The morning call., 1890-06-11
NOT ACTUALLY
ENGAGED.
CHATTER l.

wv fred a gun himself, had been riding
around the covers encouraging his son-in-law
and their friends I'LL the darkness of the autumn
evening drove them back TO the house.
Some entered the house at once and went TO
their rooms but Mr. Brooke, the spouse OF the
eldest Miss Gruby had letters 10 write aud
turned Into the library to dash of the most I'M.
portaut before the post bag was dispatched.
The hustle OF d fresh arrival arrested his pro-
ceedings before he could do more than light the
lamps on the writing table, and the next minute
he was standing Oh the rug shaking hands by the
freight with an old acquaintance.
$50 you have found your way here at last, you
lazy individual2 / verify believe you would not
have come now II had not threatened my wife
and babies TO rout you out OF your hermitage"
Maurice DayeSfOrd, pleasant looking, we'll
made young Engll>hlnan, made laughing pro-
lest against this AS untrue.
II should have been most happy to have seen
Mrs. Brooke at my old grange. Have l not told
you so beforeW
Hum. yes; but when l say to Lucy, let's go
and see DayesfOrd, he's not such very bad sort
of a fellow she answers promptly, but he's So
unsoeiabe; everybody says So "
YES believe that I've given ofIenSe by de-
Ginning Invitations" responded Maurice; but
pray assure Mrs. Brooke that am not unso-
ciabe by nature. II is the matchmaking mothers
that have driven me TO shut myself up in my
shell. ! do assure you. Brooke, that ever since
| succeeded TO my uncles property | have been
pesIered, literally pestered, 10 marry. On one
| side OF me there lives dowager Countess with
knight who thinks that because her ugly, vulgar,
| carrOty offspring Will be well lowered that |
| ought TO be grateful to her Tor limiting that /
might take my choice | ran away from them all
| the year before last. but wherever l went my
| fame had preceded me. was Daylesford OF
| DaylesfoId Grange aud an excellent parti. tell
YOU Brooke, 1t fairly disguised me; would not
| mary an angel II she were thrown at my head"
"Ahi you knew you could safely venture
| here" was the laughing reply, "for my oldest
| gill VIII not be marriageabe for ten years TO
| come, ana The other children OF the house are
| boys. noisy and restless enough TO frlghten you
| away"
Not they; 1 like children and adore women
VIII en- they are sweet and unaffected, and
And have no designs on YOU" added Mr.
Brooke. Well, you may bans your fears
here, for We are all old married folks. Lady
Groby enlertans no ladies' but my wife and her
sister, the wife Of Wiley, tie barT1steT."
" For heavens sake don't. repeat 10 them what
have been saying, or they Will set me down fOl
a conceted fool. and honestly, Brooke, would
marry tomorrow If / could meet with dear lit
| tie creature who would love me- for myself"
Talking of dear little so'ons," cried Mr..
Brooke. wIlnking bis br ows, had forgotten
| that we have one lady visitor here-a Miss " In
| ton-Eda Wut0n."
Young aud unwedded?"
" ! am sorry TO say that she IS; but an attack
| of neuralgia, caught on her tourney. has caused
| her to contne herself 10 her own room or The
{" NAV il eep her there as long as am at
GrOby House - exclaimed Maurice Dayleesford
| so devoutly that his friend laughed and threat
| ened to ticket him " Not for sale " il Miss
MiltOl QiO MAXI UcI dDptdIduC Ill llc I'll dNlub-
| room.
they went away together that SIR. Brooke
might show his friend the way 10 the bachelors
quarters, and as soon as the door closed behind
them young lady came forward. She had been
half lying, half sitting in cushioned window
shrOuded from notice by The heavy crimson cur
tains, and, languid from pam, had been so nearly
asleep when the conversation commenced that
she WAS hesitaIng whether 10 show herself or
remain perdu when Maurice Daylesford's avow-
ais determined her to do the latter.
ION, these men" she calculated, as she took
the place on the rug they had Just vacated; aud
ION, these men," she repeated, when she mad
stood there for some minutes, thOughtfully gaZ-
Ing into the fire.
She had very charming face, lit up with a
pair Of mischeyous gray eyes, and only wanting
The color of which wakelul nights had robbed 1t
to be extremely pretty.
AT the sound of The gong she vanished, and
nothing seen of her at the dinner-tabe.
| Lady GIobY was a stout, well-meaning woman.
Her daughters were photographs OF her fair self
| in Ieduced proportions, ana all three conversed
pleasantly and did all liz their power to make
the stranger feel at home.
Maurice laughed at the old stories Sir James
told after The ladies left thenI had interesting
discussion Oh drainage with country squire,
and was about TO renew il after they were sum-
moned upstairs, but Lady Groby's voice called
him 10 her side.
Leaning over the back OF her chair, dressed
with childish simplicity in a white dress with a
blue sash and great punches OF forget-ne-nots at
her throat and IN her hair, lie saw The demoselle
whose acquaintance lie had hoped to avoid
making.
