The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-04-23

PHILIP BATHURST REFUSES TO SELL
HIS LOVE.
a sweep of golden gorse, blended
with purple heather. x fresh breeze
from the uplands. n range of hills in
the distance. a mile or so to the right.
a nne Old EliZabethan mansion. sur
rounded by dark frs, at the base of |
which stretched lake into which the .
rocky land jutted, forming tiny head 1
lands and deep-blue silent creeks. Oc-
caslonally black-cock or some other
olrd would rise up from the heather and |
wing Its way dozen yards or so, then
drop down again to earth, or at times
continue its flight to the distant hills.
Beyond this no other moving object
broke the landscape of moor and fell,
save the figures of two men who came
tramping through the heather.
The one who walked a little in ad-
vance was a tall, broad-shOuldered, mus
cular specimen of the young English
gentleman, who had never done a day's
work IN his life; but had gone through
no end OF labor in boating shooting,
and such like sports. His features were
handsome and manly, his complexion
becomingly bronzed, his eyes of a clear
olue, giving winning expression to
the whole countenance, while glossy
rings of nut-brown hair clustered round
the shapely head. His attire was a re-
markably well-made shooting suit, and
he carried gun over his shoulder.
His companion, apparently of his own
age, was of lower grade in society
indeed, his dress was that of a game
Keeper. a game-bag, quite empty, was
slung over his shoulders, against which
also rested two loaded guns. For some
time there had been silence, the black
cocks had risen and flown away un-
checked. Not bang had disturbed the
autumn air. 1t was doubtful if the
foremost sportsman had even seen the
birds as he STROBE on, one hand in the
pocket of his Shooting-coat, his brOwS
contracted, and his eyes bent on the
ground. He evidently was lost in deep
and not quite agreeable meditation.
The other more than once had glanced
IN a surprised, perplexed fashion at
him, then at the birds that rose almost
from their very feet.
AT last. unable to keep quiet longer,
he remarked with a cOmical twinkle in
his brown eyes:
Don't you think. Mr. Phil. we should
have had lust as much sport if we'd left
the bag and the powder and shot at
homer And the guns, too, for that
matter. There would have been less to
carry"
Philip Bathurst burst into a merry
peal of laughter.
Fright YOU are. Mark. - he exclaimed;
day. The fact is, | didn't come ont to
shoot l came to think, and as we can
do that as well sitting as standing, here
goes"
So saying he threw himself down
! among the scented heather. As the
! gamekeeper followed his example, he
Said:
Il thought there was something up,
/ Mr.. Phil"
| "Something up, indeed" exclaimed
! the young master, his gaze fixed on the
mansion among the frs. ''HeighO!' >
! after pause; Il say, Mark, how would
! you like to go to Australian
! Australia! Why, Mr.. Phil, I'd go
wherever you go. But it amt likely
| you are going there"
| isn't it? That's all you know about
/ it, fosteT-brOther Mark, " retOrted Phil
| ip Bathurst with an assumption of gaye-
ty. Know that this day promises to
be one of the most important in my life
that's why came out to think; know,
Mark. that before yOnder jOlly-faced
| sun sets and rises again, Philip Bath
| urst, reputed heir of his uncle, Charles
Bathurst-may be a homeless, compare
lively penniless wanderer.'
You, Mr.. Phil; that's one of your
Jokes, sir"
. A Joke. Mark, which I'm coming tC
think will turn out serious earnest
Tonight may see the doors of Bathurst
closed on mel being outside, not in
"Surely, Mr. Phil, you're mad OF il
~ Not more mad than man is general
". Mark; as to Olove-well-p'raps that:
nearer the point. There, old fellow
don't grin. Pom my word, I'm no
testing: listen, and III tell you al
about it. You're aware that Sir Ken
Won McCrea has a daughtery'
"You can't be in love with her, Mt
PHILIP"
mo. Mark: but my not being in love
makes no difference with my uncle. H'
has boarded, and saved, and made al
his lifetime, and now ne mas SET III III
heart on my marrying an heIreSS, ina
heiress being Miss Marian McCrea."
'tAnd if you refuse, Mr.. Phll2"
''Then l am disinherited. We nea
had high words about 1t last nlght
when my uncle gave me until this even
|; ing to decide. If l refuse, l am L
trOop bag and baggage inStanter iron
Rathursf, Now, putting all other thing
aside. Mark, it is to me cOnfoundedl
derogatory for a fellow to let anothe
choose a wife for him. To be bought
as it were. l don't like it. It's an III
suit to a mans liberty and independen
feelings. BY Joye it is
'Stfll. Mr.. Phil, Bathurst's Batl
urst,n . remarked Mark, scratching III
: ear. land Miss McCrea isn't so yer
P'"s;1TIf "Tf she were all beauty and amiabil
, ty it would make no difference.
. "Ahln remarked the fOSter-brothel
, slyly. because, Mr.. Phil, of the othe
: things?''
= philip Bathurst again made the al
{ yibrate with his laughter.
: stYou're a cute fellow, Mark. BU
. vou've hit the right nail on the head.
s am in lOve-Over head and ears-up
: the eveS-with an angel.
! aThey all are angels, Mr.. Phil, Il
e we have married them.
ssHoid your tongue, Mark; you can
iudpe. for you didn't know an ange
The one love there is not the shghte
chance of my ever seeing again. 81
4 has vanished from me, as If, lndee
20 she had been ethereal instead of cart
. Iy. Or did we meet, and II my unc
EeeDs his word there would be Just
nossibility-what likelihood is the
HAT | should find her single? Son
u fortunate fellow must have made h
,t his wife long ago
! ssWhy. then. Mr.. Phil, don't yC
please your uncle and marry Miss NJ
l. Crea?"
r wed one girl while my heart is full
fine image of another, and | can neve
e never forget her."
IS ssDid She love you, Mr.. Phil?"
I s.She said so. Mark
IS ssThen why did she vanish awayp'
ssBy compulsion, Mark. III tell y,
all about it. You recOllect when l we
to Brighton? Well, one day during L
G visit as was strolling near the pier,
- heard the clatter Of horses feet behil
me: knowing it to be a riding-school
did not give it my attention until
heard the people shout: L turned swl
iv and perceived one of the horses h
bolted with its fair rider. All the re