Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-19

circumstances, which demand great cir
cumspection. Mr.. Forescue's still less
so. l am, yours truly.
JANE HoRNIBLow.
Mary's cheeks Redeemed with anger as
she re ld Mrs. Horniblow's communica.
ton.
"Wbo are you swapping your finger
at, my LADY," asked "Old JOSH open.
ing the tabooed garden gate in all in.
nocence.
"Rev. Hugo and Mrs. Fortescue, and
Rev. Henry Horniblow and lady," an
swered Mary promptly. "But, Mr.
Brooke. go back again, please-don't
put your foot inside that gate," and,
with the old familiar freedom of her
she put both hands on his
arms, and pIayfully backed him out
again. shut the gate, and stood on the
inside gazing him. 81 don't know
whether even so much is allowed" she
added, holding her head doubtfully on
side.
"Allowed? What do you mean,
Mary? What new whim is this, you
pert child? Have you smallpox in the
cottage?"
"Whim. indeed! You may we'll ask /;
but you must 90 elsewhere for an ex-
planation. There are orders from head
quarters just arrived. that Joshua
Brooke-that's you, isn't it?"
She paused moment and looked
saucly at him.
"Well, then. orders are issued that
Mr.. Joshua Brooke and Rev. Hugo
Fortescue are not to be admitted to the
school cottage"
"And pray, do you forbid it, You i'm.
perious one? and if so, why so? l say
nothing of -ahem!--of his rever.
ence. But why do you forbid my call.
ing here. Mary. Has your last inter.
view with that humbly beg your par
don-his reverence anything to do with
this new arrangement" and the squire
ON the other side of the gate looked
fierce also.
Nothing at all. 1t is not my doin gs
in any way. l certainly might taboo
his reverence but shouldn't wish to
turn away the only FREUD poor mother
and have"
''No, it is NOT l; have received or.
ders from the rector. through his wife,
to taboo both you and"
To remove his eyes from her half-cry.
ing face, she took the obnoxious note
from her waistband and handed it to
him.
''There, that will explain. It's really
too good a joker And she colored and
laughed uneasily, watching his face as
he read it. "Now do you believe it?"
she said rs she saw he had come to the
signature.
Il scarcely can." he muttered in
voice of suppressed passion. 1.-THE
vulgar donkeys! And he thinks, does
he. that because you are schoolmistress
at Ashleigh he is not to treat you as
lady? Impertinent idiots? What have
you said, Mary? What have you
done?"
Nothing" s,id Mary, trying to ap-
pear Indifferent. When she saw her
godfather she angry so felt inclined to
show herself calm. 81 am only an un-
derlng, you know. OF course 1 must
must obey my orders"
''Of course you must do nothing of
the kindf' cried Joshua Brooke. "Do
you think I'm going to bs ordered out
by such a."
"But surely, Mr.. Brooke, you
wish to cause q scandal in Ash.
leigh:" suggested Mary satirically.
"Rubbish!" growled the squire. 81
say, Mary, I'm moi going to stand here
any longer. | want to speak to you.
I've something that must be settled to.
night, and this twaddle OF those folks
down there only makes it the more i'm
perative. Let's 90 in" He led the
way and Mary followed; but at the
little porch steps he stopped. "Let's sit
aere. he said. "Mary," he went on
when she h d seated herself on one side
md he on the other, 'are you really
7exed about this, or are you only
She bit her lips to keep back the tears,
1ut they would come, SO she turned
lway her head to hide them.
"Do you think schoolmistress can
eel, Mr.. Brooke?" she asked ironically.
'Of course, | don't care a bit. | thor.
oughly enjoy the insult; l thoroughly
appreciate the delicacy aud tact with
which the rector's wife has acquitted
herself. Of course, take it as a com.
l am really only amused"
The bitter tone in which she spoke
howed him plainly how much she felt
t. Bitterness and irony were foreign
20 her nature, he well knew, and
t grieved him sorely.
81 am as vexed as you can be, Mary"
le said; "and more SO, for this is all my
ault. l have brought this indignity-
his abominable rudeness-upon you
through my own folly--my own selfish
less"
"Your folly? Your selishness Oh,
Mr.. Brooke!" Mary exclaimed sorrow.
ully; "don't make fun of me: | know
we been foolish and selfish, but | mean
10 be wiser. Please don't make fun of
me-" And Mary who had restrained her
ceilings as long as she could, burst into
ears and hid her face in her hands.
Mary, however, soon put an end to
Ter tears. She was too brave and too
,roud to give way long. She suddenly
Uncovered her face and looked at him all
miles, sprinkled only with the remains
f her tears.
"Now, if you'll be good will, )" she
aid archly, drying her eyes energetically.
I'm not going to worry myself about
Irs. Horniblowers imaginations any
lore."
"But what shall you do, Nary" he
sked gravely.
"Let's say no more about it, said
larry: 81 am getting quite bad.tem-
cred over it. Pray, come in to mother
nd let us forget all about it,"
"But you must decide upon some
curse Mary" replied the squire.
II have quite decided, replied Mary. I
OF course you mustn't come any more.
rs very ridiculous, but it's not my do
49," and her lips quivered.
eyes; mustn't come any more" said |
Ir., Brooke. ''But how about the 9th
that pup" he asked.
"Mr. Fortescue? Oh. he won't come
yain," Mary answered decidedly, but |
1loring and stammering, I-I-he-I |
I'D him that; but there's no use in going |
yer it all again, Mr.. Brooke, and it isn't
.ir to him.