The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-05-23

would go uroJIing TO her door, confident
of finding her within-a young child
will sob over its mothers absence to.
day, but refuse to realize a similar to-
morrow-and there were tears in heI
eyes as she turned to face her hosts
sister.
"Does he mean to break her heart
over my sumptuous sister-in-law?''
thought Lady Sophia, Indignantly, as
she took Madcap's hand, and sat down
beside her.
81 want my sweethearts." said Mad.
cap, smiling .ruefully; Il have never
been away from them before;" and
somehow. from that moment, Lady
Sophia did not pity Madcap, but loved
her as all others did, including Frank.
But a conversation with the Duchess
was another affair, and the men sitting
very late over their wine. Madcap beg
ged to be excused, and went up stairs
before they came in.
She had not the heart to say word
about home to Mr.. Eyre next morning,
he looked SO bright and well, had slept
soundly, and knew he had regained that
confidence in himself that lately had
been on the brink of escaping him.
The danger to Frank. and his deter
mination TO overcome it, seemed to have
called forth his whole force of charac.
ter; his brain was i'll full activity, his
wits brighter than ever; he was not to
be recognized as the worn, constrained
man of week ago.
At breakfast the Duchess remarked
carelessly:
"Have you any message to Lord
Lowell, Mr.. Eyre, las am writing to him
this morning, asking him to come to us
for few days."
THANK you. Duke" said Mr.. Eyre,
warmly; land you. too, Duchess" he
added. turning TO her, and rewarding
her with a look, land III send line
with yours, if you please;" and then he
turned to Madcap, who had colOred
scarlet, and who had seen his look to
the Duchess, and altogether felt a little
strange, and as if she wanted Dody's
Perhaps he won't come" said Lady
Sophia as horseman set out an hour
later on his ten miles ride to Lowell.
II hope he WON'T" cried Madcap,
vehemently.
''She is in love with him." thought
the Duchess, land is angry because
that woman remains in the village. l
think see my way to" but even in
her thoughts she committed herself no
further.
But when Frank himself Whom she
had not seen for six years. appeared
next day. she could not deny that a
more charming sinner never won abso-
luton for his sins by his looks, or help
feeling las many others did) that any
wrong-doing of his must proceed more
from the excess of generous heart
than from the lack of it. TO be sure
there was no shame in his face, and this
might be taken as slightly unbecoming
on his part; but that he could look
downcast was quickly proved, when, on
venturing to offer Madcap his hand, she
overlooked it in courtesy, and walked
away. Even the Duke, but lately so
implacable against him, felt for his dis
comfiture, and before he had been in
Franks company five minutes, sue
cumbed to the fascination this young
fellow seemed to exercise impartially
over every man and woman with whom
he came in contact, always excepting
the one woman, who had Tilted him for
his friend.
At dinner. all save Madcap (who
thought of Hester) were the brighter
for his coming; his youth, his gayety,
the delightful tone of his voice in which
spoke the noble heart that looked out
of his blue eyes, his very unconscious
ness of his power to charm. warmed the
Dukes heart to him more and more as
the evening passed. Later, in the
drawing-room, Madcap found herself
subjected to an annoyance that she
found intolerable. Mr.. Eyre was in
conversation with the Duchess; Lady
Sophia had crossed over to the Duke to
propose to him one of those endless
family problems that no one has ever
been known to solve satisfactorily; and
Frank, with determination that for
the moment bereft him of the color
Madcap found SO unbecoming, dared to
approach the window behind whose
curtain she stood half hidden.
Was her head dropping rather sadlyp
Frank thought so, till feeling some one
near, she looked up, and then she SEEM
BILE of brushing him from her path as q
fly, and indeed had passed him when he
said
"Dody says"
Madcap stopped, trembling, and her
hand stole up to the little mole on her
neck. Have you seen him to-day?" she
cried quickly.
HE sent you his dear love, and
other things" said Frank, stopping
short; land this" he added, taking
carefully out of his breast-pocket lit
tie packet that had so clearly been tied
up by Dody and Doune's fingers, that
without word, Madcap bounced on it,
and ran out of the room, without a
thought for anything on earth but what
was inside that precious paper.
The Duchess, who had been near
enough to see the whole thing, glanced
at Mr.. Eyre, and remarked
$50 much GOODNESS, so much heat.
and then mysterious packet! Are you
not jealous?"'r s,u,y s,.s,,s
Mr.. Eyre's reply less concerned Mad
cap than the woman who addressed
him; but even his determination scarce
ly enabled him to sustain with spirit
the part he had marked out for himself,
and on which Frank q success depended.