Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-28
CHAPTER Ky.
EUsTAcE CoNsULTs A LAWYER.

Augusta was leaning against the mar
BILE mantCl picCe-indccd, one of her arms
was resting upon it. for she was II tail
woman. Perhaps she, too felt that there
was something in the air; at any rate,
she turned away her head and began to
play with bronze japanese lobster which
adorned the mantcl piece.
"Now for it, said Eustace to himself,
drawing long breath. to try and steady
the violent pulsation of his heart
Il don't know what 20 say to you, Miss
Smithers. he began.
BEST say nothing more about it 3" she
put in quickly Il did it, and l am glad
that | did it. What do few marks mat
ter if a great wrong is prevented thereby?
l am not ever likely to have to go to
court. Besides, Mr.. Mccson, there is
smother thing; it was through me that
You lost your inheritance; it is only right
that | should try to be the means Of
bringing it back to you."
She dropped her head again. and once
more began TO play with the bronze lob
stcr, holding her arm in such a fashion
that Eustace could not see her face. But
if he could not see her face She could sec
his in the glass, and narrowly Observed
its every change, which, ON the whole,
though natural. was rather mean of her,
y
till his handsome countenancc became
positively CHASTITY. 1t is wonderful how
frightened young men are the first time
that they propose. 1t wears off after
ward-with practice one gets accustomed
to anything.
Miss Smithers-Augusta," he gaspcd,
81 want to say something to youH and he
"Ics Mr. Noeson," she answered,
checrfully, what is it?"
Il want to tell you and again he
hestatcd.
'What you are going to do about the
will suggested Augusta.
"No-no; nothing about the will
please don't laugh at me and put me off,
She looked up innocently-as much as
to say that she never dreamed of doing
either of these things She had a lovely
face, and the glance of the gray eyes
quite broke down the barrier of his fears.
"Oh, Augusta, Augusta" he said,
"dont you understand? / love YOU |
love you! No woman was ever loved be-
fore as love you. | fell in love with you
the very first time saw you in the office
at Nelson's, when had the row with my
uncle about you; and ever since then |
have got deeper and deeper in love with
you. When | thought that you were
drowned it nearly broke my heart, and
often and often | wished that were dead,
too
1t was Augustus turn to be disturbed
now, for, though lady's composurc will
stand her in good stead up to the very
verge of an affair of this sort, it generally
breaks down in medals res, Anyhow, She
certainly dropped her eyes and colorcd TO
her hair, while her breast began to heave
unanimously.
"Do you know, Mr. Meeson," she said
at last, without daring to look up at his
imploring face, ''that this is only the
fourth time that we have seen each other,
including yesterday"
Eyes, know" lie said, but don't re-
fuse me on that accounts you can see me
rs often as you like'-this was generous
of Master Eustace-"and really know
you better than You think. | should
think that | have read each Of your books
twenty times"
This was happy stroke, for, however
free from vanity person may be, it is
not in the nature of young woman to
hear that somebody has read her book
twenty times without feeling pleased.
81 am not my books, said Augusta.
ono, but your books are part of you, "
he answered, land ! have learned moro
about your real self through them than |
bred times instead of four"
Augusta slowly raised her gray eyes till
they met his own, and looked at him as
though she were searching out his soul,
and the memory Of that long, sweet look
is with him yet
He said no more, nor had she any words
but, somehow, nearer and nearer they
drew o.e to the other, till his arms were
around her and his lips were pressed upon
her lips. Happy man and happy GIRL
They will live to find that life has joys
for those who are good and well Off, but
that ii has no joy so holy and so complete
as that which they were now expert
encing-the first kiss Of true and honest
love
little while afterward the butler came
in in a horribly sudden manner and found
Augusta and Eustace, the one very red
and the other very pale, standing sus-
piciOusly close to each other But he was
very well trained butler and man of OK
perience, who had seen much and guessed
more, and he looked as innocent as u babe
unborn.
Just then, too, Lady Holmhurst came
in again and looked at the pair of them
with an amusing twinkle in her eye
Lady IlolmhTst, like her butler was also
person of experience.
room?' she said And they did, looking
rather shccpish,
And there Eustace made a clean breast
of it, announcing that they were engaged
to be married. And although this was
somewhat of an assumption, seeing that
no actual words of troth had passed be-
tween them, Augusta stood there, never
offering a word in contradiction.
"Well, Mr.. Mceson, said Lady Holm
hurst, # think that you are tho luckicst
man OF my acquaintance, for Augusta is
not only one of the sweetest and lovelcst
girls that | have ever met, she is also the
bravest and tho clovcrcst You will have
to look out Mr.. Mecson, or you viii be
known as the husband of the great Au-
gusta Meeson."
Il will take the risk" he answered.
humbly. Il know that Augusta has moro
brains in her little finger than / have IN
my whole body. | don't know how she
can look at fellow like me-"
h,x. I,,,,, l. /. l