Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-04-02
CHAPTER v,

panied by delirium but III Chi Lungs case
it was so accompanied, and the Celestial
stranger needed constant guarding. Olivia'S
heart had been moved with pity from the
first, but as day after day Went on she grew
naturally more and mole interested in her
barbarian, and every day she visited the old
village woman she had engaged to nurse
him, at least twice or thrice. The poor Chi
Lung, with no speculation in the almond
shaped eyes that he did glare withal, would
lie upon his back and chatter, chatter, chat
ter in his shril voice for an hour at time.
The village doctor thought him an interest
ing case, and being himself, though man
of mature years, more or less in love with
Olivia, he tended her protege with all his
care and cunning.
If only Chi Lung could have known it, he
had never been so we'll cared for since he
had first opened his impassve eyes on the
world. The Baronial brethren came to see
him, and sent him whatever delicaces the
doctor would permit him to take. The mild
and sweet old lady, O.ivia's aunt, became as
interested in the invalid as Olivia herself,
and was deeply concerned to see that he
took his medicine at the stated hours, and
that he had a plentiful supply of clean and
Lung had just as much gratitude as he would
have had ii the full possession of his Chinese
senses. Lawrence generally looked in upon
him once day, and altogetherhe was CEN
ter of interest for whole household of peo-
pie.
The news of the invalid and his where
aboutS travelled easily to Montcourtos, and
when it came to Monsieur Potvin's ears that
n piece of rag containing one hundred five
centime pieces had been found upon Chi
Lungs person, the landlord called to mind
the fact that Monsieur Lawrence had
changed an English note into Belgian gold,
atwenty-fve franc piece into silver, and
fve-franc piece into nickel, without doubt
for the benefit of this worthless heather,
who had Immediately afterward stolen from
Monsieur Potvin's table. Apart from the
fact that he himself was mighty poacher,
Monsieur Potvin had the keenest respect for
vested interests.
From Montcourtois to the chateau of the
Baron de Roze was a distance of four
leagues, but in Il country so sparsely peo-
pied, and especially in the hunting season,
when people are continually on the move
from one place to another, the smallest item
of news travels with remarkable rapidity,
and from Monsieur POtvin to Olivia came
the news of Lawrence's parting gift to Chi
Lung. 1t pleased her, as everything else
about this young man had pleased her.
Whether the old lady or either of the Bar
onia brethren saw and understood what
was going on before their noses remains
secret. But the evenings-whch Lawrence
always spent at the chateau when the days
sport did not carry him too far away-the
occasional off-days, and the Sundays were
each and all so many traps for a young lady
and gentleman who happened to find them
selves together in this old chateau, where
life was as quiet and as tranquil as dream.
Lawrence painted, and, for an amateur,
painted pretty we'll. Olivia also painted
pretty we'll for an amateur There was
view from ground-foor window, which af-
forded most delightful study. A noble
group of trees picturesquely arranged them
selves for a center of interest, struggling
village gave life to the middle distance, and
then the forest-clad hills folded one over
another for miles and miles until they We're
closed in by lines of progressively enriched
color
On days when Lawrence was not shooting,
the old lady would bring her knitting to this
ground-hoor room, and Lawrence and Olivia
would paint. They each started a study of
ambitious size, and in Olivia's case the work
babe fair to last long time, but Lawrence
worked broadly andrapidly, and his picture,
but for the interest he took in the young
lady's proceedings, would have been finish
ed in fortnight, though his shooting filled
up at least four days of every week. EXCEPT
that they were still Mr.. Lawrence and Miss
Johnstone to each other these young people
at tine end of q week might have been sun
posed to be brother and sister, and Olivia. if
she had thought of analyzing her own senti-
mcnts would have been fully persuaded
that her liking for Mr.. Lawrence was of a
purely sisterly sort Mr.. Lawrence was the
most charming friend she had ever had. She
made no disguise after very little while of
the pleasure she took in his society.
If in surrendering himself to live on these
terms with girl whose influence over him
began to be tyrannous Arthur Lawrence
was living in a FOOLS paradise there was at
least one excuse for him. Oder men had
done the same before him-men wiser and
more experienced than he. But there were
times when he looked things in the face,
and knew how serious they were growing.
"AIr Lawrence" said Olivia, one bright
morning when they were at work together,