Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-08-27


the market everywhere.
"1he young man looks disreputable and
disspated"
"He looks very ill., said Grace.
"If he comes to Darnel this afternoon
you had better take him straight to the
drawing room, and introduce him to Sir
Allan as your aflianced husband, since you
are so confident about him. returted the
colonel, getting angry.
"That means that you wash your hands
of me and my troubles" said Grace,
piteously
at means that I will help you, if
possibly can. But | will not encourage
you in folly-a mistaken sense of honor
and self-sacrifice. | love you SO well,
Grace, that if | thought this man were
worthy of you granting him to be pau
per, and if knew your heart was set upon
marrying him, would use my strongest
endeavorS to reconcile your father to n
bad match But | have shrewd suspi-
cion that the man is a scamp and scoun-
drel, and am very sure that in your heart
of hearts you don't care n straw for him.
SO shall make it my business to arrange
matters civilly and literally with the gen
tleman. And if you are only good and sub
missive, | believe ] shall be able to tell
you in week that you are as free as the
air"
"Dear-dcarest colonel" cried Grace, for
getting herself. "But you will not behave
unkindly to poor Victor
81 mean to treat him very handsomely.
! will give him "A fair start, with n nice lit
tie sum in hand, in a new country, Mt
considerable distance from Darnel Park
but that will take a heap of money
"The money shall be forthcoming. You
and | can square accounts when you are
of age"
"My best of friends
And when all is settled, and your Paris
ian friend has returned you those foolish
letters, you can go to Sir Allan and tell
him all about it very quietly. And then
your mind will be at ease ever after
ward
1T will be dreadful to tell papa" said
Grace ruefully. He will preach me such
a sermon
"Even sermon may be endured from
so good Il father" replied the colonel, with
a kindly smile, "and, after all, sermons are
good things in their way
"Yes, will tell him all, godfather, when
Victor has released me from my promise;
and if he should send me a letter to come
to the house, which he could hardly do,
poor fellow, in that dreadful coat | will
let you know directly"
They put their horses at trot, and fol-
lowed Sir Allan and young Colchester,
who had got good start of them by this
time and there was no more confidential
talk between Grace and her godfather.
That breakfast after the cub-hunting
was a most genial meal Edward Col
chester was as hungry as the proverbal
hunter, and eat and talked with the most
cheerful clatter, his talk naturally being
a recapitulation of the mornings work,
and of other mornings; what they had
done and what they ought not to have
done: whether one particular fox was the
hunted fox, or a new foX-a point nicely
debated, as cxemplified by the conduct Of
the said fox, between Mr.. Colchester and
| the colonel. Even Grace frightened and
joined in the conversation, and showed
herself wonderfully au fait rs to the little
MAYS sqa a9HafSG 81 o6b4 $aQ6 foxes and the
Edward Colchester fingered till nearly
luncheon time He went to the stables
with Sir Allan while Grace was changing
| her dress and there was that general over
! hauling of horsehesh which seems a source
| of perennial delight, even to the groom>
and lads who have to bear the heat and
burden of bringing the animals out and
| trOttng them up and down. And Whei
the stable inspection was over Grace was
discovered on the terrace in front OF the
drawing room, all bloom and freshness il
her pretty walking gown, and at Mr.. Coz
chesters request she took him to see the
conservatories and that superb collector
of crysanthemums which was thu
autumnal glory of Darnel Park
You'll come too, won't you, auntleE
said Grace, appealingly
1t was but rarely she called Dor'
"auntie," and the unwonted tenderness
seemed like cry of distress She woul'
have done almost anything to escape
tete-a -tete with the master of the hounds
she who was audacity itself in the hel'
when she trotted up to him to give hin
little wrinkles as to the whereabouts o
foxes.
So Dora went the round of the glass
houses, and explained the crysanthemum
to Edward Colchester, who found himsel
called upon to be interested in the ditterer
breeds, and rapturous about the Japanes
varieties, and attentive TO Dora Darnel a
every point. 1t was altogether disaI
pointing business and he fell into fearfI
warnings before he had done.
: You seem dreadfully sleepy sal
Dora.
Il was at the kennels at a quarter
four" he murmured, alphabetically.
+ And you are dying to 60 home for
nan" said Dora I'VE won't look at an
more flowers to-day"
, oh yes, let me see them all" pleadc
Colchester, clnging to straw, sti
, family hoping for a few words alone wit
| Grace.
, But there was no detaching Grace frol
> her aunt. and although young Colchest'
stayed till the luncheon gong sounded
had to leave ut last, without having Spuht
those few words. But it would DE III h
; power to make another opportunity b
fore Sir Allan carried his daughter oil
:, the south, if he had made up his mind
. speak those words.
CHAPTER VI.
LIFE STIFLING FEAR, SOUL sTIFLl>
r SHAME"
/ Grace spent the day in apprehension, e