Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-29

to come to reside at Molehil, and live the quiet, somewhat aimless life of small coun- try gentleman. His reading-for he was a great reader, especially of scientific works would, he thought, keep him employed, see- ing that in addition to reading he was thor ouSh sportsman, and an ardent, though ow- ing to the smallness of his means, necessarily not very extensive, collector of curiosities, and more particularly of coins
 At first, after he had come to his decision, feeling of infinite rest and satisfaction had taken possession of him. The struggle of life was over for him. No longer would he be obliged to think, and contrive, and toll ; henceforth his days would slope gently down toward the inevitable end Trouble lay in the past; now rest and rest alone awaited him, rest that would gradually grow deeper and deeper as the swift years rolled by, till 1t was swallowed up in that almighty peace to which, being simple and religious man, he had looked forward from childhood as the end and object of his life
 Foolish man and vain ina giningl Here, while we draw breath, there is no rest. We must go on continually, on from strength to strength, or weakness to weakness; we must always be troubled about this or that, and must ever have this to desire or that to re- gret. It is an inevitable law within whose attraction all must fall; yes, even the purest souls, cradled in their hope of heaven, and the most swinish, wallowing in the mud of their gratifed desires.
 And so our hero had already begun to find out. Here, before he had been forty eight hours in Honham, a fresh cause of trouble had arisen. lie had seen Ida de Ia Molle again, and after an interval of between five and six years had found her face yet more charming than he had before. In short, he had fallen in love with 1t, and being q sensible man, he did not conceal this fact from himself Indeed, the truth was that he had been in love with her all these years, though he had never looked at the matter in that light. At the least the pyrc had been gathered and laid, and did but require the touch of the match to burn up merrily enough. And now this was supplied, and at the first glance of Ida's eyes the magic flame began to hiss and crackle, and he knew that nothing short of a convalson or deluge would put it out.
 Men of the stamp of Harold Quaritch generally pass through three stages with reference to the other sex. They begin in their youth by making q goddess of one of them, and finding out their mistake. Then for many years they look upon woman as the essence and incarnation of all evil and a thing no more to be trusted than a jaGuar. Ultimately, however, this folly wears itself out-probahly ill proportion as the old affec- tlon fades and dies away-and is replaced by contempt aud regret that so much should have been wasted on that which was so little worth. Then it is that the danger comes, for then man puts forth his second venture, puts it forth with fear and trembling, and with no great hope of seeing golden Argosy sailing into port. And if it sinks or Is driven back by adverse winds and drowning skies, then there is end of his legitimate dealings with such frail merchandise.
 And now he, Harold Quaritch was about to put forth this second venture, not of bis own desire or free will indeed, but because his reason and judgment were overlnastered In short, to put it briefly, he had fallen in love with Ida de Ia Molle when he first saw her i've years ago, and was now in the process of discovering the fact There be sat In his chair in the old, half furnished room, which he proposed to turn into his dining room, and groaned in spirit over this portentous dis cOvery. What had become of his fair pros pect of quiet years sloping gently downward, and warm with the sweet, drowsy light of afternoon' How was it that he had not known those things that belonged to his peace? And probably 1t would end in nothing; was 1t likely that such splendid young woman as Ida would care for a superaunuated army officer, with nothing beyond four or uNc LQllbIt ttl d SNl &lltl u lclOT1a cross which he never wore-to recommend him? Probably if she married at all she would try to marry some one who would assist to re- trieve the fallen fortunes of her family, which 1t was absolutely beyond his power to do Altogether the outlook did not please him, as he sat there far into the watches of the night and sucked at his empty pipe. So little did it please him, indeed, that when at last he rose to find his way to bed up the old oak staircase-the only imposing thing in Mole hill-he had almost made up his mind to give up the idea of living at Honham at all, to sell the place and emigrate to Vancouver,s Island or New Zealand, and thus place an impossible barrier between himself and that sweet, strong face, which somehow seemed to have acquired touch of sternness since last he had looked upon 1t,
 An, wise resolution of quiet night whither do you go to in the garish light of day3 To heaven, perhaps, with the mist wreaths and the dew drops.
 When the squire got back to the castle he found his daughter still sitting up in the drawing room.
 What not gone to bed. Idaf he said
 'No, father, was going, and then I thought that I would wait to hear what all this was about Jsnter and the Moat farm It is best to get 1t over"
 ''Hes, yes, my dear-yes, but there is not much to tell you. Janter has thrown up the farm after all; and George says there Is not another tenant to be had for love or money. He tried one man, who said that he would not have 1t at shillings an acre, as prices are.n
 That is bad enough, in all conscience,n said Ida, pushing at the fire irons with her foot. "What is to be doneT'
 ''What Is to be done2n answered her father, irritably. ''How can tell you what Is to be oonea suppose that l must take the place in hand, and that Is all"
 ''Hes, but that costs money, does it notg'
 "Of course it does; it costs about four thousand pounds"
 "Wen," said Ida, looking up, land where is all that sum to come fromf We have not got four thousand pounds in the worldn
 "Co1he froma Why, suppose that must borrow it on the security of the land"
 Would it not be better to let the place go out of cultivation" she answered, ''rather than risk all that sum of moneyF'
 "Go out of cultivation! Nonsense, Ida, how can you talk like thata Why, that strong land would be ruined for generation to come"
 Perhaps 1t would; but surely it would be hetf hot ha