Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-07

something worse if we were not careful.
He strongly recommended me to take
Lady Darnel to Italy for the winter. l
am to move her from place to place, give
her plenty of change of scene; in word,
to do all in my power to amuse and inter-
est her. Take her along the Riviera, let
ting her see every place that is worth Sec
ing, and then drop quietly down into
Italy for the winter. You can take her
back to Darnel when the primroses are in
bloom said he, and pledge my honor
she will be new creature.
"Well, my dear Allan, this was rather
cheering than otherwise"
at was comforting to know what was
wrong. Poor dear Clarel l do not think
it is the dullness of Darnel park she has
felt half as much as the want of sociabil-
ity upon the part of my old country
friends. That has wounded her deeply"
@Have they been more unsociable than
county people usually ares' asked the
colonel, with pardonable hypocrisy.
He was very well aware of the fact both
from Miss Darnel's innuendoes and his
own personal observation. The county
had given Sir Allan's second wife the
coolest reception compatible with civility.
"They are not absolutely uncivil; they
said Allan; but they have not been cor
dial There has been no real friendliness.
They take every occasion to let my wife
feel that she is not in their particular set;
and she does feel it, more, believe for my
sake than her own. She is too proud to
court anybody's friendship. The people
all made their duty calls when we came
home from our Honeymoon; but there was
a flo nf Inf Oh no xxhi
was unpleasant Then came three or four
state dinners to which my wife went, and
where she was made to feel somehow by
the feminine portion of the party that she
was received on sufferance. We gave two
or three dinners that winter, at which
some of my old friends were present; but
there was suspicious number of previous
engagements, and | knew poor Clare felt
Inundated at finding it such difficult
matter to make up a party of twenty.
Since then we have fallen into the way Of
living almost entire alone. In fact" said
Sir Allan, waxing savage, as was his wont
when he touched on this topic, Il shall be
very glad to get Lady Darnel away from
this accursed hole"
"Grace will go with you, of course" OBJ
served the colonel.
81 had not been thinking of taking her."
"My dear Allan, she would eat her heart
out if you left her alone with Miss OAR
nell"
"Those two do not get on together, GER
tainly. And Grace adores my wife. Yet
it seems pity to take her away just at
the beginning of the fox-hunting, and
after had bought her that new mare.
Grace is so fond of huntingy and young
Ted Colchester"
as so fond of Grace Is that what you
were going to say?"
ut is pretty near the truth, | think And
Colchester is a thoroughly good fellow, the
only man in the neighborhOOd who has
shown himself thoroughly stanch and cor
dial since my marriage. He belongs to a
good old family and he has a fine estate
l should be proud of such a son-in-law."
"And you may have him fora son-in-law,
If you play your cards properly. Take an
old bachelors advice, Allan. | don't
think Grace cares much for Edward Col
chester now. He has been too attentive,
too devoted is too obviously good match.
The first idea of high-spirited romantic
girl like Grace is generally to throw her.
self away on some pauper. If Colchester
were penniless nobody, and could only
approach her by stealth, have no doubt
she would adore him. But as he is we'll
off and you have broadly limited that you
would !" her to marry him, the natural
result is that she despises him. Take her
to Italy with you, keep her closely under
Lady Darnefs eye, and when she comes
back to Darnel the odds are that she will
like young Colchester ever so much better
than when she went away. She has seen
hardly my other eligible young man for
the last year and a half, and he has palled
upon her in consequence. Distance will
lend enchantmeut to the view
what an old fox you are, Weldon"
said Sir Allan, smiling. Eyes, l believe
you are right. Grace shall go with us,
even if the new mare and old Blackie have
to eat their heads off while she is away.
Perhaps you will winter at Darnel and
keep the stud in good working order for
US"
you are too good, my dear fellow" re-
piled the colonel, inwardly shuddering at
the idea of a winter spent with Dora NO,
| shall stay in town, if fail in finding a
place down here; and after nearly two
months | am as far from realizing my
ideal huntingdon as 1 was when l first
came"
In the drawing-room that evening Sir
Allan was in unusually good spirits The
idea of getting his wife away from Darnel
for long time was relief to him. He
felt grateful to Sir Clarkson for having in
sisted upon Italy. He talked of nothing
but their journey.
"Grace, you are to go with US" he said.
"Your godfather there has promised and
vowed for you, that you will be very
good, and give us no trouble, and that you
will help me take care of Clare So Won
will have to settle your fine points. as old
Capulet says, get all your frocks and
fineries ready, at very short notice.
"How good of you, dear father
you like to go, then" said Sir Allan.
looking at her sharply "You don't mind
missing the hunting?"
Grace blushed at the question. as If IL
touched sensitive chord.
zone can have fox-hunting any YEAR,
she said, but not an Italian tour
"1ou will have to be ready in less than
a week, Grace; for soon as ever | can mt
my affairs in decent order we will be Off
Glare is such an orderly person that she
is'always ready"
a have nothing to do but to be ORDERLY
said Lady Darnel smiling at him. Dora
takes all household cares off my hands.
and you never exact anything from me-"
ayes, do my dear look to YOU for
the happiness of my life, and you have
never disappointed me-" answered Sir
Allan, tenderly. "Wel, we will start di.
rectly; have paid the quarters accounts.
and made things straight with the stew
ard. dropped in at the bank as we drove
to the station and got 400 in notes to begin
the war"
as rol- Id