Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-22
COLONEL
By H. RIDER HAGGARD.

will divert your mind-you are still too young q man to lay yourself upon the shelf, mix yourself up in the politics of the place, take to writing, anything, so long as you can absorb yourself. send you a photograph of myself I have nothing better, and ring that night and day I have worn since was a child l think that 1t will fit your little finger, and hope that you will always wear it in memory of me. And now it is late and am tired, and what is there more that a woman can say to the man she loves, and whom she must leave foreveri Only one word-Good-by IDA"
 When Harold got this letter it fairly broke him down. His hopes had been revived when he thought that all was lost, and now again they were utterly dashed and broken. He could see no way out of it, none at all. He could not quarrel with Ida's decision, shock ing as it was, for the simple reason that he knew in his heart that she was acting rightly, and even nobly. But ohl the thought of it made him mad It is probable that to a man of imagination and deep feeling hell itself can invent no more hideous torture than that he must undergo in the position in which Harold Quaritch found himself To truly love some good woman or some woman whom he thinks good-for 1t comes to the same
 
 dearer even than his honor, to be, like Hnr- old, beloved in turn, and then to know that that woman, that one thing for which he would count the world we'll lost and would even sacrifice his hope of heaven, that light that makes his days beautiful, that starry ioy set like diadem upon Hfe's dark brows, has been taken from him by the mockery of fate, not by death. for that he could bear, taken from him and given-for money or moneys worthS-to some other mani It is, perhaps, better that man should die than that he should pass through such an experience as that which threatened Harold Quaritch now; for though the man die not, yet will 1t kill all that ts best In him, and whatever tri- may be ready in the future to pin their fla vors to his breast, life will never be for him what 1t might have been, because bis lost love took Its glory with her.
 No wonder then that he despaired No wonder, too, that there rose up in his breast a great anger and indignation against the man who had brought this last extremity of misery upon them both. He was lust man. and could mako allowances for his rivals in- fatuation-which indeed, Ida being con- cerned, it was not difficult for him to under stand. But he vas also, and above all things, gentleman, and the spectacle of a woman being inexorably driven into a distasteful marriage by money pressure, put on by the man who wished to gain her, revolted him beyond measure, and, though he was slow to wrath, moved him to fiery indignation. So much did it move him that he took a resolu- uon-Mr. Cossey should know his mind about the matter and that at once Ringing the bell, he ordered his dog cart and drove to Edward Cossey's rooms, with the full inten- taon of giving that gentleman very unpleas- ant quarter of an hour.
 Mir. Cossey was in, and fearing lest he should refuse to see him, the colonel followed the servant up the stairs and entered al- most as she announced his name There was grim and even formidable look upon his plain but manly face, and some- thing of menace, too, in his formal and soldterly bearing; nor did his aspect soften when his eyes fell upon the full length picture of Ida over the mantelpiece.
 Edward Cossey rose with astonishment and irritation, not unmixed with nervousness de- picted on bis face. The last person whom he wished to see and expected visit from was Col Quaritch, whom in his heart he held in considerable awe. Besides, be had of late re- ceived such series of unpleasant visits that it is not wonderful that he began to dread these interviews.
 Good day." he said, coldly. twill you be seatedr
 The colonel bowed his head slightly, but he did not stt down.
 ''To what am indebted for the pleasurer' began Edward Cossey, with much politeness
 Hast time I was here, MT. Cossey,n said the colonel, in his deep voice, speaking very deliberately, II came to give an explanation; now come to ask one"
 "Indeed!"
 "Yes. To come to the point, Miss de la Molle and are attached to each other, and there has been between us an understanding that that attachment might end in mar riage."
 "Ohl has therer' said the younger man, calmly, with a sheer.
 "Yes," answered the colonel, keeping down his rising temper as we'll as he could. But now am told, upon what appears to be good authority, that you have actually condo scended to bring, directly and indirectly, pressure of a monetary sort to bear upon Miss 1 de h Molle and her father in order to force her into . distasteful marriage with you.n And what the devil business of yours is it, | sir," asked Cossey, "what have or have not donei Making every allowance for the dis appointment of an unsuccessful suitor, for l presume that you appear in that character, ,'' again he sneered, II ask what business is it of yoursF'
 '1t Is every buSlnesS or mine, MT. CoSSey, because If Miss de Ia Molle is forced into this shall lose my wife"
 1 "Then you will certainly lose her. Do you suppose that am going to consider youi Indeed" he went on, being now in q tow- ertng passion, "I should have thought that considering the difference between us, of age and fortune, you might find other reasons than you suggest to account for my being preferred to you, if should be so preferred Ladies are apt to choose the better man, you know" l II don't quite know what you mean by the better man. MT. Cossey," said the any comparisons, may say that in birth, in breeding, perhaps even in education and the record of my life, in which at least ] have not disgraced myself, am fully your equal, though admit that you have the ad. vantage of me in money and in years. However, that is not the point; the point ts that have had the fortune to be preferred to you by the lady in question, and not you to me. I happen to know that you and the idea of marriage with you Is as distastetul tc Miss de Ia Molle as 1t is to me. This know from her own lips. She will only marry you, if she does at all. under the direct neces nty, and to save her father from the ruin