The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-02
CHAPTER II.
"She to him was ever true;
Lovers quarrels love renew,
CO ftnrr Cox-D -


Six months have passed since we saw
Percy Fletcher last. And we are once
again in his chambers The long vacation
is Just over and work has commenced
again. 1t is evening, and the curtains are
drawn, lighted lamp is on the table, and
bright fire in the CRATE Percy is sitting
where we first saw him, and if we may
Judge by his appearance the last few months
have not been the happiest of his life. The
lines round his mouth have deepened, and
one or two crows feet are beginning to
show in the corners of his eyes; he has
careworn look, and altogether he seems
aged Opposite to him sits his one chum,
Glassdale, also barrister, who has just
returned to town, and the two friends are
talking over the events that have happened
to each in the "Long." Glassdale has
lately fallen victim to his Cousin Milly
Danvers's charms, and is now pouring into
Percy's ear long detailed account of Chow
it all happened" Percy allows him to
continue uninterruptedly until he has fin
ished, and then offers his congratulations.
Glassdale thanks him, and then continues,
'When was staying with my uncle's peo-
pie lately at Brighton, I saw Miss Linton.
She was down there with her father, and
Ivor was with them as their guest"
"Oh p is all Percy's reply, but an anx-
ious, inquiring look comes into his eyes
which is quite at variance with the careless
air he attempts to assume. II spoke to
her once or twice on the pier, and, do you
know, it struck me she was greatly altered
for the worse. She seems to have lost all
her spirits, and she looks far from well.
"Poor little darling" mutters Percy
under his BREATH and then aloud, II sup
pose she's engaged to Ivor by now? Not
that it matters to me, though.
"No, she isn't; at least, | didn't hear
anything said about it. But he means it
if ever a man did, and follows her about
like dog. l don't like that fellow some
how"
II should think not; he's downright
cad. He only wants her for her money;
every one can see that, exclaims Percy,
very warmly and then, as if ashamed of
displaying so much emotion, he suddenly
changes the subject and inquiries
"And how did the old scoundrel, her
father, seem p
'Like a bear with sore head. He will
hardly speak civilly to any one. 1t seems
he's got himself into a regular hole over a
law affair. His version of the matter is
shortly this. He got some inkling that
one of the waterworks companies were
going to look out for piece of land for
new reservoir somewhere near London. |
forget exactly where he said it was. At
any rate he went prowling about, and
found piece belonging to Mr.. Boyer that
would Just suit them. Thereupon he en-
tered into negotiations with that gentle
man, and, as he affirms, came to terms, and
received letter accepting his offer of &C.,
900 for the field The very day he re-
ceived that letter Boyer was killed in a
railway accident. Linton now applied to
his Executors to carry out the sale, and
they laugh at him, believing it to be mere
try on, as no vestige of anything relating
to the transaction was found among Boyer's
papers after his death, except Linton's let
ter making the offer In the meantime the
water works have applied for the land, and
offered good deal more than 96, 900, so it
isn't very likely the Executors will let
Linton have it, more especially, and this is
the finest joke Old Linton can't find
! Boyer's letter accepting his offer which he