The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-06-11

can account tor that. But then there is the
fact of the body having been dla e d foi
half a dozen yards from the spot WI ere it
fell. The man could not havo dragee him
self out of the path after the shot was fired,
for death must have been instantaneous L
asked Hcriot whether the fellow had ever
threatened to destroy himself, but he looked
stupid and nervous, and l could get nothing
out of him. never saw any one so cut up.
What on earth is he doing with himself?"
! 81 d n,t know. Tho Countess wants ! i IL
TO return to Kingscourt, but lie will not.
do not sec any reason for his staying away"
'&eason! Why, what reason could there
! be? The fellow has no business in town,
for he told me SO"
"What reason, indet Her, wa Il repeats,
absentlv II think he ought to come eek. "
81: :rtainly ought. This Cartwright is
pushing fellow. Does he want to get into
La ly CHA ly's &, oil graces by the exer iou>
lie is max .ng in behalf of her fathers game
keeper"
Sc don't know perhaps so," Hereward
answer. "But 1 think he had better let it
alon.. Perhaps shs will not thank him for
it..
81 don't suppose she will, indeed? What
+ is it to herr"
at may be more than he thinks. But his
Inquiries will fall to the ground. Nothing
more will come to light; l am sure of that.
Somebody ought to advise him to mind his
own business"
II agree with you. hate the fellow like
poison. But let us talk of something pleas.
ant. Hereward, you haven't answered my
question. Wasn't true prophet"
"About WHAT" Herewa,d asks.
"About your broken heart"
"Ah, says Hereward, between his teeth
''lt is quite whole again now, is it not
You are amazed at the donkey you made of
yourself are you not 2"
81 am, )" Hereward answers, laconically.
"Didn't tell you SOP" Blount exclaimR
aggravatingly.
eyes; you certainly did. But come now,
Dick, why didn't you tell me your own
grievance? You were hit harder than l
was, after all.
Blount reddens to the roots of his fair
hair.
who told you that?" he asks with
comical look ~
"You didn't, at all events. But it would
have served you quite right if had cut you
out"
''It wouldn't have been hard to do that,
I'm afraid" Blount gives great sigh as he
''Are you really gone, Blount ?" Hereward
looks up Mt his friend rather incredulously as
he puts the laughing question.
Don't ask me-" Blount answers. shrug-
ging his broad shoulders. 81 think I was
fool to come here, but destiny led me by the
nose. Do I look ridiculously sentimental?
Do tell me honestly, like good fellow"
'tNot just now," Hereward answers con-
solingly.
I'm not the figure for it. you see. 1t
suits you thin dark fellows to look romantic
and desperate, and all that kind of thing,
but it makes fat fellow like me look absurd.
And she is such terrible quiz"
''Who ?" Hereward asks innocently.
'Bother take you, Hereward! But tell
Gladys Palliser? 1 think she is the prettiest
girl ever saw in my life little proud
and stuck-up, you know, but not without
reason"
"Do yor think her prettier than Miss
Middleton
''More distinguished looking, and all that;
but I don't say her face is so much what
admire. 1t is too cold. But she's the kind
of girl fellow would break his heart
about in earnest Not that I ever did She's
as high above us poor beggars Us some partic-
ular star"
Hereward acknowledges it with pain at
the heart.
''Did Miss Middleton ever speak of me to
your" Blount asks with bad attempt at
off -handedness.
Every seldom" Hereward tells him mis-
chievously
~ thought so. You never mentioned her
in your letters"
"Why didn't you ask me anything you
wanted to know
TOO shy, my dear fellow-too shy It is
my great failing. But mean to try my fate
ngain. l don't think she'll take me, but I
mean to ask her And now let us turn in.
1t is two o'clock"
Hereward spends the rest of that night in
W liking up and down his ROOM 1t is n
f,vorite habit when anything troubles or an
noys him. He is perplexed, and yet he will
not tell his perplexity to any one. No one
can help him, and n secret is no secret when
it is known to more than one The secret
that is making him so sleepless is known to
moro than one, certainly; but then the par
ties are pretty certain to keep it a secret, for
their own sakes. Its bearing with regard to
himself has never occurred to him His
trouble Is wholly on anothers account and
nor 90 mnrh for the sake of that other as
for the sake If some one to whom that other is
dear.
Blount remains at Kingscourt for two or
three days He makes desperate love to
Miss Middleton and Hereward cannot help
confessing that he does look absurd in the
role of n sentimental lover But Miss Mid