Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-10
TSow Rsr PUBLIsHtrI
LOVES LABOUR WON +.
AN EVENTFUL sToKf.
BY JAMES GRANT,
- JrHoR OF 1.-THE ROMANCE OF WAR" 1.-THE
BLACK WATCH" "FAIRER THAN
FAIRY" ETC, ETC.
fIhe Right OF Translation Is Reserved
CHAPTER LXY.-AMYIs LETTER.

S.rsnge indeed hzd felt Melanie's frs,
experience Of her new aud independent
existence al the Dover House, with all
its comparative luxurles and perfect
freedom from the sway Of Uncle Grimshew ",
with his petty tyrsuuies, sneers and
crotchets.
She felt herself q woman for the first
time. Her surroundings, duties, mstives
and position partly bewildered
the girl; though she had
an uncomfortable sense that she
deserved them not, and should relIEquish
them; but why, or for whaI2 Had she
not, as Reggie often said, desrly won it
alp.
And he and his brother were safe now,
under her own wing, and free from the
horrors Of orpbansge and dependence.
She had grown stronger, drawer, more
courageous, since che hsd become SO
completely her own mistress and free
from all the strain and pressure put upon
her.
Lonsdale was sste and at home, there
WAS no doubling that; yetdsys and weeks
that seemed likely to run into months,
had passed since she came to Piccadilly,
and he had made no sign to her of his
presence in England, and Mrs. Chilling
ton had carefully concealed the circum-
stance OF his visit, and the false impress
sions she had given him on that occasion.
Ignorant Of all this, Melsnle felt deeply
wounded by the apparent cessation of his
tender interest in her on the one hand,
while Lord D'Oyley's continuous sympa-
thy and eHdeavors to please, on the other
though frequently boredom-seemed
always to occur stnatural times; thus her
instincts did not take alarm at them; be- |
sides, he was so passe, though acting the |
young old man.
She suspeCted-could not help know |
ing-the iIl-disguised intentions of her
aunt; but was she to permit this schem-
ing and ambitious old mAtrcn to mix up
her name with that OF q man who was
totally Indifferent TO her, aud whom she
would soon learn to dislike?
Was her heart to be again trifsd with
again trampled on. Aud vista offutute
regrets and bitter memories opened up to
her.
Bot why did Montague treat her so?
There was time when she could moi
inssine life passing without him; but
now it seemed es IL the coming years
might have eventuslities for her, in which
Lie WOuIi G6hE ~ part.
Hilds hSd impressed upon her the fact,
that ne had oeea for e long, long space
at his CLUB, close byi Whenever came {
this strange and Intangible barrier OF
doubt, or growing indifference between Z
them? Ii seemed like an evil dream, and s
sorrow became blinded with her genuine &
emotion Of pjque, while in Lonsdale's [
mind we're fOrmless and purpOseIess ! (
thoughts Of travelling beyond the seas i
agein. ID
Aud now on the very forenoon after the :
BotaLac Fete there ensued between the 4
aunt and niece brief conversation that :
seemed, 10 the latter, as ssVoEing Of the Z
old mast at r use Cottage.
"Iou do not look happy, Melanie?" d
began Mrs. Chillington.
"Psrhsps-but l am resolved to be s
happy, if mays l had enough Of being p
otherwise under Uncle GrimshsW's p
regime" replied Melauie with more b
spirit or asperlty than she was wont to
display. =
|Wnat Is 1t thst brings this cloud over u
you? LOnsdsle Egsin, l suppose. Hilds ]
told me that he saw you twice at the fete, 81
but contented himself by doing so. Can II
you, my niece, be mean enough to - tt
"Aunt, please to leave Captain Ions
dale's name out Of this discussion" n
"That's we'll. l shall gladly do so, my ~
Gear; all the more thankfully thst you s.
have so happily attracted may say in q
fatusteG-E1rd D'Oyley." 6;
81 am very sorry to hear it," replied ID
keeping her profile to the C,
speaker. II
"Sorry-why7 You ought rather to De al
glad, when your old ilme fails you, IS be D,
has SO sbominaoly done, darling" said
Mrs. Chiilington; and 1t was strange, tn
with her siiVery hair, silvery voice and b.
sweet smile, how cruel and false this old al
woman could be. ht
"I have had enough Of these new N
schemes Of yours, Aunt Chillington, apd te
shall gait London by the night train for
Oxford to morrow"
"But you must not-cannot!" 81
unjust notand c8unot-Why?" Of
"YOu are elm lst pledged TO be LORD st
O'Oyley's wife, so far SIS publicity goes; OF
lud know lie is on the point of e pro- IN
,ossl." 81
"Tnis is worse and worse; absurd, out
Ageous!" acclaimed Melanie, with 8 Is:
corntul lsuga, that was new indeed to sW
Ter sweet lips. ~ have been trepanned fst
'nce; bat never c g .in-never sgsinl" XIX
She started from her seat as she spoke,
nd twisted her lace handkerchief as she On
you'd have twisted cord. eH
ave shall see whist We she'll gee, dsr- fei
ing," laughed ihe old lady, and in spite set
I melanie's pale anger and intense re- do
ugnsnce, she twined her sTEns around hei
be girls neck, and tende-ly-or sp- see
srently so-kissed her on both eyes. "I Hi
sve but to request you, Melanie, to con- sra
lder well before you renew your mar hel
sge bonds," added the old hgpocrite; en-:
and only wed-asI know you will do geI
ne9Iho is worthy ei you" ho<
1t was at this crisis that Mrs. Chilling
IN received letter from the Wiscount, mi:
.kiRg her good influence and permission DRY
, address her niece, who, though you
ldow, he deemed yet but q mere girl. YOU
c uEged his deep regard for the 9th
tier, and the settlement he but
,uld make 1pol ner, beyond PISS
/ the lste Sir BEsco had dooe. n
he VISA girl, he sdded, who, he felt, len,
as wei calculated to shine in the best face
'ciety; who would reG6er his home and sprt
s. table brilliant and attractive; who th&t
Ould soGthe his declining years, he was T
SHY on the point Of Sdeing-not that and
= SIS Sa&Ss g Ss@c2e&S SS-o@ & sses
Is E&xk @&& & &a6z E&Y o. Ssa25< So }8Se:
ought; but be cast himself upon the this
disability and goodness Of Mrs Chilling JG
- l.. ~ -