Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-12-30
5ne another. and the last Of tho summer was

coward to, became after q taShlon recOnclled
to the dreary present. Once Mr.. Compton
called and asked to see her. He wished to
know whether she had heard anything from
Lady Barnstaple, and, on being informed
that she had not, said he was very glad OF
that.
sit looks" said he, Gas if those two men
whom you met in Paris had really kept their
own counsel. OF course that isn't to say that
they will continue to do SO. am not much
in the way of hearing about people in that
| station Of life; but about Mr.. Richardson and
his habits have by chance heard a few par
Hculars. It appears that he is the only son Of
| a deceased Liverpool merchant, who left him
a very fair patrimony-which he has dissi-
| pated. Just now, he is, as I understand, a
good deal mixed up with a set of fast young
lordlings whose extravagances his means do
not enable him to initiate with any safety.
| In short, there is every reason to anticipate
that he will either pass through the Bank
ruptcy Court or disappear very shortly"
Chris said she was sorry to hear 1t.
"Your sorrow, if sincere, is inexplicable to
me, Christina. You certainly told me that
you did not wish to marry this man, and if
| you do not wish to marry him you ought to
| be glad that there is strong probability Of
his being removed from yonr path"
''EIe has always been very kind to me-" said
Chris II don't want him to be ruined"
Mr.. Compton shook his head. '"rhe young
course, II you are determined to go there
with him, IL will eventually be in your power
to do so. You will not, however, have such
power until you attain your majority, and I
may remind you that you will not attain your
majority for nearly four years to come. In
the meantime, do trust that your common
sense will deter yeu from giving Mr. Richard
son any further hold over you than he already,
most unfortunately, possesses"
The caution was less necessary than Mr..
Compton supposed. Chris was fully alive to
the fact that Val had a hold over her, and it
had more than once occurred to her that If
she could only stave off her marriage until
she came of age, she might possibly purchase
her freedom by pecuniary sacrifice. That
such an idea should have entered her mind
was as strong proof as any one could have
desired that she was not and never would be
in love with the man to whom she was en-
gagged. But that did not prevent her from
plying and sympathizing with him, and she
was perhaps all the more disposed to condone
the ofsnse OF prodigality because its opposite
was so often and so disagreeably brought
under notice.
Miss Ramsden confided to her one day that
there was a very large sum Of meney in the
house. "Small as my income is" the old
woman said, "1 have saved something out of
1t for many years past, and oil my savings are
contained in the stronghold which, as dare
sideboard in the dining-room. Has Martha
said anything to you about itP"
mo-" answered Chris, 81 don't suppose she
knows anything about it."
"She knows more than you think, returned
Miss Ramsden, with q cunning side-glance;
"she is deceitful, dangerous woman. All,
dear me when think how easily the house
might DO broken iptoI Sometimes I lie
awake trembling more than half the night
through"
Chris Had learned by this time that it was
useless to take up tho cudgeIs on Marthas
behalf. She only said: "Why don't you send
your money to the bank, Aunt Rebecca2"
what and let those INSCRIPTIONS bank
ers gamble with it2 No, indeed Sometimes
have thought of the funds; but read my
newspaper carefully and know that any day
powerful coalition might be formed against
England. And then where would consols be2
No, no; my money Is my own, and I'll keep it
by me as long as live. But that won't be
long," she added, with a sigh. And then:
"Chris, dear, when am gone, and when all
that have saved becomes yours to do what
you like with, you won't throw it away, will
your You'll remember your poor old aunt,
and how she denied herself for your sake, and
how, even on her death-bed, when she was
helpless, she wasn't afraid to tell you that she
had ten thousand pounds in the house. At
least, won't say that it is quite as much as
that; but 1t Is more than five thousand pounds
at any rate. You'll remember how trusted
you, won't you, dear2" And Miss Ramsden
shed few tears Of self-pity.
To appeals OF this kind Chris made such
reassuring replies as she could. This old
woman, who, with one foot in the grave, COM
planned bitterly of the quantity of meat that
was bought to provide her with beef-tea, was
a sufficiently pitiable spectacle; but it was
not easy to feel as much compassion for her
upon the turf. Moreover, her constant terror
Of burglars and distrust of every one about
her ended by irritating her niece's nerves q
little. OF Martha Chris felt as sure as she
did Of herself but there was no denying that
the house might be broken into any night.
and what could three defenseless women, of
whom one was bed-ridden, do in such an
event2 After Chris had been told about the
treasure in the stronghold, she, too, took to
lying awake at night and starting at any sud-
den noise.
One afternoon she said to Val: "I often
wonder what should do if were to hear
robbers moving about down-stairs after had
gone to bed, What would you do in my
placer"
"Cover up my head and pray that they
might take all they could get and 60 away
without numbering me" he answered, laugh
ing. mot that they would be likely to secure
q very handsome spoil on these premises.
Has the old lady got any plate7"
"It is all electro-plate, I believe" answered
Chris; but her eye wandered involuntarily
| toward the stronghold under the sideboard:
for this interview, like the rest of her inter-
views with Val, took place in the dining room
the drawing room having been closed during
Miss Ramsden's illness, in order to pro-
serve the furniture from needless wear and
! tear.
| / L - dlEl,9d