Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-30

such father, you ought to be suprenely
happy
Grace blushed, and looked up at him
shyly.
sDon't you know, colonel, that there
comes a time in every girls life, when
even father and mother are not quite all
the world to herr
Il understand" said Weldon Stukely.
@There is lover in the case"
The very sound of the word, blurted out
point blank in the soldiers hearty voice,
seemed TO appan Grace DarneL She
glanced at the window.
Not one word, not one BREATH she
whispered, clasping her hands entreat-
ingly 1T is a secret Nobody knows.
My father would never forgive Harkl
there is the carriage, and l must rush on
to dress for dinner"
She was gone before he could say another
word He went out after her, and met
Sir Allan and his wife in the hall.
Sir Allan had retired from the army ten
years ago, upon the death of his father,
from whom he inherited Darnel Manor
and half dozen of the best farms in the
Vale of the White Horse. He had retired
invalided, and he was slightly lame even
now from the effects of bullet in Cabul.
Weldon Stukely and he had been together
at Elton, as brother officers had fought to-
gether at Crimea, and had borne the heat
and burden of the Indian mutiny. They
had been comrades and friends in the
golden days of youth, and they loved each
other like brothers. Their meeting was
full of quiet tenderness, undemonstrative,
as became two Englishmen.
"Weldon, my wife, said Sir Allan, and
ba cd 10
She was beautiful woman, in the prime
of womanhood, just eleven years Sir AL
lans junior. The tall, graceful figure, the
finely cut features, low, broad brow, and
dark-gray eyes had look of quiet dignity
which well became the mistress of Darnel
Manor Not a woman this for the county
to cut, thought Weldon Stukely Not
woman to awaken suspicion in the minds
of the most punctilious of village rectorS,
or the most prejudiced of squires. She
looked like woman born to command
homage. to inspire affection; an ideal wife
and mother.
She was simply dressed; more plainly
than woman of her station are wont to
dress upon public occasions; but the finely
nodded figure, the beautiful face, gave i'm
portance TO the black foulard gown and
neat little black chip bonnet. People at
Darnel had an idea that everything Lady
Darnel wore came direct from Paris, and
that this simple attire of hers was more
costly than other peoples finery.
"Catch woman of that stamp saving
her husbands money" they said to each
other over their afternoon teacups
II am told that Mason charges five and.
thirty pounds for foulard gown like that
she wore on Tuesday," said the Dowager
Lady Brumbus.
The foulard gown was made by
little dressmaker in Pimlico.
who had worked for Lady Darnel
when she was Mrs. Stuart but the county
had its own sources of information, which
were almost always false.
"Welcome to the Manor" said Sir Allan's
wife, with her hand in the colonel's. u
hope you are going to stay with us for
long time
~ hope he is going to stay with us until
he finds a snug little place of his own
within a couple of miles, and that he will
settle down there for the rest of his life"
said Sir Allan.
In one of his latest letters the colonel
had talked of wanting to buy place near
his friends His period of service was
over, had been extended to the uttermost
limit by especial privilege; but that limit
was past, and the stalwart soldier, in the
prime of manhood, had to lay aside his
sword, or turn it into plowshare.
Eyes, Allan, l mean to settle near you,
If can, and look after my goddaughter.
That is about the only business l can find
in life henceforward."
"Unless you follow my example," said
Sir Allan, cheerily.
Lady Darnel had left them. Sir Allan
conducted his old chum to the rooms that
had been prepared for him-bedroom,
dressing room, and study-three Of the
prettiest rooms in the spacious old house;
study with bow window overlooking
the pastoral side of the park, where Lady
Darnefs particular herd of Jersey cows
browsed peacefully in the low western
light, fetlock deep in the rich grasses of
late summer. The bow window had been
broken out thirty years before, and was
considered a blot, from an architectural
point of view; but it made that cozy little
study the incest room in the house.