- Mr.. DayleSf0rd, MISS Eda Wlnt0n Is dear
young friend of my eldest daughter Mrs. Wiley"
said Lady GrOby, IN her thick, sleepy voice. "
wish you'd take her to Lucy" and she glanced
toward Mrs. Brooke who was seated behind the
urn" take her 10 Lucy and make her have
some tea.n
Maurice had bowed coldly and was standing In
bis stiffest attitude before the speaker when lie
became conscious that Miss Winton's eyes were
dancing with amusement and that she was
screening her rosy lips with the feathers OF her
fan.
she was laughing at him. Was it for the con-
strained pose lie had taken oT-but no, this
lmpossbie-dld she divine his annoyance at be-
ing nominated TO the Office Of cavalier des DANES,
the Que OF all others lie detested?
Eyes, will have some tea," she said, compos-
Ing her features by effort, "but l should like
| 1t here" and she began 10 move toward cosy
nook at the other end of the long but rather mar
| row room, speaking over her shoulder as she
| Went send servant with H. Will you, Mr..
| Dayesford? aud shawl aud a fOOs-st0ol, for L
mean 10 be very comfortable
The lazlly imperious tone was certainly not
that OF young lady eager 10 make a favorable
| Impression, SO II prompted Maurice 10 execute
| her orders himself.
Don't stay" she said. as she began TO sip her
| tea; "the men viii talk 10 you. Mr.. Wiley Is
| quite eloquent when he gets on to fayOrlte sub
ject. Or you may sit down II you prefer it," she
! went on, more graciously. LAS ioresee that
| you and l 10 be iellOwsuferers we may as
well be good friends"
is neuralgia specialize OF Groby Hall p"
asked the gentleman, as lie drew chair near 10
II hope not. Mine was caught before came.
| There are worse Affections. MIR. DaylesiOrd, than
twinges OF toothache as you and are about 10
experience"
q must be more than commonly obtuse, Miss
Winton, for L really Cannot comprehend your
meaning"
Cannot yOu?" and again those laughing eyes
| Knocked him with their mirtn. We shall see
| whether you say tomorrow. Don't De
| frightened; | shall not. Forewarned is fore
| armed, you know, aud / am sure you have wit
enough TO battle dear, good, mistaken Lady
| Groby.'
"GraBted the good and the dear; but why do
| you call her mistaken? Is she medtatlng any
| plots against our peace OF mnd?'
| Miss NlntOn played with her fan, and low
cred her eyelids as SHE said demurely:
lis ii not well-knOwn fact that elderly ladies
| VIII sometimes NEEDLE with the affairs of their
| friends, and Try TO make them happy against
| their WHIP
"Humph /" said Maurice. COMPRISING his
| lips and stealing furtve Chances at pretty Eda.
81 am very fond OF Lady Groby," she went on.
| "Y0u can't think how kindly she has nursed and
! petted me while | have been feeling so poorly.
| 1 would not yrx her Tor worlds. 1 would do any
| thing-almo-t auything-to please her. but still
| II would be too embarrassing 10 go 10 her and
| say: i divine your ulentlOnsi l know what
| you are plotting my behalf; but IL Is TO NO
| purpose because-because''-
"Sbail finish the sentence for yOu?" qneried
| Maurice. ais 1t because the young lady In whose
| future Lady Groby Is Interested has arranged 1t
| herself?"
"Oh, no; am not actually engaged" muir
| INJURED Eda, tn such very low tones that the gen.
| tleman had TO bend his tall head TO hear what
| she said. "Only before Charlie went abroad L
| promsed--0h, Mr. Dayleslord. please fetch me
some more tea; am so hot and thirsty"
| When he brought back the cup Eda had van
lshed, ana lie saw her ITO more that evening; but
| her predictions were verified when Lady Groby
detained him 10 exratiaTe on Miss Wlnton'S
good Ioon and accomplishments.
| "She has no fortune, MIR. DaylesfOrd; but such
girl would lie a fortune In herself. / could not
wish any young man In whom am interested a
| better wife than she will be. An orphan too,
| with no hangers-on In the shape OF younger
| brothers and sisters. But need not talk TO you
about her saw how much you were struck
| with her just now"
| Having found husbands for her daughters,
| Lady Groby evidently regarded II as her duty to
| do the same good offices for any unmarried fe-
male who came In her way. Maurice listened
| with the pTofOundest attention. said "yes'' and
| indeed ~ 10 the right places, and secretly
| thanked heaven that Aiiss WinIon's frankness
| had spared HIM the alternative OF being married
nolens volens, or packing his portmanteau and
| running away
| CHAPTER ii.
THE BIRTHDAY GIFT.
Neither MIR. Wiley nor Maurice were such ar
| dent spOrtsmen as the rest but they were great
| walkers, aud as it WAS lovely weather Mrs VIII
| leva md dad