Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-08

Inc COLONEL Sinlleu BTlHlJ ~ lulo uucoi-
scious exhibition of the relative state of her
affections.
"What has happened to himl' asked Ida,
this time with a suitable expression of con-
Germ.
"He has been accidentally Shot"
"Who byF
"Mrs. Quest"
"Then she did it on purpose-I mean-is he
deadr'
mo, but believe he will die"
They looked at each other, and each read
in the eyes of the other the thought which
passed through their brain. If Edward Cos
sey died, they would be free to marry So
clearly did they read it that Ida actually in
terpreted it in words
"You must not think that" she said at
is very wrong.n
"It is wrong" answered the colonel, APP
parently in no way surprised at her inter-
probation Of his thoughts, 'but unfortunately
human nature is human nature
Then he went on to tell her all about it,
Ida made no comment, that is after those
first words "sho did it on purpose which
burst from her in her establishment. She
felt, and lie felt too, that the question as to
how that gun went of was one which was
best left uninqured into by them. No doubt
if the man died there would be an inquest,
and the whole matter would be investigated.
Meanwhile one thing was certain, Edward
CosSey, whom she WAS engaged to, was Shot
and likely TO die.
Presently, while they We're still talking,
| the squire came in from his walk and to him
| also the story was told, and, to judge from
| the expression of his face, he thought it a
serious ono enough. II Edward Cossey died,
| the mortgages over the Honham property
would, rs he thought, of course pass TO his
heir, who, unless he had made will, which
was not probable would be his father, old
MIR. Cossey the banker, from whom Mr.. de
| la Molle well knew he had little mercy TO eX-
| pect. This was serious enough, and what
was stll more serious was that all the bright
| prospects in which he had for some days been
| basking, of the re-establishment Of his fami-
| ~ upon a securer basis than it had occupied
for generations, would vanish like n vision.
| Now, lie was not more worldly minded than
other men, but he did most fondly cherish
| the natural desire to see the family fortunes
once more in the ascendant. The projected
marriage between his daughter and Edward
| Cossey would have most fully brought this
about, and however much he might in his
secret heart dstrust tho man himself, and
doubt whether the match was acceptable to
difference While they were still talking
the dressing bell rang, and Harold rose to go
"StOp aud dine, won't you, Quaritchl'
said the squire.
Harold hesitated and looked at Ida. She
made no movement, but her eyes said stay"
and he sighed and yielded. Dinner was
rather a melancholy feast, for the squire was
preoccupied with his own thoughts and Ida
had not much to say, while, so far as the col
ouel was concerned, the recollection of the
tragedy which be had witnessed that after
noon, and of all the dreadful details with
which ii was accompanied, WAS not condu-
Give to appetite.
As soon as dinner was over, the squire an
nounced that he would wall; into Boisug-
ham to inquire how the wounded man was
getting on, and shortly aftorward he started,
leaving his daughter and the colonel alone
They went into the drawing room and
talked about indifferent things No word of
love passed between them; 10 word, indeed,
that could bear even an afrectiouate sgnih-
cance and yet every sentence they said car
ried message with ii, and was rs heavy
with unuttered passion as bee with honey.
For they loved each other dearly, and love is
a thing that cannot BE- concealed by lovers
from each other. Like the air impalpable
it is like the air surrounding, and, to those
who breathe, it is necessary aud real.
1t was happiness to Kim merely to sit be
side her and hea- her speak, and watch the
changes Of her facs, AID the lamp light play
ing upon her hair, and it was happiness tt
her to know That he was sitting there and
watching. For tie most beautiful thing
about deep affection is its accompanying
sense of perfect comranionship and rest, ,
seu,e that nothing else in this life can give