Daily globe., 1881-07-31

and it worries me. Fate is against me,
but-I'll conquer. yet; and he began to
stride slowly up and down the room.
Nothing was to be gained by blinking
of the facts.
sMillicent Tranton is not OF age; you
are, comparatively speaking, poor
suitor; and her father is both rich and
a hard man, Gerald,'' said.
He WINGED, but admitted at once my
conclusions.
"You think Captain Tranton will say
| MOI in tones of thunder he said,
| ''unless the insolence of the proposition
takes his breath away. | fear so, too;
| but this discussion has at least quickened
my resolve, and before many days have
passed. that question, at any rate, will be-
decided. / will first make quite sure of
Millyo what world of tenderness
trembled about the namely, ''and then l
will try her father. am not exactly
rich, as all Ashdale knows, since that
crash; but l am gentleman; l have
health, honor, and brains; l can surely
keep a wife, and time will help to free
what remains of the old property around
the Lodge
..That IS true,'' l said Our converse
ton now took fresh turn, and we sat
| late.
1 was searching my Office pigeon holes
next morning for a missing document,
when the clerk announced Captain Tran
ton. A moment more and he was before
me; tall, thin, grizzled man, with an
eye like hawks, and a mouth continu-
ally lowering between sneer and a
frown He returned my salution as
| frigidly as usual, and sat down. Atfrst,
vaguely, and from association of thought,
l wondered whether his errand had any
thing to do with my friend. l speedily
found it had not Captain. .Tranton was
going north; he had property beyond the
| Tweed, and wished my advice upon a
plain matter OF buslness-a dispute be-
tween tenant and himself. Once again,
and, so far as personal interview was
concerned for the last time, the ingrained
selfishness of the mans heart was re-
vealed to me. | pitied the unknown
Scotchman who had incurred his dis
pleasure, and | made my advice Of as
mild tenor as possible. He took notes of
all l said in little red backed pocket
book, thanked me, and departed.
~ shall be back on the 10Th, or Goth at
latest, Mr.. Parke,' he said, turning for
an instant on the threshold; 81 will call at
once and inform you of the result, if do
not have need to write"
/ bowed and returned his "Good- morn
ing"
| Half dozen days later, Gerald and ]
met at dinner party at the rectory.
Mrs. Tranton and her daughter were
there also, for the Reverend Eustace
BBonne was bright and shining light in
our social armament as we'll as in his
oaken pulpit; his entertainments were
invariably well attended and select. Mil
licent was the belle of the evening. She
, found plenty Of obsequious admirers,
!, from the sleek-face little odrate to the
pompous old squire of the Manor House
!, l watched her this time keenly critically
!, and gave my verdict in her favor. Hel
mother was shy, pensive woman, who
took but languid interest even in the
affairs of her own household, and who
would no more have dreamed of defying
her husband in trivial matter than in q
, great one. Millicent exhibited, in hel
: vivacity, a self-reliance and mild spirit
of Inquiry. She was slight, but of gooC
: figure; lovely tonight in dress thai
| both fitted her and was a tribute to gOoC
taste. She could sing and play as haG
heard only one other country lassie do
and that was with quite old-fashioneC
songs thirty years ago. Once or twice
, that evening fancied that signals passeG
| between Millicent Tranton and GeralG
Myrtlemore, and, after certain episode
behind a music-book, a telltale blush
[ reigned upon both faces.
. was not surprised next evening, ,wher
, sitting alone in my room, a copy of cur
rent review in my hand and comfort al
! around, to receive a visit from my friend
2 Gerald came in with as grave step a.
ever, but there was as strange COMPOUND
) of joy and anxiety upon his face as l haC
ever seen. He gave my outstretched hant
[ a grip in silence, and took his old station
| to the left of the fire.
II {" Fair stood the wind for France,'"
hummed. 'Ah, Gerald, don't know
1 am sure, what has brought those words
to my lips"
: ~ have proved one chance, at an,
\ rate" he said, with beaming eyes, 'ant
s am on the straight road to the other"
D The light had dimmed again, perplex
e ity was paramount.
/ "She, Millicent, has accepted your"
/ said.
eyes, subject to her fathers consent.
Ou Will LILY dJ OuCO 70 OUGalu tudG!'
s Immediately on his return from Scot
land. But, old fellow, what if she is sen
1 away IN consequence"
i The same contingency had occurred tt
: my own mind as not unlikely one.
al eff she really cares for yoa, it is only {
matter Of years in any case,' answered
''you are both young, and time is on you
s SIDE"
81 For the next hour, l verify believe,
listened to chant in honor of young
$ lady who, according to this waywarG
g tyoung man, possessed every possible
$ graceiand accomplishment until, to. save
e time and the need of new dictionary,
e proposed that in future the phrase, "Mis.
. Millicent Tranton," should be understood
lby both of us as being synonymous with
Y perfection, absolute, unlimited.
Il AS it happened, l was away on the day
of Captain Tranton's return, and did moi
7 reach home till midnight A terrible
7 shock did it give me, terriable sequel
: was it to the light-hearted banter I have
3 just chronicled, to hear in the morning
that the master of Hollies Hall had been
shot in his own room, and that Gerald
: Myrtlemore, the suitor of his daughter
: stood charged with the crime.
81 CHAPTER II.
The whole community was in fer
ment, and, as in all such cases, the most
n IL