The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-11-12
MISS CHvRCHILL'S SUITORS
A Romance of Beechwood Chas,
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER i.
Beechwood Chase was we'll named.
The.house was nothing but roomy and
comfortable-"a substantial stone man
Aion without architectural pretension,"
ehe county guide-book called it-but
the trees around it were the wonder
and delight of the neighborhood and
The, pride of Lord Darley's heart. They
we're nearly all beeches, those fairest
offorest trees. beside which oaks are
calmsy and elms are stiff The great
s4footh boles reached to magnificent
G1fth; the dropping branches, all broid-
efed with half-ripened nuts that glowed
Ike beads of amber in the sun, spread
themselves far and wide. and made
great stretches Of shadow on the soft
grass below. Here deer couched, and
Sauirrels ran about the laden boughs
xejoicing. and shy, timorous birds, that
shnned the haunts of men, built their
meets in peace. The park was large,
with slope to little stream that ran
a0isily over it's pebbles, and mingled its
baby brawling with the rustic of the
trees, and the cry of the wood-pigeon,
and the song of linnet and thrush.
Hwas seldom that the solitude was
broken by anything but the tread of q
0aInekeeper or wood-reeve, except in
the shooting season, but this year Lady
barley had been recommended country
air and quiet, and had brought with
her train of distinguished guests, at
whose appearance in the park the
Sduirrels hid themselves, and the rab-
bits disappeared in their holes. and
the browsing deer lifted startled heads,
and scudded away into sylvan retreats,
where no stray feet would either follow
sr-find them.
With Lady barley had come. as a
matter of course, her special friend,
Della Churchill, sole daughter and
heiress of the late Sir John Churchill,
banker and financier and reputed mil
Eonaire, and more young men than are
prone to bury themselves in the coun-
try in June. @But where Miss
Churchill Is, there will the gallants be
gathered together" said Coventry
Smith, who wrote for society papers,
aid affected wit of more or less de-
graded quality. Della locke! at him
with the cold scorn her admirers knew
90 we'll.
al don't think parodies like that are
quite-reverent," she said, and then
returned to the book from which her
dark eyes had been for just moment
raised.
@Don't crush him quiet, Della" said
Lady barley, .languidly. But Mr..
Smith did not look crushed. He smiled
jauntily and kissed his hand as he dis
appeared through the open window.
Crushed? A mangle wouldn't do
itjs said Della al do dislike that man,
sdtfrBufficient, conceited coxcomb that
he ISL"
Il wonder if you will ever see any
one you will like, my dear 1t will not
'be.for want OF aspirants."
no." said Della, bitterly, and there
was so much pain in her voice that
LaHy barley looked at her inquiringly.
do you think / do not know why? ?"
cried. Della, with sparkling eyes. They
we're quite alone now, and she got up
and began to walk about with an ex-
element that would have astonished
those who only knew the proud and re-
served Miss Churchill in society. Abr
she cried, you cannot understand it,
Bella-,you, who were poor, who were
loved for YOURSELF Ali how loathe
these creatures who fawn and fatter
and cringe. like that AFFECT thing that
crawled away just nowl"
"Ddia, do you know, / think you
are a little unjust, even to Coventry
sFith?'
sUnjust! Very likely" said Miss
O6urchhilI. @What chance have / of
D1ing just2 How can men do them
.s9lyes justice when they are seeking
doE love but goldG"
TT is not fair to class them all to-
gether." said Lady barley, who had
Her favorites among the aspirants, as
sbe called them. "There is young
Hofner, for instance. He does not
care about your money; or, at least, no
nore shan is reasonable"
mo: IL is a good little boy, and has
IN honest fit of calf io-e. believe"
lid Della. smiling with yentleness
fhat quite changed the expression of
Ter face: "but, all the same, am not
he plum he will pull out of LIES
You may well say plum-I begin
TO think your heart is nothing better
lhan stone" said Lady Darley, laugh
hh9.
Here is barley" said Miss Church
IN who was standing by the window.
sAnd Maurice Arnold with himl