Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-03-09
cnAPTER vII.-Cor1rNrrn.

CHAPTER vII.-CoNTrNuEn.
"a dangerous rival for Maurice"
Mr.. Calthorpe reflected rs he observed
them; and she is gracious 20 him. C r
tainly. A smart.l0oking fellow, too
not much in him. but fortunate in his
tailor That's neutrality-suspicious. and
dr. ss-maGers haze more to do with love
than they z { credit for She seems TO
be in particularly good humor tonight.
She does not miss him. What an idiot
ne is n to be herer'
With all his fears that his fine-laid
schemes light turn away. he was obliged
To own that Miss Cuihbert appeared
to be- only as happy a girl OF her years
ought To be- under the circumstances.
and that there was no reason why there
should be any shade cast upon her by
the absence of one who. if he were n
lover ut all. was SO lukewarm rs to stav
away on such an occasion; still, the old
man $ hopes, which had been so high
that morning, were set down many pegs
sthat night. He, however, possessed
that inestimahle blessing perfect con-
fidence in himself; il had carried him
through so many crises. that the proba-
bilitics were in favor of its carrying him
through this one. which he regarded as
the greatest of them all. He slept well.
and II IS marvellous how pale the gloom
lest shadows appear after n good sleep.
He made an excellent Breakfast, and
was CHANGING over the Times. mediiat-
ing at intervals rs 10 the most effective
mode of quickcning Maurice in his love-
making. when that gentleman himself
appeared.
"Nh ny did you not come last night?"
he inquired. casually. as il he laid no
particular stress on the circumstance.
'l OH missed pleasant evening, and
disappointed Cuthbert."
"He' II not be sorry when he learns
that il was his business which detained
mo in town. We have settled that Chan.
Gerry suit; his cousin withdraws. so the
case is closed on the terms proposed by
the Colonel"
Mr.. Cathorpe was happy again; fort
unc was ON h 5 side still
1T really was business, then? That
will bc cap til news for Cuthbert. for
know he had $ ecial dread of that
act on. n IL would have uncovered so
many old scars. He missed YOU last
night but | suppose you would rather
his daughter hal done So"
'She was doubtless better occupied
than in thinking about me-"
"Sho wa'; and. ii | am not mistaken.
You viii soon have no particular place
AN her thoughts ut all
IL suppose YOU mean that she is likely
TO become cngaged?" said Maurice,
thoughtlu.ly.
~ girl like her IS sure to have
MANY Oppo tunities of becoming so.
Are YOU quite indifferent ON that
score ~
Maurice was silent for moment. and
although the father scanned his face
eagerly. lac was unable TO discover any
signs of anxiety.
"Not indifferent. sir: but | shall
answer YOU more satisfactorily when |
return from Hollyford. | ann going
there at once. To- give the Colonel par
tculrrs OF Yesterdays proceedings.
and ] shall of course see Miss Cuth-
bert
Glad To hear that; don't let me de
tain YOU had no idea that YOU
were So much Interested i'm the mat.
ter. You will find sCuthbert is your
fricnd.n
MIR. Calthorpe was much more eager
To hasten the departure of Maurice than
the latter was TO 20. To the father
this visit meant the decision of 2
question of vital Importance to them
all; the son knew that in any case the
decision could not be . salts a ctory one.
, "a The glorious sunshine was not in
keeping with the curiouslv disturbed
state o. the mans mind rs he rode to-
ward Hollyford. lie wished to put the
nature oi his relationship 10 Mabel Cuth.
bert t. the test, and yet he shrank
from IT,
The Colonel was at home. and il
Maurice had been astranger he would
have been surprised or amused. or both,
when the servant informed him thnt he
was TO conduct him to 1.-THE wilder
ness" But he knew that this was the
favorite retreEt OF the Colonel and hi.
daughter. and proceeded thither unat
tended. Passing through what teas &
fair representation on small scale of 9
jungle, be entered a green glade, al
ono end OF which, TO crafty hi:
daughter. Colonel Cuthbert had ere ted
duplicate OF the bungalow he had DC
cupied in India. with all the accessories
OF punkahs, lounges and hammocks
The bungalow stood on n green terrace
.aAAN hi VIC Nthlt-tlIClt VI SnTuDDeIl HnO
trees which il commanded. spa es baC
been cut afiording glimpses OF varying
landscapes. This was what Miss Cuth
bert called her p cture gallery, and IL
all weathers she was fond of ENJOYING
its beauties, either alone or in the com
pany OF her father. Besides the natura
pictures thus always before her, she haC
n large palm house full Of tropica
plants, TO aid her imagination in realiz
ing what her fathers home in India haC
been like.
Maurice passed out of the shadow Of
the jungle into the sunlight. which fel
full upon the bungalow and the greer
terrace. As he approached, tn,
Colonel was assisting Mabel out of I
hammock in which she had been rest
ing. and Is he assembled the slope sh,
was standing on the terrace, holding
out her hand. In The light her faii
hair shone like gold, and something il
the face dazzled Maurice's eyes, as i