Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-28
Continued from yesterday.)
ENGAGED IN HASTE.
u NIae n. Z. BRADDON.


The colonel shook his head.
4Friedricson is to be here tomorrow"
he said; "and if the bullet can be ex-
tracted, then there may be some hope.
But just at present things look very bad.
"Poor Grace" said Colchester, show sad
it is for her | should like to 60 and talk
to her bit. if you think shouldn't be q
nuisance"
Il am sure you would not be nuisance,
and your society would do Grace good.
She is in a wretched state, poor girl II
you hurry up to the house you'll find them
at lunch, and Grace can hardly refuse to
see you" said the colonel, who was Sc
cret ally Of Monsieur de Camillac's rival
"a thousand thanksl" exclaimed the
young squire starting off at a run.
The family were at luncheon. Mr.. Col
chester Gc'ead to be shown into the dining
room, determined not to be relegated to
the solitude of the drawing-room, and to
formal interview with Dora.
Dora Darnel and her niece were seated
at opposite ends of the table, as far apart
as the could be. Grace sat with an empty
plate before her, the image of despair.
She gave wan smile when Mr.. Colches-
ter came in and took his seat by her side,
unlimited, except by the servant who had
laid cover for him.
"How very good you are to come again."
said Dora, with faint emphasis ON the
last word
II hope you don't mind my coming so
often. No, not any lunch, thank you," to
the servant. But really could not rest
without looking round again. have to
dine at Mawlesford tonight, Sir Roger
IRA "a nj 10
drive, horrid bore / don't feel bit in the
cue for going out! This-this sad business
has upset me more than can say"
Grace lifted those heavy eyelids Of hers
and gave him grateful look out of the
soft brown eyes; such luminous eyes they
had been in the days of her gladness; but
to Edward Colchester they seemed even
lovelier in sorrow. That soft appealing
look went straight to his heart.
Yes she was glad to see him. She had
been living in an awful solitude of grief
and fear-fearing her fathers DEATH fear
ing for her lover, that lover of whose eX-
istence she could not think without a
shudder. Oh, the folly of those Partisan
days-the silly romance, the faulty of it
ALL What burden she had laid upon her
self-what chain she had forged for her
young life. If this faithful admirer of hers,
who looked up to her with such respect
ful devotion, if he could know how idiotic
she had been, how must his admiration be
turned to scorn, his regard to loathing. 1t
was the thought of this which made her
uncivil to him. She wanted to keep him
at arms length, if possible. She would
not give him reason to reproach her for
hypocrisy and double dealing
But to-day in the utter desolation of her
life, she turned involuntarily to this friend
of her childhood. How good and true he
was, how frank, and honest, and straight
forward. Not so elegant, not so accomp-
hshed or fascinating as Victor de Camillac;
but what thoroughbred English gentle
man, without fear or reproach-a man to
stand before kings and not be ashamed.
as Lady Darnel too ill to come down to
lunch2' inquired Mr.. Colchester
"She is not ill-but very miserable, poor
thing" answered Grace.
And she gives way to her grief" said
Dora; 81 always envy the people who give
way to their grief. They generally get over
it so soon"
81 do not think Lady Darnel will get
over grief very soon, Aunt Dora, if my
father is taken away from us, said Grace,
with stifled sob.
How pale you are looking" said Ed
ward Colchester. II don't believe you have
had any fresh air since this trouble began
VIII you come for a turn on the terrace?
1t is lovely afternoon"
yes" said Grace, rising suddenly, II
will come. think should go mad if l
stayed in this house any longer. l must
go upstairs and hear the last report of my
father, and then | will go for ramble in
the garden. You'll come, Aunt Dora2"
"No, Grace; shall not leave the house.
can exist without fresh air"
Grace looked embarrassed, but having
accepted Mr. Colchester's invitation she
could not recede all at once. The with
travail would be too marked. She went
away, and came back in about ten min
utes with white Shetland shawl wrapped
round her shoulders.
"There is no change in the sick-room,"
she said. 1T is always the same answer
no improvement. Oh, those nurses, what
machines they arel | wonder if they seem
little more human when their own people
are ill? Come, Mr.. Colchester"
She went out to the terrace, walking
very quickly in her nervous agitation.
1t was delicious afternoon, the low sun
golden above the undulating line Of
against the glowing sky, wave above wave,
billowy masses of dark verdure, soon to be
touched with the varied hues of decay.
For little while Grace and her compan-
ion walked about the lawn in silence, she
too unhappy to speak, he racking his
brain for something appropriate, or at
least an inoffensive subject of converse
ton.
"How well the strawberries are looking"
he said at last, feeling as if the remark
were a flash of inspiration.
Now the strawberries had been Sir Allan g
peculiar pride. He had filled them with
new and rare conifers. with every variety
of Towering shrubs; they had been fed
with the most scientific preparations that
can enrich Che soil; they had been watched
and sheltered from the frost, and cared
for as if they had been precious human
things.
"Yes, they are too levely," said Grace.
II never saw that picea nobilis look so
superb as it does this year. My father is
so proud of it. And to think that he may
never see those trees again.
Here she began to cry, and
again Edward Colchester felt that
he was a brute. He seemed pre-
destined to say british things, to put his
finger-tip upon open wounds.
He walked by her side while she dried
her tears, his heart aching for her, his love
flowing out toward her like a magnetic
stream. They were in one of the winding
shrubbery paths, which they two had
trodden many time, gayly, csrelessly, as
comrades and playfellows, in those remote
days before his friendly feeling for a
pretty girl had ripened into passionate