The Magnolia gazette., 1883-03-29

she attempted to make Maurice believe
70 be her real one. showed in every way
that she was capable of discharging the
duties incumbent upon her.
She certainly did appear to be fond
Of gayety. and Holly'o, was earning
the reputation of being one of the most
hospitab.e of houses, one where the
most pleasant PEOPLE were TO be met
with, and therefore one of those TO
which ii was most desirable 10 be in
vited. There was not a man, old or
young. who did not speak of Miss Cuth-
ert as the most charm ng of girls: and
there was not a lady who not think
the Colonel "quite a dear. and very
far from being beyond the pale OF mat
rimonial speculation. All the gossip
about his past life, which had been
awakened BY his temperance two
years ago. had already sunk far below
the surface of current topics. The few
who remembered anything about the
past ouly referred to il at rare intervals,
when their memories were stirred by
some passing word or incident After
all, our good and evil deeds are o. much
less permanent interest TO other people
than we in our vanity are apt TO imag-
inc. OF course there had cen a little
shyness at first on the part of some peo.
pie, but curiosity is an excellent mag
net, and the fine nature OF the Colonel
speedily overeame all dou Is which
might have been entertained as TO the
propriety of replacing hisname on their
visiting st.
Throughout this early period the Cal
thorpes were his most freorent guests,
and he was more at CaltEorpe than at
any other house He ked his old
fl end, Notwithstanding h failings -
any one else; and the kndlv feelings
which his friends son had awakened
when he first saw him increased as their
intimacy ripened. Latterly, indeed.
when together. the Colonel and Maurice
might have been taken for comrades of
equal age.
MIR. Calthorpe was delighted; closed
his eyes and smiled compla emily; his
plans We're prospering beyond his fon :
est expectations, and he had no h 'ng to
do now but to leave matters to take their
own course.
He was rudely startled from this state
Of beatitude about week a ter that
conversation between his son and Ark
wood
Invitations ha been issued for larry
er gathering than usual at Hollyford,
the occas on beng althoug he fact was
not genera " known) III IS Cuthbert's
birthday. But Maur ce knew it, and
was to have been present. At the last
moment, however, a telegram brought
the intelligence that h. was unexpe. t.
edly detained in London The Colonel
was much d sappo' med; Mr. Calseor1,e
was in dismay, which he endeavo q! 10
conceal by looking very wise an nod
ding his head slowly, ms if to suggest
that he was not surprised, a though he
was not at III erty to enter into an X
PLANTATION.
: He has very serious affair in hand,
and no doubt that is the cause OF h de
tention. You know how very anxious.
he IS TO make way in h pro ession."
lie looked as if he belle ed it. but he
was made uncom ortabe by the idea
which flashed upon him that Maurice
had by this one a lost all the favor he
had gained in Miss Cuthbert's ewes
How un ortunatem she sa d, scarce.
~ pa sing in her conversation with Sir
Frederick Powell the young baronet OF
w oodstow.
The latter gentleman became a source
OF anxiety to Mr.. Calthorpe, for he sat
beside the heiress at dinner, and lin.
gered near her in the d awing room.
GTo BE CONTINUED