Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-08-27
CHAPTER V.
"DOUDT NOT THAT HAVE COUNTED WELL
THE COST y

THE COST"
Col Stukclv rode slowly along the top
of the ridge, looking for the sandy hillock,
TO leeward of that cluster of rugged frs,
where Grace and he had seen the vaga-
bond lying. He found that particular hill
ock easily enough; there were the prints
of the horses hoofs to show him the way;
but the man was gone. He rode all over
the common round and about looking
for him, almost as closely as the hounds
would have hunted for fox: but there
was no sign of human creature shelter
ing behind any Of those furze bushes or in
any of those hOllows.
! He heard the hounds winding around
the base of the hill and went zigzagging
down to find Grace in field Mt the bot
tom. The fox had gone to ground, and
the huntsmen were getting the hounds to-
gether to 90 back to the Kennels digging
out not being counted rs virtue in this
district. Mr.. Colchester was in high
spirits; his young hounds had worked ad-
mirably, and he had been with Grace
almost all morning. 1t was only o'clock
now: they would be back in time for
latish breakfast. Grace and her father
had dismounted, and We're standing
side by side, while the grooms
eased the saddles Grace gave
u little appealing look at the colonel,
which he answered by IA grave shake Of
his head.
you'll come with us to breakfast, Col
chester" said Sir Allan; I'VE are nearer
than the manor. And it may he the last
time we shall breakfast together for five
or six months
"The last time" gasped Colchester.
what do you mean"
Il al, -, 10 fpr
the winter, ana we are off as soon as ever
we can start
"All You and Lady Darnel, l sup
pose
And Grace. Grace is going with us"
what, are you going to lose the hunt
ing, just when Sir Allan has brought you
that perfect mare and with poor old
Blackbird as fit as fiddle, tooy How can
you, Miss Darnell?".
yes, it is very sad isn't it?" murmured
Grace, hardly knowing what she was say
ing, her mind full of that figure lying
against the healthy knoll. that rusty vel
veteen jacket, that battered old felt wide
awake, the very image of destitution and
decay. Her lover her plighted lover, the
man for whose sake she had renounced all
the rest Of mankind, binding herself by a
lifelong vow. And then she glanced shyly
at the master of the hounds, trotting be
side her along the rustic lane-the frank,
manly fo"o tLa h..;,-L. E--,-i:-L ---,.rlov
ion, the look of gentle blood, the clear out
look of eyes which had never feared the
face of a foe. And she knew in her heart
of hearts that this man cared for her above
all women.
Are you really going'" he asked rue
=, fully.
Really and truly" she said, "but it is
not for 80 very long. We shall come back
in the spring, as soon as the weather is
mild enough for Lady Darnel'
"Not before May said Sir Allan. "Our
climate is not to be trusted before May"
"And May is about the most treacherous
month in the year. interjected the colonel
l "Never put your trust in May. All the
l old English saws tell you that
e And you are going to Italy, said Ed
ward Colchester, growing more and more
respondent, land there are these cursed
e hounds to tie fellow by the leg. What
part are you going to?'
+ He had not been much of a continental
traveller, "A fortnight in Paris being hi
/ largest idea in that line.
r "What part of Italy," inquired Mr.. Col
/ chester, as he logged along by Grace
II side
Il think father said we were to 90 to thu
n lakes"
1t "Como, and that kind of thing. All, yer,
:, nice, dare say Any salmon, wonder
u Well Miss Darnel, as | have never seel
!, Italy, I'll run over and join you for
/ fortnight or so in April, if Sir Allan vii
let me"
y, "You would find it very dull, | al
4 afraid replied Grace, sadly. "We are nc
Y going for sightseeing or gayety; but sOlel
a s 7 4 Ma =, an1t
Is II shouldn't care how quiet you Nigh
be. | should go to see ltaly-and YOU
10 II say, Colchester, where did you &c
that chestnut the whip rode this morr
To ing?" asked Cir Allan, and the master wa
n Obliged to leave Grace's side to talk I
" her father.
,e Grace fell back directly, and began I
question the colonel.
ia "How dreadful!' she said, when he toll
ne her of his failure. "lf he should go ava
r. from the neighbOrhood without help! Pei
20 niless, starving, perhaps"
10 mo fear of that, think You may d.
FL pend that he has come to this neighbo
ey hood meaning to get help, and from yol
Poor Grace! You will hear Of him 500
enough, be sure. But whenever he do,
ne approach you. mind you refer him to me
"How unkindly you speak of hin
Ir colonel as if he were my enemy"
How can think of him except as vol
it. enemy penniless adyenturer who i
he veigles school girl into an engagemel
nj. which he must know she can only keep
nis the sacrifice of her prospects in life"
or. "He did not inveigle me. | was We
he foolish, perhaps, but | acted of my ov
a free will And you have no right to ca
'xt him an adventurer, just because he
poor, and because you see him for the fir
ba time under very humiliatng circumsta
ttv ces," said Grace, plucking her handkC
chief out of the pigskin to dry sudd'
on rush of tears.
ION II do not believe that any industrior
oo- well meaning young man would fall
97.,t low Grace There is providence (
STRUGGLING youth; and when young f
r.. low drops below the level of his own cla
IL be sure there is IA good reason for the IA
'io You saw this fellow in Paris, painting
[nd livelihood You say he has the educ