
tered another, stopped to pick up letter
which lay there. 1t was addressed to
Birdie Mr.. Rathhurne thought itiook-
ed familiar, somehow. He had no
scruples about reading it:
"MY DEAR BIRDIE: | know now where
you are, and | am near you. Do not
grieve any more. Be happy; all will
soon be we'll As soon as have taken
some steps to ferret out wrong which
is being done you, will take you out Of
BrudenePs care. A carriage will wait
just beyond the south gate at Ashdon,
at ten O'Clock, on the night of August
30th, to bear you away with me to be-
come my own beloved little wife. Twill
place you safely in my own home with
my mother. while return to fight Bru.
denel in his own den. shall take my
chances OF getting this to you by ask
ing the favor his good:for-nothing