Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-07


pirate answer. 1t was the signal for q
general departure.
Sir Allan. Col. Stukely, and Grace were
in the saddle before 5 o'clock next morn
ing, and away over the dewy uplands, ana
in and out of dripping copses before O.
Grace's new mare behaved beautifully,
carried her young mistress as if she had
been feather-weight, and evidently rev.
eled in her work.
Mr.. Colchester was devoted as master
OF hounds can be, and keen observer
would have been amused to see the strug-
gle between duty and inclination which
tore at his heart strings every time ne had
to leave Grace's side in order to direct the
instincts of his young hounds. He seemed
happiest when the pack was in full cry
and he and Grace were galloping side oy
side across the country.
Col. Stukely kept close to these two all
the time, admiring Grace's admirer al
most as heartily as he admired Grace her
self. And, indeed, Squire Colchester, In
his gray coat and black velvet cap, was as
pleasing a specimen of young English
landowner as anybody could desire to see
tall, broad-shouldered, fair-complex-
toned, with CHEEKY blue eyes, and crisp
brown hair, which would have curled all
over his head had it not been kept closely
shorn. 1t was frank, kindly face, char
acteristic of the man, who was good
nature personified: but the firmly nodded
lips and square chin told of resolute
temper and strong will.
1t was in the course of second run that
an incident occurred which had startling
effect upon Grace and the colonel. They
were crossing common within three
miles of Darnel park, picturesque COM
mon on the crest of HILL all hillock and
hollow, crowned with cluster of old
Scotch frs. As they galloped over the
rugged, uneven ground, a little recklessly
on Grace's part, Juno, the new mare, gave
desperate shy, for the first time since
her mistress had ridden her, and Grace
looked round to see the cause of her
alarm.
A man was lying against sandy hill
ock, half buried in the furze-a slender
figure, in an old velveteen coat, travel
stained, out -at-elbows, a dark head half
hidden in a soft felt hat.
AS Grace turned to look at him, the man
raised himself slowly from his recumbent
position and look round him listlessly,
vaguely as if suddenly awakened, but not
in the direction of the young horsewoman,
who was some PAGES away from the hill
ock where he sat. Still looking back
at him, she gave faint, half-stitled cry,
just as young Colchester came galloping
across the common, almost brushing
against the man on the hillock and bore
Grace and the colonel along with him, as
on the wings of whirlwind.
"They're running like old boots in the
copse," he cried, pointing with his whip.
Godfather" gasped Grace, trying to
hold her horse back as they were gallop-
ing along a lane, so as not to be heard by
the master did you see that man on the
common"
"He is not a tramp. He is Victor de
Camillac. Oh, how ill and wretched he
looked. should have stopped if that hor-
rid man hadn't come rushing by. Do go
back to him. Ask him where he is stop
ping-why he has come here. d. colonel,
for my sake. And have you any money
about you?"
1.-TWO or three pounds, perhaps"
"Give him all you have, please, for me.
He looked so poor"
"Come along, Miss Darnel," shouted Mr..
Colchester; they've got him."
And Grace cantered after him with lit
tie hypocritical laugh, pretending to be
though she always felt ready to cry at this
stage of the entertainment, and told her
self that it was too bad. and that she
would never hunt again; and then, with
charming inconsistency, came out next
day
"The devil" muttered the colonel, as he
rode slowly up the hill; "heres a pretty
kettle of fish"
1t was the same classical expression
which he had made use of yesterday, when
Grace told him the story of her engage
ment, and with the colonel it meant great
deal
This mans presence within an hours
walk of Darnel foreboded mischief. His
dlsreputable appearance indicated a lapse
into the lowest depths of poverty. And
what generosity or forbearance could be
expected from a destitute adyenturerp
The man held Graces promise of mar
riage under her own hand. Could it be
supposed that he would not make it an
instrument of torture, unless he were
bought off, and got rid of somehow. He
was here in the girls own neighborhood;
he would discover the position her father
occupied; he would, perhaps, be told Of
Edward Colchesters devotion to her, of
the general expectation that she would
marry him. These things are always vii
lage gossip long before the principals
themselves have made up their minds.
If this adventurer were to show Grace's
letters to Edward Colchester, her future
would be blighted, her fathers hope
cheated. 1t was detestable ENHANCEMENT.
The colonel could not help feeling angry
with Grace as he rode up the hill. To
think that girl could so trifie with fate,
out of sheer silliness-could so forfeit self
respect, endanger her reputation-bring
pain and discredit upon her parents
"The only hope is, that if the man is
poor we may be able to buy him pretty
cheap" thought the colonel.
Continued Monddu, Sept. 49,