Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-25


colored and laughed unessily, watching
his face as be read It. snow do you
believe it9" she said IS she saw he
had come to the signature.
81 scarcely can," he muttered. in .
voice Of suppressed passion. "The
vulgar donkeys. And he thinks, does
be, that because you are schoolmistress
in Ashlegh he Is not to treat you as
lady! impairment idiots. What have
you said, Mary' What have you
done?"
Nothing" said Mary, trying to
appear Indifferent. When she saw her
godfather she felt inclined to show her
self calm. 81 an only an underling,
you know. OF course, must submit
must obey my orders"
"Of course, you must do nothing Of
the kind !" cried Joshua Brooke. DO
you think I'm going to be ordered out
by such a."
"But surely, Mr.. Brooke, you
wouldn't wish to cause a scandal in
Asbleigh?" suggested Mary satirically.
Rubbish" growled the Squire.
81 say, Mary, I'm not going to stand
here any longer. l want to speak to
you. I've something that must be set
tied tonight, and this twaddle Of those
folk down there only makes it the more
imperative. Let's 60 in" lie led the
way, and Mary followed; but at the
little porch he stopped. "Lst's sit
here" be said. Mary" he went on,
when she had seated herself on one
side and be on the other, "are you
really vexed about this, or are you
only amused?"
She bit her lips to keep back the
tears, but they would come, so she
turned her head away to hide them.
"Do you think schoolmistress can
feel, Mr.. Brooke?" she asked 'front.'
cally. "Of course, | don't care bit.
I thoroughly enjoy the insult; tho
roughly appreciate the delicacy and
tact with which the rector's wife has
acquitted herself. Of course, take it
as a compliment; am really only
amused"
The bitter tone in which she spoke
showed him plainly how much she felt
it. Bitterness and irony were foreign
to her nature. he well knew, and it
grieyed him sorely.
II am as yexed as you can be,
Mary" he said /; sand more so, for
this IS all really my fault. | have
brought this indignity-this abominable
rudeness-upon you through my own
folly-my own selfshness."
"Your folly? Your selfshness;
Oh, Mr. Brooke" Mary exclaimed
sorrowfully; "don't make fun of me.
| know I've been foolish and selfish,
but mean to be wiser. Please don't
make fun of me" And Mary, who
had restrained her feelings as long as
she could, burst into tears aud hid her
face in her hands.
The 'Squire's face grew still more
panied at this double proof Of how
deeply she had been cut by Mrs. IIorni.
blows inainuations. He knit his
sharply outlined eyebrows till they
met, with a doubtful, troubled express
sion. and finally leaned forward as if
to say something consolatOry or SYM
pathiziug, but did not, and sat up
again silent and considering.
Mary, however, soon put al end to
her tears. She was too brave and too
proud to give way for long ; she snd-
5enly uncovered her face and looked at
him all smiles, sprinkled only with the
remains Of her tears.
"Now, if you'll be good | will,
she said archly, drying her eyes enor-
getically. "Im not going to worry
myself about Mrs. Horniblow's imagi-
nations any more"
But what shall you do, Mary" "
he asked grayely.
DO. What about? Ny orders {;
Obey them, Of course, or | shall be
cashiered," Mary replied.
~ think not, Mary; if they did
that | should put one Of my own men
in the school cottage, and leave Mr.
Horuiblow to pay the next schOolmis-
tress himself and find her lodgings as
well. No! I don't think they would
be unwise enough to do that; it would
cost too much
Lets say no more about it, said
Mary; 81 am getting quite bad tenn
pered over it. Pray, come in to
mother and let US forget all about it,
But you must decide upon some
course, Mary" replied the Squire.
81 hayo quite decided" replied
Mary. "Of course you mustn't come
any more. It's very ridiculous, but
it's not my doing; and her lips
quiyered.
"Yes; | mustn't come any more"
said Mr.. Brooke. ." But how about
the otbeI-that pup?" he asked.
Mr.. FoItescue? oh, he won't come
again." Mary answered decidedly, but
coloIing and stammeting. oil
he-I told him that; but there IS no
use in going over it all again, Mr..
Brooke, and il isn't fair to him."
"Oh," calculated tho Squire, with
sigh of content. 81 suppose then
veil. Mary, if you don't wish it |
Won't say a word more about that
that poor young fellow. ! can afford
to pity him now. And yet, Mary, my
child, you would have taken bin if
You had gone on living at the rectory
and he bad gene on counting you, eh a: -
lie asked it softly and tenderly.
Mary blushed.
II don't quite know; can't be
sure. feel now IS if | never could
have cared for him. felt very angry
and contemptuous when he came. /
vas too angry to listen 10 him pa
tiently."
But then-in the old days, | mean,
Mary-you loved him ;" suggested the
Squire.
IL don't know. No, think not.
| don't think, godfather, that it could
have been real love, or ! should love
him still. And | am quite sure about
that" answered Mary, growing very
hot over this confession.
care you sure, do you think,
Mary? Or is it pride that makes you
hide your love, or fancy that you don't
feel it: You are proud, you know,
and little quick-tempered. Yod were
NM out with vour old godfather lust