The Osceola times., 1885-01-31

preoccupied air.
Frobisher sat down on garden
chair, and drawing a letter from his
pocket, he read it carefully through for
the second or third time His face dark
ened as he read. ut was happy
thought to put Mr.. Gimp's confidential
clerk Whiiiles on the track of my re-
spected uncle" he muttered to himself
as he put away the letter. ''But the
reality proves to be even worse than |
suspected, the shadows of the picture
are blacker than | thought they were.
And he would inyeigle his sisters SON
the nephew to whom he processes to be
so deyoted-into the net in which he has
already enmeshed so many victims. o
hypocrite! rogue and hypocrite Not
much longer shall the blow be delayed
CHAPTER V.
The sound of footsteps put an end to
Frobisher's musings. He looked up.
and next moment u glad light leaped
into his eyes. Elma Deene was coming
toward him; but she held her sunshade
SO low that he could not tell whether
she had seen him. He rose and went
TO meet her "Truantl where have you
been all this time?n he said. 81 have
not seen You since -"
"Since half-past seven this morning,
and it is now exactly eleven" answered
Mss Deene, demurely. Three hours
and a half-a long time. truly"
ut seems like three days and half
TO me-"
you might have seen me at break
fast. had you cared to do so"
'''l was very busy, so took breakfast
in my own room. But you look warm,
ma belle. Have you been chasing a
butterfly. or merely robbing the roses
of some of their tints?"
captain Dyson and ! have been
flirting on the croquet lawn. Are you
not jealous?n
'Not in the least"
"That must be because YOU are
afraid of him. He is most terrible
fellow-by his own account. Shot ne
fewer than thirteen tigers when in In.
dia"
"And all of them with the long-bow,
make no doubt. But what have you
in this basket of yours? Something in
connection with some charity, sup
posc?"
mo. I'm only hemming couple
of busters for the houskceeper. Getting
my hand in, you know"
Getting your hand IMP"
"Yes; against the time you and
are married. shall have all this sort
or thing to do then, and | may as well
begin to practice in time. / went into
the kitchen the other day. and the cook
taught me how TO make an apple dump.
ling. Are you fond of apple dump
lingsp"
VERY. At least | should be. if they
we're made by you"
The sole you had at dinner yester.
day yas fried by me-"
ut was the sweetest sole l ever
tasted
81 gave the cook five shillings. and
she let me fry it all by myself y
"Nery kind of the cook
81 study Soyer for an hour every
morning
"You will be quite little treasure OF
4 housekeeper.
"I've great deal to learn. We shall
not be able to afford a servant, shall
wen'
"Hum-well, only a small one at
first, perhaps. Now come to think OF
it, Elma, there seems something mean
and cowardly in dragging a girl like
YOU down to the level of my poverty.
stricken life. -
'Dick. ! won't listen to you, if you
talk such nonsense
"Your lite has been one of case, OF
luxury almost. You have never known
the want of money. Have you fully
weighed the consequences of tying
yourself for life TO man who hasn't a
ten-pound note in the world to call his
ownPh
why, Of course l have, you great
goose.
"And the risk does not frighten
youPn
"Not the least bit in the world"
'By marrying without your uncle's
consent, you will lose the eight thous.
and pounds which would otherwise
come to you under your grandmother
will. Mr. Pebworth will never consent
to your marriage"
'What then? love you better far
better than the eight thousand
pounds
II can offer YOU no better home than
three or four dingy rooms in back.
street in London
$50 long as it is our home, shall be
content"
mo more carriage-drives, but the
twopenny bus instead; no more ser.
wants TO wait upon you; no more flower.
shows, no operas. no picnics.
"Other people live without such
things, and are content. Why not II"
"My brave hearted girl!'
Think how coy we shall be, Dick.
on winter evenings in our little homel
And when we choose TO 90 out, nc
cares, no responsibilities, but just the
latchkey in your pocket, and there you
are. And on Saturday nights we shall
have to go marketing, you and l, with
a big basket and a bulky umbrella, and
bring home the butter and the eggs,
and the asparagus and the truilles; and
] shall have to be very careful that the
shopkcepers do not overcharge me-"
Asparagus and truflles on three
guneas week, which will be about
the extent OF my income! We should
be ruined in a month"
Il should have said cabbages and
turnips. And then in summer. our VIM
dow-sill shall be rs full of flowers as II
will hold, and that shall be our garden.
And of an evening, when you have done
writing. you shall sit by the open win
dow with your slippers and your pipe
| shall allow you TO smoke, you know
and read bits of Tennyson to me, or a