Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-02-02
CHAPTER III.
CALLED BACK.
- III -

CHAPTER III.
CALLED BACK.
"COme in" said Esmond, in answer
to knock at his door.
Lucy entered, with a letter in one
hand and book in the other, and he
rose from the table. The day was a fog
gy one. and it seemed to be twilight in
his little room.
have brought you these, sir. and 1
hope l have not kept the book too long"
You have not kept it long enough. :"
he said. smiling. as he took the letter.
i intended you to keep that book al
together, knowing that it was a favorite
OF yours. Will you do sop
She seemed to hesitate; and then,
quietly: II shall be very pleased to
have it, Mr.. Esmond." The answer
was the natural one which a lady might
have given to friend in accepting any
small gift"
l am glad of that" he said, impul-
sively; and then checking himself, re-
membering his good resolutions, he be-
gan awkwardly to tap the fingers of his
left hand with the letter which he had
Just received. Il am glad because
because L shall probably be going away
soOn."
Going away! we shall all be sorry
to miss YOU"
The phrase was commonplace enough,
and there was no particular accent on
any of the words. and yet there was a
something in her tone and look which
made him half regret his hasty an
nOuncement.
Il do not mean exactly that l am
going to stay away: indeed, it is proba-
bic that l shall be back in few weeks"
oh, that is quite different" she ex-
claimed, with bright look as if re-
lieved.
Then he, with laugh which did not
conceal the earnestness underlying it:
Would Mrs. OBryan be very sorry
If never came back?"
Il am sure of it
And my friend 'Bryan-and Ted
dy-and you?'
"Yes. we should all be sorry" was
the response, with q little reserve this
time. and slight tinge of color in her
cheeks.
And | should be sorry to 90. for YOU
have made me feel as if were one of
the family. L could not easily find
such comfortable home and such good
friends. Sometimes l think | should
like to stay here always. How would
you like that?''
lit would be very pleasant-we
should all like it, The latter part of
the phrase qualified the warmth of the
first.
That letter which Esmond had re-
ceived was becoming somewhat
crumpled by being continually bent
and even twisted between his fingers.
"You would only fNd it pleasant in
the same way as the others. Is that
all?'
She seemed little confused bv this
question, and he made a blunderinp
effort to relieve her.
Il mean that l should like you to say
that you would miss our pleasant COS
sips about books.
Il should, indeed" She was inter
rupted by Mrs O'Bryan calling from
the foot of the staircase:
Lucy, here's some one for that
gownd."
Esmond did not know whether to bless
or curse the interruption when he saw
Lucy 60 away, her cheeks crimson as if
with the consciousness that she had been
about TO say more than she wished to
say at that moment
They were SIX ting on very thin ice,
and this conversation had made them
both aware of it.
He stood looking at the door for an
instant, as if he still saw her there.
Then he turned to the window and
looked out upon the fog. but the ex-
preston of dissatisfaction on his face
was not caused by the weather. Pres
emily he became conscious that he had
not read the letter which Lucy had
brought to him. Recognizing the hand
writing of the only friend who knew his
address in Camberwell, he hastily
opened the envelope.
FIG-TREE COURT, TEMPLE. Thursday.
MY DE AR CALTHORPE: The inclosed is, l
suppose, from your governor, and hasten to
forward 1t. Hope he is going 20 make it up
with you and set you on your feet again
Meanwhile, what has ecome of you and when
arc you going to explain TO me the meaning of
this masquerading under another name? Look
me up as soon as you can. Very busy.
Yours, II. ARKwOoD."
The letter which was inclosed in this
abrupt missive was addressed to Maui
rice K. Calthorpe, ESQ.,, at the chambers
OF his friend in the Temple. 1t was
from his father. and Maurice laid it on
the table unopened. but his hand trem-
bled little as he did so, for it had re-
called many bitter memories. There
had been quarrel between the father
and son. and, as in most quarrels, there
had been serious faults on both sides.
Maurice had been called to the bar, and
while waiting for briefs, which came
too much like angels visits, he had been
entirely dependent on his father. The
allowance was not large one, but
Maurice was not extravagant in his
habits, and he was able to maintain his
position without any financial anxieties
on bis own account. He certainly did
not inherit this frugal spirit from his
father, who had been known in his ear
~ days as one of the most extravaganza
young men about town. The estate was
soon mortgaged at heavy interest but,
only part of it was entailed,
Calthorpe would not sell the land.
Maurice, an only child. had been
brought up in the expectation of inherit
ing considerable income. One MORN
ing he was suddenly told by his father
that there was pressing need for large