Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-26
dealt the OOachman rssOundIng smack vita

dealt The ccachman rosounding smack with
his stick, as gentle hint to pull up.
"Arretez, you fool r Chris heard him shout;
and then flor his voice was powerful onel she
was able to distinguish every word of the exc
plantation which he vouchsaied to his friends
Drive on, you fellows; I'll be with you by
dinner-tme. Just caught sight Of somebody
whom rather want to speak to-" The other
| two men turned round, looked hard at her
and grinned; there was some muttering, APP
parently OF q jocular kind, since it was fol-
lowed by peals OF unrestrained merriment;
then the carriage rolled toward Paris, and
Mr.. Ellacombe, all smiles, advanced across
the grass.
1.-The did not then and there fall down in q
1t 1t was not for every kind Of wish that he
might do SO on the part of the lady whom he
was approaching. Chris had no desire ever
to speak to the man again; she was Tarticu-
larly vexed at having met him in such cir
cumstances; she had been Infatuated by the
laughter Of his companions, and she consid-
cred that he was taking an unwarrantable
liberty in getting out of his carriage to acoost
her. Worst Of all, she had horrible suspiO-
ion that he was not perfectly sober. The
truth is that he had been lunching a little
too we'll at the Pre- Catalan, otherwise he could
scarcely have failed to notice the girls frlgid
demeanor and lowered brow.
"Well," he exclaimed, "I do call this luck7'
$50 do l." thought Chris; 81 call it luck Of
the very worst description But she said
aloud: "How do you do, Mr.. Ellacombe2
am sorry you stopped your carriage; but if
you will follow this road and take the first
turn to the right and then keep straight on
you will como to stand Of facres before
long,"
,"oh, thatll be all right" answered Ella
combe, cheerfully. "Ill walk the whole way
back II it comes to that. I'd have walked
double the distance to see you. And what are
N nP all in klNo
world"
There could be little doubt about it, the
man was not quite himself. He had assumed
his worst manner, and how bad that might
become Chris knew by unpleasant experience.
do sit down" he pleaded, casting himself
full length upon the turf from which she
had risen; II want SO awfully to have q talk
with you"
But Chris did not yield to this seductive in
vitation. 81 must be making my way back
TO my hotel, !" she said. 'I leave for the south
Of France tonight, and have to pack up"
"For the south of France2 What funny
place to be going to I thought people only
won't there in the winter"
81 must go, answered Chris, firmly. "But."
she added, as he scrambled to his feet, "please
don't let me take you out into the sun if you
would rather remain where you are. like q
hot sun, but most people don't. Indeed, I be.
hevs 1t is rather dangerous for them"
AS II L should allow you to start off all
aloneP cried the gallant Ellacombe. "But,
Miss Compton, you'll be back at Brentstow in
November, won't your"
"No," answered Chris, Certainly not.
don't think it is likely that shall be in Eng.
land at all in November"
Ellacombe whistled. "Going to stay abroad
the whole winter, thon2' he asked presently,
eyes, I hope SO. My plans are rather un.
settled as yet, but in any case shall not
return to Brentstow."
Ellacombe pondered awhile. He had q
vague impression that he owed Chris an apol-
ogy, but he had also an impression, which
was not vague, and in support of which he
could doubtless have adduced more or less
convincing evidence, that it was very great
mistake ever to apologize to a woman. So he
dismissed that point from his mind and gave
himself up to other reflections, the eventual
outcome of which was that he remarked, very
gravely:
eff you're not at Brentstow in the winter.
Miss Compton, shan't see you, I'm afraid"
Chris said she was afraid he wouldn't.
whereupon he once more became very solemn
and pensive Atlergth he resumed, with some
earneStness:
ut just comes to this, Miss Compton, that
shall have to ask you now what meant to
have asked you couple of months hence.
I'm man Of few words, and 1 can't put
things prettily, but can put them plainly.
Will you marry me. Miss Compton2-therer"