Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-11
C0LONELQUARI7CH,V.C.
By H. RIDER HAGGARD.

CoSSey took up a pen, affixed hlS signature to the letter. plotted it and pushed it from him. The colonel folded it up, placed it in an envelope which he had ready, and put it in his pocket.
 ''Now, MT. Cossey," he said, ''I will wish you good morning. Another time should recommend you to be more careful, both in the facts and the manner of your accusa- tions, and with q slight bow he left the room.
 ''Curse the fellow," thought Edward to himself as the front door closed; "ho had me there-I was forced to sign. Well, I will be even with him about Ida, at any rate. l will propose to her this very day, Belle or no Belle, and if she won't have me, 1 will call the money in and smash the whole thing up," and his handsome face bore very evil look as he thought it.
 That very afternoon he started, in accord ance with this design, to pay visit at the castle. The squire was out, but Miss de la Mole was at home, the servant said, and ac cordingly he was ushered into the drawing room, where Ida was working, for it was q wet and windy afternoon.
 She rose to greet him coldly enough, and he sat down, and then came a pause which she did not seem inclined to break.
 At last he spoke. "Did the squire get my letter, Miss de la Molle?" he asked.
 "Yes," she answered, rather jelly. ''Col. Quaritch sent it up."
 II am very sorry," he added, confusedly, ''that I should have put myself in such a false position. hope that you will give me credit for having believed my accusation when I made it."
 ''Such accusations should not be lightly made, MT. Cossey," was her answer, and, as though to turn the subject, she rose and rang the bell for tea.
 It came, and the hustle connected with it prevented any further conversation for awhile. At length, however, it subsided, and once more Edward found himself alone with Ida. He looked at her and felt afraid. The woman was of different clay to him. self, and he knew 1.-the loved her, but he did not understand her in the least. However, if the thing was to be done at all it must be done now; so with a desperate effort he screwed himself up to the point.
 Miss de Ia Molle," he said and Ida, know ing full surely what was coming, felt her heart jump within her bosom and then stand still. Miss de Ia Molle," he repeated, ''per- haps you will remember conversation that we had some weeks ago in the conservatorya"
 "Yes," she said, II remember-about the money"
 "About the money and other things" he said, gathering courage. II hinted to you then that l hoped in certain contingencies to be allowed to make my addresses to you, and I think that you understood me-"
 'I understood you perfectly" answered Ida, her pale face set like ice, land I gave you to understand that in the event of your lending my father the money, I should hold myself bound toto listen to what you had to say"
 ''Oh curse the money!' broke in Edward "It is not a question of money with me, Ida |; it is not, indeed. I love you with all my heart I have loved you ever since saw you. It was because I was jealous of him that made a fool of myself last night with Col. Quaritch. I should have asked you to marry me long ago, only there were obstacles in the way. 1 love you, Ida; there never was a woman like you-never"
 She listened with the same set face. Obvi- ously he was in earnest, but his earnestness did not move her; it scarcely even flattered her pride. She disliked the man intensely and nothing that he could say or do would lessen that dislike by one jot-probably, in deed, it would only intensity it.
 Presently he stopped and stood beside her, his breast heaviug and his face broken with emotion, and tried to takeSher hand
 She withdrew it sharply.
 II do not think that there is any need for all
 
 promise. You have fulfilled your share of the bargain, and I am prepared to fulfill mine in due course"
 So far as her words went, Edward could find no fault with their meaning, and yet he felt more like a Elan who has been abruptly and finally refused than one declared chosen He stood still and looked at her.
 ''I think it right to tell you, however," she went on in the same measured tones, "that if l marry you it will be from motives of duty, and not from motives of affection. 1 have no love to give you, and I do not wish for yours do not know if you will be satisfied with this If you are not, you had better give up the idea," and she for the first time looked up at him with more anxiety in her face than she would have cared to show. But if she hoped that her coldness would repel him, she was destined to be dis appointed. On the contrary, like water thrown on burning oil it only inflamed him the more.
 ''The love will come, Ida," he said, and once more he tried to take her hand. ''No, MT. Cossey," she said, in voice that checked him; ''I am sorry to have to speak so plainly, but till I marry am my own mis- tress. Pray understand me-"
 ''As you like," he said, drawing back from her sulkily. 1T am so fond of you that will
 
 truth have one thing to ask of you, Ida, and it is that you will keep our engagement secret for the present, and get your father q suppose I must speak to him) to do the same I have reasons" he went on by way of ex- planation, 'for not wishing it to become known"
 q do not see why I should keep it secret, '' she said; 'but it does not matter to me-"
 'The fact is" he explained, 'my father is a 1 very curious man, and doubt if he would like my engagement because he thinks l ought to marry great deal of money"
 "Oh, indeed" answered Ida. She had be- lieved, as was indeed the case, that there were other reasons, not unconnected with Mrs. Quest, on account of which he was anxious to keep the engagement secret. "By the way" she went on, 1T am sorry to have to talk of business, but this is business mat ter, is it nots I suppose it is understood that, in the event of our marriage, the mortgage you hold over this place will not be enforced against my father"
 'Of course not" be answered. s'Look here, Ida, will give you those mortgage bonds as wedding present, and you can put them in the fire; and l will make good settlement on you"
 'Thank you,n she said, ssbut I do not re-