Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-08
CHAPTER XXI.
GEORGE pRopHEsIEs AGAIN.

several things have happened. In the first
place, the misery old banker, Edward Cos.
sey's father, had died, his death having been
accelerated by the shock of his sons accident.
On his viii being opened il was found that
property and money to no ,icss a value than
100000 passed under it to Edward abso-
lutely, the only condition attached being
that he should continue in the house Of
Cossey & Son, and leave certain share of
his fortune in the business
Edward Cossey had also, thanks chiefly to
Bellies tender nursing, almost recovered,
with one excepton-he was, and would be
for life, stone deaf in the right ear The
paralysis which the doctors had feared had
not shown itself One of the first questions
when he became convalesceut was addressed
to Belle Quest.
He had, as in dream, always seen her
sweet face hanging over him, and dimly
known that she was ministering to him.
"Have you nursed me ever since the acct
dent, Belief" he said
YES" she answered.
sit is very good Of you, considering all
things" he murmured. 81 wonder that you
did not let me die"
And she turned her face to the wall and
said never a word, nor did any further con.
Then as his strength came back, so did his
passion for Ida de la Mole revive He was
not allowed to write or even receive letters
and with this explanation of her silence'ha
was fan to content himself. But the squire,
he was told, often called to inquire after
him, and once or twice Ida came with him.
AT length time came-it was two days
after he had been told of his fathers DEATH
when he was pronounced fit to be moved into
his own rooms, and to receive his corrcspon.
dence as usual.
The move was effected without any diff.
Guilty, and here Belle babe him good-by.
Even as she did so George drove his fat pony
up to the door, and getting down, gave
letter to the landlady, with particular in.
structions that it was to be delivered into
Mr.. Cosseys own hands As she passed,
Belle saw that it was addressed in the
sources handwriting.
When it was delivered to him Edward
Cossey opened it with eagernesS. it con.
tanned al Enclosure in Idas writing, and this
he re- first. 1t ran as follows:
DEAR Mr.. CossEY-I am told that you
are now able to read letters, so l hasten to
write to you. First Of all, let ME say how
thankful am that you are i'll fair way to
complete recovery from your dreadful acci.
dent. And now must tell you what fear
will DO almost as painful to you to road as it
| Is for me to write, namely, that the engage
ment between us is at an end. To put the
matter frankly, you will remember that
rightly or wrongly became engaged to you
on certain condition. That condition has
not been fulfilled, for Mr.. Quest, to whom
the mortgages on my fathers property have
been transferred by you, is pressing tor their
payment. Consequently, the obligation on
my part is at an end, and with it the engage
ment must end also, for greve to tell you
| that it is not one which my personal inclina.
ton will induce me to carry out Wishing
| you a speedy and complete recovery, and
every happiness and prosperity in your
future lie, believe me, dear Mr.. Cossey
very truly yours,
'1DA DE LA MoLLE.n
| He put this incorporating and crushing
epistle down, and nervousy glanced at the
squires, which was very short
my DEAR COSBY" it began-"Ida has
shown me the inclosed letter. think that
| you did unwisely when you entered into what
must be called money bargain for my
daughters hand. Whether under all the cir
cumstances she does either well or wisely to
repudiate the engagement after it has once
been agreed upon is not for me to judge She
is free agent, and has a natural right to
dispose Of her life as she thinks fit. This be-
ing SO, have, of course, no option but TO in
dorse her action, so far as have anything Ia
| do with the matter. 1t is a decision which ]
for some reasons regret, but which am quite
| powerless to alter.
"beiieVe me, with kind regards truly
yours, JAMES DE LA MoLLE.n