The Red Cloud chief., 1884-09-05
CHAPTER XII.-CosTIsTEu

Don't chaff, because I'm in earnest.
Katie Forester will be in by the very
train that was 10 take YOU on to Lon
don, and I'm 10 wait and put her into
Mr.. Halls carriage. One of the
daughters, | don't doubt. will be there,
and YOU can wait and see her if you
like TO. If you'll get your bag ready
the coachman will take il with kattic's
luggage. There's tie Park rs~-.ge
coming down the street now. I'll go
out and stop old Ste.dypace. fhe coach
man; only don't you keep him long, be
cause | shouldn't like Katie to ind
that there was no one to look after her
al the station"
There seemed to be an opening in all
this for John Gordon 10 remain at any
rate Il day longer in the n~eighborhood
of Mary Lawrie, and he determined
that he would avail himself of the OPP
portunitv. lie, therefore, together with
his friend Blake, saw the ~coachman,
and rave instructions as TO finding the
bar at the station, and prepared HIM
self to walk out To the Park. "YOu can
go down 10 the station" he said TO
Blake, land can ride back with the
carriage"
..Of course | shall see yOu up at the
house." SAID Blake. ''Indeed, I've
been asked 10 STAY there while Katie is
with them. Nothing can be more hos
pitablc than Mr.. Hall and his four
daughters. I'd give YOU some advice,
only | really don't know which you'd
like the best. There Is a sort of SINH
larity abou: them; but that wear of
-, 90, ,,n,, a.. l,,rv l., H.,
heard people say that the two eldest a"c
very much alike. III that be so, per-
haps You II like ihc third the best. The
third is the incest, as her hair may De a
shade darker than the others. | really
must be oil now, rs | wouldn't for
worlds hat the train should come in be-
fore I'm on the platform" With ( at
he went into the yard, and at nee rot
ted off on his cob.
Gordon paid ms bill, and started to
Little Arlc ford Park. Looking back
he could Just remember To have heard
his father speak of Mr.. Hall. But that
WAS all. Ills father was now dead, and,
certainly. he thought, Lad not men
toned the name for many wears. But
the invitation was civil, and, "a he was
10 remain in the neighborhood. it might
bc that he should again have an oppor-
tunity of seeing Mary Lavrie or Mr..
Whittlestaf1. He found that Little
Arlesford Park lay between the town
and Mr.. Blake's church. SO thai he WAS
AT the gate sooner than he expected.
He went in, and. having time on his
hands. deviatcd from the rOad and ven
up a hill. which was, indeed, one of the
downs. though between the park pail
ING. Here he saw deer feeding, and he
came after a while to a beech grove.
He had now zone down the hill Cd the
other side. and found himself close 10
rs pretty a laborer's cottage as he re-
membered ever To have seen. 1t WAS
still June, and ii was hot. and he had
been on his legs nearly the whole morn
ing. Then he be- an 10 talk, or rather
TO think. to himself. "What a happy
fellow is that man Montagu Blake! He
has everything-not that he wants. but
that he thinks that he wants. The
work of his life is merely play. He is
going TO marry Il wife-not who is. but
whom he thinks TO be. perfection. He
looks rs though he were never ill a day
in his life. How would he do if he were
crushing for diamonds amid the mud
and dust Of kimberley? Instead of
that. he can throw himself down on
such a spot rs this. and mediate his
sermon among the beech-,reeS." Then
he bean to think whether the sermon
could be made TO have some favor of
the beech-trees. and how much better
in thai ease il would be, and as he SO
thought he fell asleep.
He had not been asleep long. perhaps
not five minutes. when he became
aware in his slumbers that an old man
WAS standing over him. One e thus
become conscious of things before the
one of waking has arrived, so pos
itiyely As to give To the sleeper a false
sense of the reality of existence. Il
wonder whether YOU can be Mr.. Cor
dom said the old man
But ! am" said Gordon. Il Won
der how you know me.
because | expect you.' There was
something very mysterious in this
which. however, lost all mystery rs
soon as he was sufficiently awake to
think of things You are MIR. Blate's
friend.
..Yes: | am Mr. Blake's friend"
..And / am Mr.. Hall. didn't ex-
pect to find YOU sleeping here. in Gar
Wood. Bnt when l find a strange
gentleman asleep in Gar Wood, l put
two and two together. and conclude that
YOU must be MIR. Gordon
..It'sthe pretticst spot in all the world,
| think"
.les: we are rather proud of Gar
Wood espec ally when the deer are
browsing on the hillside to the left, as
they are now. If YOU want to 90 to
sleep again. Wen walk up to the house.
There's the carria9e. l can hear the
wheels. The girls have gone down TO
fetch Your friends bride. Nh. Blake is
very fond of his bride-as l dare say
YOU ave found out"
Then, as the two walked together to
the house. Mr.. Hall explained that
there had been some little difference in
wears rome by between old Mr.. Gordon
and himself. as to money. Il was very
sorry, but ] had to look after myself.
You know nothing about it, l dare
say
Il have heard your name-that's
all"
II need not say anything more about
it." said Mr.. Hall; ''only. when l heard
that YOU were in the country. L was
very glad TO have the opportunity of
seeing YOU. Blake tells me that you
know my friend Whittlestaff."
Il did not know him till yesterday
morning"
-.Then you know the young lady
there: a charming young lady she is.
My girls are extremely fond Of Mary
Lawrie. / hope we may get them TO
come over while you are staying here"
Il can only remain one night, or at
most two, MIR. Hall"