Omaha daily bee., 1885-04-18

breed that spirit of confidence which IL
the frat necessity OF q united family.
ThSs IL happened that on the previous
Sunday morning l found myself called
upon to deliver to Clare a letter which
even the cursory examination | was able
to give to it satisfied me came from young
Brown.
Whatever my annoyance might be, i
showed no trace of it at the tine. My
principle is to lay aside on the day In
question all mundane matters which
might distract the mind from It's higher
duties. But / made q little mental note
that l would take an early opportunity
of having an explanation with Clare.
The chance came at lunch the next
day. As have said, the conversation
took a somewhat disagreesble turn, and
resulted In my deciding to face the bitter
east wind rather than continue q contro.
versy in which all the talking was on one
side and the reason on the other.
The advent of Mr.. Panton was. there
fore, almost providential. Hers wss a
young fellow, good looking, we'll to do,
and with a proper confidence In himself.
The scheme which flashed Into my mind
was, indeed, a happy one. He was, ac'
cording to his own declaration, an &C.
knowledged lady killer. What better
opportunity than this could he have for
showing his sktlll True, Clsre's dispo-
sltion was an obstinate one, but at least
his attentions might divert her mind
from that other absorbing subject. Still
l must act with caution. 1t would not
do to let Panton suspect l was throwing
ny daughter at his head, else he might
seek safety In flight. 1t would rather be
necessary delicately to excite his amour
propre and leave the rest to chance.
At dinner he and l did most OF the
talking. Clare was unusually silent but
showed greater interest, although not al
ways an approving one, In the strangers
conversation. 1t was not until the re-
past was nearly ended that he Addressed
her directly.
Your father AMI l were discussing the
subject Of women this afternoon, Miss
DENLY, but l fear we did not come to a
satisfactory conclusion"
Chat was a pity, abe answered coldly
'Under the circumstances, any conclu-
BlOu WOulu udNS pCOb botISi plnh q WI
tinuance of the debate"
He laughed cheerily. "You provoke
its resumption, Miss DENLY"
''Then to avoid ouch a calamity, | pro-
pose to withdraw the subject altogether, "
she answered, making a show of rising.
"Hesven forbidl" he cried with a pre-
tended air of despair. SIT is far too at
t~ractive to permit of u losing sight of 1t
yet awhile"
81 accuse Mr.. Psnton of being q poet.
my dear," I interrupted. she has all
the parsphernalia of one--tropes, smiles,
sentiment passion"
81 stand convicted" he reioined, 'but
only as a voicaless singer. l posse,s the
necessary baggage, it is true; but, ala' l
have locked 1t away and lost the key ire.
coverably."
eve must try to find 1t for him, eh
Clare" l suggested.
"Ah!" he cried, ''you are unfair, Miss
DENLY. You forget that although appor-
tunity be the slave of him who Is pre-.
pared, 1t is the tyrant of the unready."
u An almost inperceptible smile played
on Clsre's lips. "You are likely to have q
useful servant, then, Mr., Panton," she
said.
"Now you are sarcastic" he rejoined,
shut l am helpless in your hands"
"Indeed, l wash them of you alto.
gether," she answered rising. 1.-THE re-
sponsibility Is too great"
THAT Is my loss" he said smilingly,
as he opened the door for her.
"Not if 1t teach you to take better care
of yourself" she replied, with an implied
mesnlrg In her tone which [ failed to un.
derstand. as she swept out of the room.
] was delighted with the badinage, tri,
vial though 1t had been. It at least
proved that Glare was not wholly insensi-
BILE to the attentions of other men, and
that circumstance gave me hope for the
success of my little scheme.
had not visited Wiltshire for many
years, but I still retained a vivid recol'
lection of it's beauties--the quaint city Of
Salisbury, the breezy downs, and that
wonderful collection known asStonehepge.
1t was natural, therefore, that as Panton
and l sat over our wine the conversation
should revert to the principal features Of
that country and the producing powers
of its coll, the latter being a subject II
which | take considerable interest. / wat
pleased to find in my companion a kin.
dred spirit, while recognizing my desire
for information on sgricut' ural topics, he
readily cited the returns yielded him by
his own property. In his manner Of
stating there details, which to Others
would probably have appeared dry and
unlnteresting, l discovered a singular
charm and fascination; but after a little
l felt that 1t would be selfish to keep hin
Altogether to myself, aid accordingly
proposed gu ad adjournment to the dra wing
room.
On entering we found Clare sea'e d a
the plano, where Mr.. Pauton at orc.
begged that she would remain. AS my
daughter Is a finished musician / hast
ened to second the request. For my OWL
part, whether from the excitement of thu
days adventures or the excellence Of the
dinner. | know not, but no sooner had ]
relspsed into my easy chair than / drop
ped into a pleasant slumber.
When I awoke Glare was sill at the
plano playing softly, while Panton stood
near to her talking In a low voice. AS ]
had no desirs to'act the part of an caves
dropper- indeed the distance at which ]
was rendered such a thing impossible
gave a preliminary yawn and commenced
ostentatiously to stretch myself. "Bles'
me-" l remarked, looking at my watch
"lt'u getting on for II. How quickly tn,
evening has rassed!'a