Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-16
C0LoNELQUARl1cH,V.C.
By H. RIDER HAGGARD.

a man by his Christian name it is because she is in the habit of thinking of him and speaking to him by that name. Not that there was much ill that by itself, but Ill pub lie she called him "Mr Cossey." "Edwara" clearly then was the 'only thing she loved" and Edward was secretly engaged to Ida, and Mrs. Quest knew it.
 Now, when a man has the fortune, or rather the misfortune, to be the only thing married woman ever loved, and when that married woman is aware of the fact of his devotion for and engagement to somebody else, it is obvious, he reflected, that in nine cases out of ten the knowledge will excite strong feelings in her breast, feel ings, indeed, which ill some natures would amount almost to madness.
 When he had first seen Mrs Quest that afternoon she and Cossey were alone together, and he had noticed something unusual about her, something unnatural and intense. In deed he had he remembered, told her that she looked like the Tragic Muse. Could 1t be that the look was the look of a woman mad dened by insult and jealousy, who was medi- tatirg some fearful crimes How did that gun go off He did not see it, and he thanked God that he did not, for somehow we are not always as anxious to bring our fellow crea- lures to justice as might be- especially when they happen to be young and lovely women. How did it go off She understood guns; he could see that from the way she handled it. Was it likely that it exploded of itself, or owing to an accidental touch of the trigger! It was possible, but not likely. Still, such things had been known to happen, and it would be impossible to prove that it had not happened in this case. If it was an at tempted murder it very cleverly man. aged, because nobody could prove that it was not accidental But could it be that that soft, beautiful, baby faced woman had on the spur of the moment taken advantage of his loaded gun to wreak her jealousy and her wrongs upon her faithless lover! Well, the face is no mirror of the quality of the soul within, and it was possible. Further than that, it did not seem to him to be his business to inquire.
 | By this time he was at the castle. The squire was out, but Ida was in, and he was shown into the drawing room while the ser | want went to seek her. Presently he heard her dress rustic upon the stairs and the | sound of it sent the blood to his heart, for | where is the music that is more sweet than | the rustling of the dress of the woman whom | we love! < | She came in and shook handsSwith him.
 "Why, what is the matters' she said, notic- ing the disturbed expression on his face. | ''Well," be said, 'there has been an acci- dent-a very bad accident"
 1 "Whoa" she said. Mot my fatherg" | "No, no; Mir Cossey."
 "Oh," she said, with sigh of relief. "Why did you frighten me so2"
 The colonel smiled grimly at this uncon- | scious exhibition of the relative state of her affections.
 What has happened to himi' asked Ida, | this time with a suitable expression of con- | cern.
 "He has been accidentally shot," | "Who byg'
 l Mrs. Quest"
 "Then she did it on purpose-I mean-is he deadr'
 No, but believe he will die"
 They looked at each other, and each read ill the eyes of the other the thought which 1 passed through their brain. If Edward Cos sey died, they would be free to marry. So l clearly did they read it that Ida actually ill- terpreted it in words.
 "You must not think that" she said "It is very wrong"
 "It is wrong," answered the colonel, ap- parently in no way surprised at her inter pretation 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 ''she did it on purpose" which burst from her i'll her astonishment. She felt, and he felt too that the question as tc how that gun went off was one which wa: best left uninquired 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 sho and likely to die.
 Presently, while they were still talking the squire came in from his walk, and to hin | .J.~x xl~ S.>1l .,,S-- the expression of his face, he thought it serious one enough. If Edward Cossey died the mortgages over the Honham propert, would, as he thought of course pass to hi heir, who, unless he had made a will, whicl was not probable, would be his father, olt Mir. Cossey, the banker, from whom Mir. d. la Mole well knew he had little mercy to ex pect. This was serious enough, and wha was still more serious was that all the brigh prospects ill which he had for some days beel basking, of the re-establishment of his fami ly upon a securer basis than it had occupie, for generations, would vanish like vision Now, be was not more worldly minded thai other men, but he did most fondly cheris ' the natural desire to see the family fortune once more in the ascendant. The projecte marriage between his daughter and Edwar | Cossey would have most fully brought thi about, and however much he might in hi secret heart distrust the man himself, an | doubt whether the match was acceptable t Ida, he could not view its collapse with ir difference. While they were stlll ta1kin the dressing bell rang, and Harold rose to ge
 "Stop and dine, won't you, Quaritch! said the squire.
 !. Harold hesitated and looked at Ida. Sh made no movement. but her eyes said 'tstay, and he sighed and yielded. Dinner WE
 rather a melancholy feast, for the squire wa
 preoccupied with his own thoughts, and Id
 had not much to say, while, so far as the co !. onel was concerned, the recollection of th
 tragedy which he had witnessed that aftel
 noon, and of all the dreadful details wit
 which 1t was accompanied, was not condl
 cive to appetite.
 As soon as dinner was over. the squire al
 nounced that he would walk into Boisins
 ham to inquire how the wounded man WE . getting on, and shortly afterward he started ? leaving his daughter and the colonel alone.
 They went into the drawing room m
 talked about indifferent things. No word ( | hoSy %ha,, s,,Ia