The morning news., 1889-05-05
CHAPTER xxx.

! torth ana Beaton over to Sudley also, for a
days sport occasionally, and the two young
men were on very friendly terms with him.
But somehow Col Forth did not like this
mi macy, aud used to receive Sir Arthur
very sourly when they CHANGED t. meet.
The colonePs own affairs, however, occu-
pied his mind good deal about this time.
for in spite of his prot stations to the con
trary, idea of q second marriage was be-
ginning to be entertained by hi q.
This was perhaps bat natural. for ever
since the day of tle birthday party at Sud
ley, Mrs. Dixon, ''the well-endowedn
wild W, had pursued him with the utmost
determination. What she saw in him, no
oae could tell! a surly cross grained man
at best, no doubt he was, yet here was a
good-lookiny mid1le-aged woman, said to
have la.ge fortune, seemingly doing her
utmost to attract his admiration; "and
suppose she must mean something by it."
often grimly reflected Col Forth
In a small place like HeAdfort it is of
course very easy to meet any one if YOU
wished to do so. If the colonel strolled
down the long struggling Higl street he
was almost sure to encouter the lively
widow at some part of it. She was good
looking woman; past her early beauty GER
tainly, but well preserved and with a ready
| boastful tongue. She had an easy way Of
making tina mort of things, and out OF a
| small matter could C cate very substau-
tial one. She had Travelled little, but to
listen to her conversation you would hav.
supposed that few visitable portions of our
| globe had been untrodden by her feet. Aud
she battered Col. Forth without stint, aud
! made the terrible accident at She fort fit
her purpose so well that he actually Thought
she was really intensely interested in the
| recovery of his son-in-law; "fJr |, feel so
much for you all, y she u ed TO tell him, fix
ing her still bright eyes on his red uncomely
| face.
And he began to believe that she did. AT
| first be thought "5he woman's humbu (;
what does she care.n but after awhile felt
| secretly pleased when he met her, and did
not dislike to listen o her caj ling words.
To the amusement of Frances one day
she encountered these two walking together
| in a country lane. True. this was quite an
accidental walk on the part of the colonel,
| who had taken two many brandies and
sodas the night before, and in.elded ID get
rid Of his headache by exercise. But the
| willy widow had seen nm sta l, and planned
to meet aim as he was re urplng, and did
meet him. though she affected TO be extreme
lY surprised by dong So.
"Col. F0rtlw sls Eclaim2d, as she held
out her hand, "laacr n et.lg you in this
| lonely sDot,'
sc 1t a headache; trying TO walk it off, -
said the colonel, somewhat embarra SD.
| "Wen, i5's a lovely day. SAID Mrs.
| Dixon, 10 king contemplatively around. IL
| love TIE autumn; the fading leaves are so
suggestive to a thoughtful mnL Don't
| y IL think So coiOHel|
| Don't like 'en,n answered the practical
| coloael; damp, unwhol9some, that kind Of
| thing
| True" said the complacent widow,
! ''they say ii is not q very healtly time of
tho year, but your air here is so splendid it
seems 20 give one nsw lie, and everyone
| looks 50 well at Headfort, and she glanced
| upat Col. Forth's red viSage.
Yes. think it's pretty healthy"
And how is Y9ur po1r invalid to-day,
and you sweet daugh er"
"Od, Aulley's getting on all right now,
expect; of course 1t was very near shave,
and confounded piece OF ill-luck, as he
will ha ve to leave the service"
''Terribly sad such trial to you all; and
80 soon after his marriage with that beau j.
full creature, tool An! we little thought
| that day when we first met, Col. Forth,
| when we were euj 'ying our elves so much,
| that such a misfortune was creeping so
near. But we never know"
VERY we'll we do u"
'Tha is 50, indeed; if we knew our bright
hours might BE- clouied for rs, we should be
| always watching for the Storm"
No good in dong that"
"Tnere is certainly none; but are YOU re-
| turning to the villagea |, too, was Just
thinking of turning, as | only ca ne ou5 for
a little stroll in which case i will be Iarm-
ing to have such delightful company on my
way back.
The col mel saw no help for it. He rather
liked Mrs. Dixon, but he certainly did not
like t be see walking with her He felt
as If be were com nItti e himself as he
stroda by her side, and he grew more re-
served ! his manner; defended himself, as
II were, like people mentally button up their
POCKETS whel tn y are afraid they are 60
Ing TO be asked to open them.
Mrs. Dixon was quite acute enough t.
notice this, but one of her lnottoes in life
was only ''to see what she chose
In vain, therefore, the colonel gave short
answers and walked with averted head.
The widow smiled on serenely, and tol
tales of her travels, and asked Col. Forth
about India, telling him it was the drea u
Of her life to feast her eyes on its gorgeous
picture'.
wait till you try it," said the colonel
baked alive"
"Of course, it is hot.n
'Hot that's not the word; an oven with
the door shut is more like 1t"
Still"
At this moment, to the colonels utter
CONSERVATION, his daughter, Frances, riding
between Col. Kenyon and Sir Arthur Bea-
ton, was to be seen approaching, and could
the poor man have Jumped over the hedge
and escaped, he would gladly have doIe SO,
knowing well Frances sarcastic tongue.
But ere was no help for it. Taey had
seen him as well as he had seen them, and
there was an amused smile on all their faces
when they met, and pulled up tleir horses TO
greet the colonel.
Good morning, FORTH" said Col. Ken
yoa.
Been for long walkln smiled Frances
no. al pnt
headache" answered the colonel, who was
furious at MS daughters expression and
tone.
''Do you often take country walks'"
asked Frances, that anu led smile still rip
phi over her face, now addressing Mrs.
Dixon.
"Ohl / love them; and as I've been tell
ing tue colonel here, whom | chanced 10
meet, this season is TO me so beautiful the
fading leaves, the general air of-well, pass
ing away, YOU know" ad ted Mrs Dixon,
whose metaphors had failed her.
~ like the spring." said Frances, and her
hazsl eyes gave one glauc5 at Bsa1on's
handsome face; Il love to look forward, not
back"
"Well, it's too chill to stand" said Col.
Kenyon; ''good-day, Forth; good ynorning,
Mry. Dix0n;" and hs took OF his hat and
rois on, followed by Frances and BeatD1,
leaving bis old friend with. rage IN his
heart, Tor Col. Forth saw very well that his
daughter was secretly lsugh hing at Mm. 3,
''Do you think ] am goiAg - have a
~ -. "A L. l.aa