Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-19

said. You have rescued me from a great
difficulty"
@Perhaps if 1 had been in the way to
teach you the ten commandments, laying
particular stress upon the fifth. you might
never have got into that difficulty, my
poor Oracle"
mo; if l had honored my father as
ought to have done, should never have
engaged myself to a French art student
without his knowledge" said Oracle, and
then, with a touch of pretty RIGHTEOUSNESS,
she added but then he ought never to
have sent me to school. That was the
beginning of the evil"
THAT was Aunt Dora's doing" said Sir
Allan 1.-THE school was her advice"
Il hate people who are always giving ad-
vice" exclaimed Grace. "A thing that
costs nothing, and which nobody wants. "
How happy they were, sitting round the
cozy hearth in the spacious old room which
Wren had planned for just such family
uses. Four people sitting round the fire
in the average modern bed-chamber would
be a crowd; but here there was room
enough for twenty. They sat round the
fire talking for the next hour. and almost
forgot that Sir Allan was still an invalid,
till the family doctor came in and re-
proved them severely all round, including
the patient.
Il said you " ere to sit up for an hour or
30, and you have been up at least four
hours" he expostulated.
"The other three hours went under the
head of or so" replied Sir Allan. at was
a vague expression on your part which |
took to have liberal meaning. Don't be
frightened, Danvers, | never felt better in
my life, and | am going to eat one of these
partridges which you nave been pressing
upon me as persistently as Louis XIV
upon his confession. l am going to eat a
partridge and drink tumbler of Held
seek to my supper as old-fashioned peo-
pie say"
upon my SOUL l believe You have been
taking Heidseck already" said the doctor,
"for you are as merry as grig-and you
have been all in the dolefuls till to-day"
The tide has turned, doctor" said Sir
Allen. you shall see how fast man of
45 can get well when he is surrounded by
those he loves"
Before the end of November Sir Allen
was well enough to start for the south.
The day before he left Darnel park he had
decisive interview with his half sister,
during which he made it clear to Dora
Darnel that her place was no longer
under the same roof that sheltered her
brothers wife
81 do not understand in what manner l
have offended Lady Darnel," said Dora,
with an air Of ill-used innocence. II have
absolutely shaved in my desire that every
thing in this house should be as near per-
fection as possible If Lady Darnel had
any experience of a large establishment
she would be better able to appreciate the
trouble | have taken in her behalf"
Lady Darnel is not unappreciative,
Dora She h ; great admiration for your
talents as housekeeper, so great, in fact,
that her ambition has been aroused by
your example and she would like, when
we come back, to try her hand at house
keeping on her own account, so | shall be
glad if you will plan your future life while
we are away. | am sure we shall all be
excellent friends at distance"
Dora paed to the lips and the hand that
played with her watch-chain was family
tremulous; but she maintained her dignity
as she replied:
81 am deeply grateful to you for my re-
lease Allan. Residence under Lady Oar
nel's roof has long been painful to me. My
own wants are of the simplest. My poor
don, and in an intellectual atmosphere,
where | hope | shall not be misunderstood
rs have been here"
"You must allow me to double your in
come, as | have always intended if ever
we came to live apart" said Allan, kindly.
Dora protested against the idea, but
there was that in her protestation which
assured Sir Allan that she would not be
infleXibe
Clare and Grace both left Darnel with
lighter hearts because of the knowledge
that they would not find Miss Darnel in
stalled there on their return. That per
ncous influence would not be taken out
of their lives forever.
~ can never forget that it was Aunt
Dora who sent me to school," said Grace,
in her confidential talk with her step
mother, while Sir Allan slept peacefully
on the other side of the railway carriage
which was taking them to Genoa "She
is the only person that ever parted me
from my father"
But believe there is one other person
who has the same malicious intention,
Grace" answered Lady Darnel, smiling at
her. "lf Mr.. Colchester comes to spend
Christmas at Venice with US. as he threat
ems, fancy it will be with the hope of
persuading you to exchange Darnel park
for the manor before long"
"He is a most persistent young man."
said Grace, blushing. 81 hope it won't
bore you to have him in Venice
Il shall be delighted to have him He
has always been my friend He has never
looked coldly down upon me as other peo-
pie have done at Darnel"
a believe that GOODNESS was mostly
Aunt Dora's FAULT
said Grace, and she was right, for on LADY
Darnel's return to her husbands house in
the spring, and upon the announcement of
Grace's engagement to Edward Colchester.
people who had held themselves somewhat
aloof before, fastened to Darnel to offer
their congratulations upon that pleasant
event, ond somehow before the year was
out the neighborhood began to understand
that Lady Darnel was a really charming
person, and that Sir Allan was altogether
fortunate in his second marriage
Sir Adams second wife received such
tardy attentions somewhat coldly, and did
not by any means fling herself into the
newly opened arms of the neighborhood,
but Grace's marriage, which took place
early in August, brought about festivities
and yisitings that necessarily drew Lady
Darnel into county society She stinted
no splendors or hospitalities that beseemed
the marriage of her husbands daughter
and heiress with man of wealth in the
neighborhood, and she bore herself at all
these festivities with quiet dignity which
impressed even the doubters.
whatever she may have been in the
past, she must always have been lady"
said that pleasant old Lady Scattercash,
who had lived every hour of her life in
l,fl,ro