The Penn's Grove record., 1885-01-24

ready. and it wants only your sigma
ture."
She took a little perfumei sheet OF
note-paper from the table as she spoke,
and held it up before him. He took 1t
and read it through without a word
there was not much to read.
I'VE, Captain Richard Lucas, - til
Laucers, and Lady Isabel Dacre of
Wolstenholme, hereby pledge ourselves
to ignore and forget all that took place
between rs at Nordenfjord Ill the spring
of Is, not, If we can help it, to cross
each others path, not to mention each
others name.'
Lady IsabeI's signature was there al
ready, running in bold careless charac-
tiers across the corOneted paper. Captain
| Lucas, STOPPING, added his, and without
a word turned to the window again.
Isabel taking the paper in her hand.
| paused to look at HIM for a moment
where he stood with bowed head now,
| gazing out into the darkness, as if I'M
decided whether to turn back and speak
to him or no then, with head erectand
musing face, grasping the little paper
in her hand, she passed quietly from
the room, ana so faded away poor Cap
tain Richard Lucas's dreams of happi-
ness.
He did not appear at dinner that
evening, and it was not till some hours
afterwards, when the moon had risen
and the darkness of the library was
changed to the silvery glamor the
white Lady' brings, that young Lord
Talbot found him there, still standing
with bowed head and death-pale face
before the window.
He was not well, he said his old
wound troubled him sometimes In cold
weather and the next day he rejoined
his regiment, though a week of his fur
Tough was still unexpired.
"Who's that, Tom-the man who
looks like a soldIer-there, on the gray
horse ~
"That? Why, that is Captain Lucas
Sir Richard, as he Is now, since the
old man died | He left the army a
month ago. and looks as if idlene5s
would kill him, If it were not for the
evil spirit in HIM that keeps him alive"
"That Lucas Why, | saw him at
Falrlegh's last summer, looking as
healthy and strong as need be, and now
| would not give two months purchase
for his life. He's as thin as a lath and
as white as chalk, and, if ever a fierce
black fend looked out of a mans eyes,
he is the a What's wrong with
him 2"
GLOW should / know, boy ? In debt,
or in love, or something ; you'll know a
deal more about such things when you
| come out into the world"
"D5n't be so eocky, Tom; you're only
twenty yourself, ami can't make enough
money to keep a fellow in cigars Come
of your stills and tell me what's the
matter with Lucas"
1t was a warm bright day in the
height Of the London season we'll
dressed and well-mounted men and
women, and carriages speaking silently
of wealth and position, thronged the
Row.
Tom" was a Government clerk with
~extravagant habits and a small income,
but great expectations. He was lean
ing now ia all the glory of perfectly
fitting gloves and faultless hat over the
iron rail, watching the passers-by and
endeaVorlng to satisfy IN his own con-
descending way the curiosity of his
younger brother, an overgrown Elton
boy, who, by some peculiar tactics
which he employed with great success,
al ways managed to be at home for the
best part of the season,
AS they spoke, Captain Richard Lu-
cas- was riding by, holding Wooden in
with a steady hand, though the splendid
animals strong gray limbs quivered
with excitement, and he was evidently
longing to break away from the noise
and hurrying life on every side of him.
There was indeed a great change in
the Captain since he put his name to
Lady Isabel's bond in the library OF
Wolstenholme. His face was white
| and thin-not with the thinness which
would CONT from the hard fighting and
scanty food of a campaign, but with a
wan drawn look, scanned with deep
| lines, as if the fiery soul within were
trying to burst the bonds which held it
down to earth.
Captain Lucas knew both the lads
leaning over the rail but he did not
speak to either of them, though he had
turned Wooden in their direction for that
express purpose. Just as he was about
to rein mp, the Ladies Dacre of VOL
stenholme rode by, attended by their
brother and quite a bevy of male
friends he caught Just a glimpse of
| Lady Isabel's handsome chestnut, of
the braided hair and the sweet proud
face, flushed and animated now, for
Major Fitch Of the Royal Irish was
telling her of his astounding anec-
dotes of personal adventure.
He turned bis van face to get a last
glimpse of the dark r~iding-habit soon
lost among tha proud riders of the Row,
and Tom noticed with surprise that,
though his brow was dark, his mouth
twitched, and he shifted ~uneasily in his
saddle, as with sudden pain.
After this there were strange tales
told about Captain Richard Lucas. In
the Brownlow steeple-chase he had rid
den in a mad reckless way which brought
back TO the minds of his men the bad
fighting days in India. He had famed
Wooden and killed another horse by his
foolhardy riding with a broken billiard
cue he had thrashed Flashaway within
an inch or his life, and he drank deeply
at club and hotel every night now.
Lady Isabel had never awakened
thoroughly yet from the rose tinted
dreams that schoolgirls dream her
brain teemed with poets idle fancies of
blameless knights aud kings In shining
armor who knew no guile ; and, while
she unused owe THE Princess" in her
odorous rose-gardens, she never guessed
how Captain Richard Lucas was pacing
his little bartack sitting-room with
damp white brow and wild scared eyes,
clasping and upelasping a pistol In his
neryeless handJ seeking to take his own
life, but always held back by something
within hun which raised a warning
voice and called him Suicide"
A slot in the dark, the shouts of
angry men out in the thick wood just
a little way from the great doors, and
then the alarm bell OF Wolstenholme
rang out upon tas night-alr, seeming to
cast the tidings from its Changing iron