The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-09-03
CHAPTER VIII.
MR.. FLINTER AGAIN.

hotel soma time before paid my strange
visit to Great Lorton, and l knew none OF
the persons who were staying there My
position was not an enviabls one now that
was back again in the big house 1t was
bad enough to be oppressed by that sense of
mystery which enveloped everything con-
nected with the hall and with Mauleverer.
1t was still worse to be reminded by every
thing around me of those happy days when
Daisy and l had been together and when
she had first learned to love me. There was
the very spot in the hall of the hotel where l
used to take my stand each morning, await
ing the appearance of her and her uncle on
their way to the saloon. There were the
seats, occupied by strangers now, where we
had spent so Eiany ver-to-be-forgotten
hours together; and there, quietly riding at
anchor In the bay. was the beautiful yacht
which had leaf ned TO hate as one of the
tangible proofs Of that wealth which divided
me from the niece of the millionaire.
waited with an impatience that 1 could
hardly control for news of my darling.
1t came sooner than l expected, in the
shape OF q letter from Dr. Branksome, en-
closing one for me from Daisy herself Need
l say that l read the latter first9
"My dearest friend" she wrote, II must
send you few words, if it were only to tell
you that l am well. must not say much,
for 1 feel that l am doing wrong even in
sending you this short message. But DIR.
Branksome has told me that he thinks / may
do so, and much as 1 have loved my uncle
l cannot yield myself com oletely to his will
in this. All, you cannot tell what change
there is in him since this has happened.
cannot account for it. He is SO different
from what he has ever been before-so
,,fta L., Al "a
seems to me that something has happened
to transform his whole character and to
change the love he once protested for me
into hate. 1 am trying to bear it patiently,
for owe so much to him But sometimes
it is very hard. DR.. Branksome has been
my friend through it all, though even he is
compelled, when my uncle is present, to
hide his sympathy with us both.
don't know low it will oil end, but
do want you to feel that you can trust me.
shall be true to you through everything.
P.ease, dearest, do not believe any evil
you may hear of me- l know l have my
enemies, AMI can't help thinking that they
are your enemies Also If you hear tales
about me, rest assured that if 1 have erred
at all, it is from my love for you and that
nothing, neither life nor death, shall ever
make me false to you. l cannot write
| uiOIes am aSDdIileu TO SeHu you DuU L
| think l know you well enough to be sure
that you will understand all that L want to
say to you, even though I have not the
power Of saying it Alright, and that you will
believe in your heart of hearts that l love
you above anything and everything else in
this worldn
was touched and consoled by the frank
and outspoken language of my darling. 1t
was what should have expected from one
so full of noble impulses, SO little given to
consider the mere conventionalities Of every
day life. l felt that she must indeed love
me with all her soul, or she could not have
addressed me in such strain as this
Branksome's letter, too, brought me some
consolation, though it also caused me uneasi-
ness regarding Daisy 1t was as follows:
"DEAR Mr. FENroN: You will forgive me
for writing to you on a subject which have
no doubt you regard as too sacred to permit
Of any intrusion by stranger. But 1 have
myself loved-once; and l trust that it is
not as q stranger that you look upon one
who so long stood in the place of father to
Daisy. l was grieved beyond measure, my
dear friend by the manner in which your
visit to this place terminated. It was, in
deed, an unexpected blow. AS an older man
than yourself. you will, l know, forgive me
if say that cannot but feel that it would
have been better if, before speaking to Daisy,
you had taken me-or, still better, Mr.
Mauleverer--into your confidence. But
acquit you entirely of any worse fault than
that of having acted, as young low
ers are so apt to do, upon inn
pulse I fear, however, that our
good host takes much darker view OF your
conduct. l have reasoned with him and
expostulated with him warmly on the sub
ject; but so far without effect l tried to
speak word to you on the morning when
you left US, but had been forestalled by the
steps taken tohasten your departure. l can
only say that you may count on me as friend,
and that l shall try, for Daisy's sake as well
as for your own, to put al end to the
present distressing state of affairs. She is q
bright girl, but she is n very proud and
very passionate one also; and l sometimes
tremble when Think what may be the con-
sequences of the cruel and incessant persecu-
ton TO which she Is just now being subjected
by man who seems to have forgotten that
she is the only creature left in this world
who is bound to him by the ties OF con-
sanguinity.
al sha hope to see you before many days
have passed, and then l can tell you more.
You, will, / suppose be staying at the
Grand hotel. shall find you out there BE-
fore long. In tho mean time, believe me,
yours most sincerely,
FRANCIS BRANKsoME."
Another week passed without my hearing
anything directly or indirectly of the occu-
pants of Great Lorton Hall My mind,
which had been soothed by the contents OF
Daisy's letter, was again becoming agitated
by the fever of impatience and uncertainty.
had sent a letter-a long letter, in which my
whole heart was poured QUITO Daisy, adj
dressed under cover to Dr. Branksome; but
no reply had come, and l was meditating
some further steps for the purpose of gain
ing tidings of her.
One morning, however, a servant brought
me word that a person had called to see me
on particular business and was waiting i'm the
hall of the hotel. l went down and found
one Of the crew Of the Golden Hawk await
ing my appearance. He saluted me respect
fully, and placed in my hand no.e TWAS
unsigned, and / did not know the hand
writing, but it was written ON sheet of
notepaper stamped with the name Of the
xyacbt II contained on1v m einor,la r,as an oa