The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-17

me-" she said sharply, land ye'd best
mind where ye're after jumping yer
quadrupid the next time"
PPM sorry, my good woman, and
hope my carelessness will not 90 any
lasting harm. The child is only 10 3
faint from fright. See, she is opening
her eyes now. DO you feel better little
Ellen looked up at him wonderingly
for an instant, then thought OF what
had happened, and understood why sh,
was in the arms OF the young gentle
man.
II must have frightened you as much
rs you did me-" she said with smile
but her trembling voice contradicted
her attempt TO make light of her feel
ings, and Harold felt himself great
sinner at having so alarmed her.
II am stranger in the country b,
fastened to say, "and have come t.
make its acquaintance, as | have an
estate here"
Bridget's face. lost its sour reprovine
expression as thought came 10 he'
mind.
.Sure. sir, il it isn't too bold, may J
ask if you're the lad who's lately cont
into the ownership of Castle Flynn!
"That's the name of my place.
"Then you're the own cousin twice
removed on the mothers side OF thai
same little child ye've got in your arms
Look up. Ailcen. and make the acquaint'
ance of yer cousin.
Ellen had wholly recovered by thh
time. and she slid shyly down iron
Harold's arms, and sheltered herself by
Bridgcts ample figure.
as she stood thus the slight curva'
'ure of her spine was made visible, anc
Harold's admiration was changed to an
intenser fecling--that of pity for the
beautiful child's affection.
IL hope we shall be better acquaint-
ed" he said to Ellen. land shall soon
be riding this way again, and will come
to sec YOU, if you'll tell me where you
live" Then he turned to Bridget:
Come up to the Castle this evening l
would like to ask ron some questions
about the place and the people
His hunter had been standing quietly
on the spot where his master had left
him, after simply throwing the bride
rein over his arching neck. Now, how.
ever, as Harold approached him, ne LAID
back his ears, and gave vent TO rest
less whinny which showed how impa-
tent he was growing to be of.
Harold patted him, and said few
soothing words as he mounted. The
intelligent animal answered him with an
other low whinny, and darted off like
the wind, followed by Ellen's admiring
eyes.
Lord save u.s. calculated Bridget,
crossing herself revercntly; IF that beast
doesn't prove the death Of that fine boy
before he is done with him.
But Ellen said with little air of
pride:
"Ncyer fear, Bridget. One can see
that my cousin is born to the saddle;
and oh, how grand and noble he is''
"And he's civil nice-spoken young
gentleman, too, worthy to be landed
Irish noblcman, though, poor lad. he's
come into barren enough place; fer
what good is castle without money to
keep il up? and Lord Lansfels ran
through his fortune rs though it had
been wather to pour into the street"
But Harold had been born, as the
saving is, "with gold spoon IN his
mouth" and out Of his full Golfers he
soon made Castle Flynn look like diff
ferent place. 1'I' -, :,
1t seemed like q dream Of fairy land
to Ellen, when summer came. and she
was invited to visit at the castle during
the whole time Harold's mother was
staying there.- .5 , - ~.
She wasr.a widow and Harold was
her only child; and rs he had taken
such fancy TO his Young cousin, she
was ,,nsparing of trouble to give her all
the pleasure she could wish during her
stay. 90
"What 4 pity it is that the poor thing
is deformcd," she said to her son one
day. "Sho would be a perfect type OF
beautiful Irish girl if she only had a
straight back" ij'r'!. g,t
81 don't think any girl I've ever Seen
can compare with Ellen now" said
Harold, shut I think that trouble can
be reached, mother. Don't you remem-
Der that eminent surgeon whom we met
IN London last months? He told of cases
he had cured that were far worse than
what Ellens appears to be-
Eyes, / remember something about
IT, Wasn't it about making his patients
into plaster casts?"
"Hardly that, mother mine" laugh
cd Harold. ''but you have hit on one OF
the component parts of his method OF
cure. wonder if we could get him to
come down into our mild summer home.
I He meant TO remain abroad several
months, but It isn't likely no has gone
yet"
money generally will command a
professional mans service, Harold.
don't imagine you will find any difficult
ty in securing him."
I'D be willing to spend any amount
to make Cousin Ellen thoroughly
strong healthy woman." said Harold
earnestly. ..ct
And ii his mother felt'a momentary
pang as She detected Harold's intense
interest in Ellen, she was sensible wo'
man and stied it at once.
II will do all Gan to help" she said
and Harold's kiss and answering word:
repaid her
"rhank YOU, mother, l knew yo,