The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-11
HOW BIRDIE ESCAPED.

you have good looks, you have youth, you
have address. Come at once, and will intro
duce you to young lady whose fortune, with
her hand, will repair what you have wasted"
Rolfe Rathburne threw down his uncle's
letter, lighted a cigar, and elevated his feet on
the table. He knew very well, he believed,
whom his uncle referred to-a ward Of his,
Miss Elinor Chauncey, who must by this time
be of marriageable age, he considered.
I'm not marrying man. muttered young
Rathburne, "but when 1 saw that girl eight
years ago, she promised to be beauty; and
man might do worse, perhaps than to take
pretty girl with plenty of money"
He was dissipated looking young man of
fiveand.twenty, with black moustache and
curling halr, which he made the most Of.
He had far proportion OF brains, but no
morals to speak Of He kept afloat in good
society, however, having knowledge of good
breeding and rich uncle-the Honorable
Christopher Brudenel The Honorable Chris
TOPPER Brudenel had written him the above
letter. He.was partial to his nephew.
Soon the French hotel where Rolfe Rath-
buIne boarded knew HIM no more. He lett
these congenial quarters and betook himself
to the iatlgues of railway journey.
1t had been some years since he had been at
Ashdon, his uncle's country house. Eight
years before, when he was rather vicious lad
of eighteen, his uncle in a fit of passion, had
forbidden him the house; but that was one OF
the many bygones which Mr.. Rolte Rath-
burne's relatives were obliged to overlook.
Ashdon, with its white front pillars, Its green
lawns dotted with flower-laden stone urns, Its
fountains and whispering ash-trees--Ashdon
looked familiar.
He had walked up from the station, leaving
his baggage to be sent for.
Let me see," he soloquized, viewing the
place from rise in the road. The girl was
thirteen when | saw her last-a charming little
brunette-and they called her Birdie. She
must be twenty now, and fascinating enough,
I'll be bound! Lonely here. Uncle keeps
her secluded, fancy. Good idea A beauty
with fortune is rather dangerous property to
be lying around loose Wonder what her fan
cy is in men? Girls always have some notions
of their own. As she Is II brunette, suppose
| ought to have a big blonde beard to be kill
ing"
He had reached the gates of AshdOn by this
time when man with a big blonde beard
suddenly approached him. He had a package
of letters in his hand. Apparently he had
Just arrived, and was in hurry.
"Were you gong in ?' he asked.
YES" SAID Rathburne.
The man, who was well.dressed and of fine
appearance, selected letter from the number
in his hand
~ have letter here for Miss Chauncey.
VIII you be kind enough to deliver 1t to her
personality"
Rathburne, in good humor, assented civilly,
and the man passed on, walking rapidly.
Hes nOt the postman. A tradesman, proba.
bly," unused Rathburne.
The letter was simply addressed IN a clear,
uniform chirography, Miss Chauncy Ashdon.'
He put it IN the breast pocket of his coat, and
turning the handle of the iron gates of Ash,
don, walked in
Rolie Rathburne had delivered that letter
with kindhng eyes. BRIDES dark eyes and
rosebud mouth were more charming than any,
thing he had ever before seen.
Yes" said the Honorable Christopher Bru-
denel, my ward is very pretty, and so far she
has lived very secluded life, | have thought
it best"
Has she no other friend or guardian, Uncle
Chrisg"
Uncle Chris, iorid and pOrtly, changed
color.
"She is an orphan, quite alone, but tor-well
in fact, she has another guardian-Aubrey
Mordaunt. The rascal wanted to marry her
for her money, you know"
"Of course What did you do?'
Told him had sent her abroad, and sent
him posting eff to search through all the con
vent schools of France to tind her. Mean
while have sent tor you. want you to mar
ry her--I give you this last chance. Remem
Der, shall pay no more OF your spendthrltl
bills"
81 shall be very happy, my dear uncle"
Meanwhile Birdie, though 1t was past mid
night sat IN her chamber looking out into the
mOon.lighted garden. 1t had been year since
she had been outside those garden walls. How
tired she had grown of its wearisome walks
and monOtonous stiffness, only the bright
young hing knew. Her dimpled cheeks
looked pale in the moonlight; her chin rested
IN her little hand.
"Bnt If | could only see HIM once more, l
would come back and stay year contented
would, indeed He loves me; he Is tender
gentle, kind. | only live, / think, when | am
with him. When 1 am not, seem TO be dying
by inches, day by day. Do people ever die fol
love when they are Young and ..ralthy as am
| wonder? No, I...Da not" sadly says pretty
little Birdie
And then she turned her mind intently upon
other things. Birdie could not sleep that first
night OF Rolfe kathburne's coming.
He could not sleep very well himself, when
he first sought his chamber. Here was an un
eAdupleu piece vi Soou ioItuue' oAuio "oe
so beautiful and bewitching. He would marry
her, pay those termenting debts, set up city
house and enjoy life. He would like to 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 1t.
Fresh and sweet a. a half.blown rosebud
Birdie certainly was; but Mr.. Rathburne, to
his surprise, found her also little thorny.
No, she didn't care to walk in the garden
and she did dislike cigar smoke, and she
would trouble him TO carry her fan or parasol
for her
But wouldn't she show HIN her goldfish
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.
"Birdlen said the Honorable CHRISTOPHER