Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-21
COL0NELQUARITCH,V.C.
By H. RIDER HAGGARD.

By H. RIDER HAGGARD. another matter, in connection with which her plans were approaching maturity.
 It was some days after this, exactly q fort night from the date of Mr. Quests death, that Edward Cossey was sitting one afternoon breeding over the fire in his rooms. He had much business waiting his attention in Lon- don, but he would not go to London. He could not tear himself away from Boising ham, and such of the matters as could not be attended to there were left without attention. He was still as determined as ever to marry Ida, more determined if possible, for from constant breeding on the matter he had ar rived at condition approaching moromania. He had been quick to see the advantage re- sulting to him from Mir. Quests tragic death and the return of the deeds, and though he knew that Ida would hate him the more for doing it, he instructed his lawyers to call in the money, and make use of every possible legal means to harass and put pressure upon Mir. de la Molle. At the same time he had written privately to the squire, calling his attention to the fact that matters were now once more as they had been at the beginning, but that he was as before willing to carry out the arrangements which he had already
 
 suaded to consent to marry him. To this MT. de Ia Molle, notwithstanding his grief and irritation at the course his would be son-in- law had taken about the mortgages on the death of MT. Quest, and the suspicion that he now had to the original cause of their transfer to the lawyer, had answered courte ously enough, saying what he had said be- fore, that he could not force his daughter into a marriage with him, but that if she chose to agree to it he should offer no objec- tion. And there the matter stood Once or twice he had met Ida walking or driving. She had bowed to him coldly, and that was all. Indeed, he had only one crumb of com fort in his daily bread of disappointment, and that hope deferred which, where a lady is concerned, makes the heart more than nor mally sick, and that was, be knew his hated rival, Col. Quaritch, had been forbidden the castle, and that intercourse between him and Ida was practically at an end.
 But he was dogged and persevering man, and he knew the power of money, and the shifts to which people can be driven who are made desperate by the want of 1t. He knew, too, that it is no unusual thing for women who are attached to one man to sell them selves to another of their own free will, real izing that love may pass, but wealth, if the settlements are properly drawn, does not. Therefore, he still hoped that with so many circumstances bringing an ever increasing pressure upon her Ida's spirit would in time be broken, her resistance would collapse, and he would have his will Nor, as the sequel will show, was that hope baseless one.
 As for his infatuation there was literally no limit to it. It broke out in all sorts of ways, and was for miles around matter of public notoriety and gossip. Over the mantel- piece in his sitting room was fresh example of it. He had, by one means and another, obtained several photographs of Ida, notably one of her in a court dress, which she had worn two or three years before, when her brother James had insisted upon her being presented These photographs he had caused to be enlarged, and had then commissioned a well known artist to paint from them full length life size portrait of Ida in her court dress, at cost of e5OO. This osder had been executed, and the portrait which, although, as might be expected, the coloring was not entirely satisfactory, was still an effective likeness, and a fine piece of work now hung in splendid frame over his mantelpiece.
 There, on the afternoon in question, he was sitting before the fire, his eyes fixed upon the portrait, of which the outline was beginning to grow dim in the waning December light, when servant girl came in and announced that lady wanted to speak to him. He asked what her name was, and the girl said that she did not know, because she had her veil down and was wrapped up in a big cloak.
 In due course the lady was shown up. He had relapsed into his reverie, for nothing seemed to interest him much now unless it had to do with Ida-and he knew that the lady was not Ida, because the girl said that she was short. As it happened, he was sitting with his right ear, in which he was stone Io1f <o klN@ bot 11%v 1>s, fr1nity and his dreams he never heard Belle for it was she-enter the room.
 For minute or more she stood looking at him as he sat with his eyes fixed upon the picture, and as she looked an expression of pity stole across her sweet, pale face.
 'I wonder what curse there is laid upon us that we should be always doomed to seek for what we cannot ind," she said, aloud
 He heard her now, and looking up saw her standing in the glow and flicker of the fire light, which played upon her white face and black draped form. He started violently, and as he did so she loosed the heavy cloak and hood that she wore, and it fell behind her, But where was the lovely rounded form and where the clustering. golden curls9 Gone, and in their place coarse robe of blue serge, on which hung crucifix and the white hood of the nun.
 He sprung from his chair with an excla- nation, not knowing if he dreamed or if he really saw the woman who stood there like ghost in the firelight.
 Forgive me, Edward" she said presently, in her sweet, low voice. II dare say that this all looks theatrical enough, but have put on this dress for two reasons; firstly, be- cause have to leave this town in an hours time, and wish to do so unknown; and sec ondly, to show you that you need not fear that have come to be importunate. Will you light the candlesf'
 He did so mechanically and then pulled down the blinds. Meanwhile Belle had seat ed herself near the table, her face buried in her hands.
 "What is the meaning of all this, Belief" he said.
 "'Sister Agnes,' you must call me now," she said, taking her hands from her face. "The meaning of 1t Is that have left the world and entered sisterhood, which works among the poor in London, and that I have come to bid you farewell, a last farewell"
 He stared at her in amazement. He did not find it easy to connect the idea of this beauti-