Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-02

might be formed from such samples of con.
 versauonal criticism as MT. Quest heard go
 ing on on the further side of his arbutus,
 CHAPTER XI.
 IDA's BARGAIN,
 When Ida saw the colonel coming she put on her sweetest smile and took bis hand.
 How do you do, Col Quaritchr' she said. "H is very good of you to come, especially as you don't play tennis much. By the way, nope you have been studying that cipher. Tor am sure that it is a cipher" Il studied 1t for half an hour before went to bed last night, Miss de la Molle, and for the life of me could not make anything out or 1t, and, what's more, don't think that there is anything to make out"
 there was"
 Well, " he answered, ''rll have another % at it. What will you give me if And it outs" he said with a smile which lighted up his rugged face most pleasantly
 Anything you like to ask and that can give" she answered, with & tone of earnest ness which struck him as peculiar, for, of course, he did not know the tale that she had just heard from MT. Quest.
 Then, Tor the first time for many years Harold Quaritch delivered himself of speech tnat might have been capable of tender and hidden meaning.
 II am afraid" he said, lowing, .sthat if I came to claim the reward should ask for more even than you would be inclined to give"
 Ida blushed a little. "We can consider that when you do come, Col. Quaritch yEx- cuSe me, but here are Mrs. Quest and Mir Cossey, and l must go and say how do you do" 0'
 Presently Ida turned and introduced Col. Sualatch frst to Mrs Quest and then to Mir, Cossey Harold bowed to each, and then seroiied oil to meet the squire, whom he noted advancing with his usual array of towels hanging out of his hat, and for awhile he saw neither of them any more | Meanwhile Mir. Quest had emerged from | the shelter of his arbutus, and was going | rom one person to another saving some peasant and appropriate word to each, till | at last he reached the spot where his wife and Edward Cossey were standing, Noddine afectionately at the toruner, he asked her if she was not going to play tennis, and then | drew Cossey aside
 Well, Quest" said the latter, 'have you told the old man!"
 ''Oh, yes; told him.n
 "How did he take it2',
 'Oh, talked it off, and said that of course other arrangements must be made. spoke to Miss de la Molle, too."
 "oh," said Edward, in g changed tone, land how did she take itT' "Wel, answered the lawyer, putting on an air of deep concern land as a mattar of fact he really did feel sorry for her), s.I think 1t was the most painful professional experience that ever had. The poor woman was utterly crushed. She said that 1t would kill her father"
 Poor grill" said Mir Cossey, in & voice that showed his sympathy was of 6 very actvs order, eand how pluckily she is carry ing 1t off too-look at her," and he pointed to where Ida was standing, lawn tennis bat in her hand, and laughingly arranging a 'set" of married versus single.
 "Yes, she is good, plucky girl,n answered Mr. Quest, "and what a splendid woman she looks, doesn't shei never saw any one who was quite such lady-there is nobody to touch her round here, unless, he added med. itatively, ''perhaps 1t is Belle"
 "They are differ ent types of heauty,n an- swered Edward Cossey, ainohing.
 "fes, but equally attractive in their sepa- rate ways. We'll, it can't be helped, but I Feel sorry tor that poor girl and the old gen. temap, too Halloo, there he is!n
 As he was speaking, the squire, who was walking past with Col Quaritch, with the object of showing him the view from the end of the moat. suddenly saw Edward Cossey. who at once stepped forward to greet him, but to his surprise was met by 6 cold and | most stately bow from MT. de la Molla. who passed on without vouchsaAng single word, |
 ''Old idiotp' ejaeulated Mr. Quest to him self, "he will put the squire's back up and | spoil the game"
 Well" said Mr. Cossey aloud, aud color | ing almost to his eyes, ''tbat old gentleman | knows how to be insolent.n
 "You must not mind htm, Mfr. Cossey." :" l answered Quest. hastily, "The poor old boy | has got very good idea of himself-he is | dreadfully injured because Cosssy 6 Son arc calling in the mortgages after the family has l dealt with them for so many generations: and he thinks that you have something to do 1 with it"
 "Well, if he does, he might as we'll be civil It does not particularly incline fellow to "a | out of his way to pull him out of the ditch, Just to be cut in that fashion. have half a mind to order my trap and go"
 "No, no, don't do that-you must make al- lowances; you must, indeed. Look, here is Miss de Ia Molle coming to ask you to play tennis"
 At this moment Ida arrived, aud took o6 Edward Cossey with her, not little to the relief of Mr. Quest, who began to fear that the whole scheme was spoiled by the squire's unfortunate magnifcence of manner,
 Edward played his game, having Ida her self as his partner. It cannot be said that the set was O pleasant one for the latter. who, poor woman, was doing her utmost to bring up her courage to the point necessary to the carrying out of the appeal, ad misericordiam, which she had decided to make as soon as the game was over. However, chance put an op- in her way, for Edward cosssy, who had curious weakness for flowers, ] asked her if she would show him ,her chrys- anthemums, of which she was very proud. She consented readily enough, and they crossed the lawn, and passing through some shrubbery reached the greenhouse, which was placed at the end of the house itself. Here for some minutes they looked at the flowers, Just now bursting into bloom. Ida, who felt exceedingly nervous, was all the while won- dering how on earth she was to breach so delicate subject. when fortunately MT. Cossey himself gave her tho necessary open ing. It