Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-11-28

ing all his fine sentiment to pieces in an in
SAINT. ''He has always been 80 longing to
see again some of his own people, and you
especially, the only son Of his only
brother" She is silent awhile, and then
looking at him intently, "What broughs
your" she asks gently.
"a longing to see him, l suppose" re-
turns he, smiling. 81 should have come be-
fore, but, as You doubtless know, ever since
my fathers death my mother and l have
lived in England, and Of late years have
travelled good deal. Three months ago,
however, hearing that affairs in Ireland
were going with a steady briskness to the
bad, threw up my intention of going to
the East again and came over here in
stead"
Troubles with your tenants5"
"Yes. Or rather with my agents. Same
thing Ever since that terrible tragedy
when poor Meredith was shot--the last
agent but two-I have had no peace"
81 remember it as though it were but
yesterday. 1t was an awful murder. He
resisted so long, so bravely, and" she
turns white-''they battered in his-oh, it
was horrible! And for you," CHANGING at
him, ''worse than for any one."
~ shan't forget it to them, you may be
sure" says he between his teeth.' swell,
the man after him--Strong either lost his
nerve or could not manage the people, and
after month or two resigned the post.
don't blame him really. 1t must be nasty
waiting to be murdered like that. The last
man, Monroe, gave in, too, SO, as saw no
prospect Of keeping an agent longer
than six weeks at u stretch, { ought I'd
take the post myself-with an assistant, of
course-and come over and try what
could do"
kerry is such q shocking place." says
the Duchess, with a sigh for that degener-
ate spot.
''If it could get good du,king in the sea
and have its inhabitants well washed off the
face of it, / dare say it would do good, {"
replies he, lightly. sin the meantime, as
said before, III SEQ what l can do with my
particular bit of it. The mother was rather
against giving-up her town house and COM
ing here in the height of the season, but
persuaded her, got tho castle put into live
able order, and now that she has been here
a month she seems to have quite taken to
It. OF course the moment L found few
days l could call my own she and thought
OF you aud my uncle"
1T was kind of you," scys she, softly.
She had been regarding him neroously for
pdSb i've IllllultS, eNGn WuilSU no Hdu
been speaking to her. Truly he is very far
apart from all the other young mon of her
acquaintance. Even kigalritf, who is
quite q Travelled person for his years, and
should he we'll up in the little delicate
touches that distinguish the well-bred So
ctety man from the weil-brcd country gen.
tleman, does not seem to her to come quite
up to the mark of this new-found cousin.
Something in his voice, in the unconscious
charm Of his manner plea:es while it dis
turbs her. There is an air about him as of
one accustomed always to the soft places of
the earth, and how will he take Ballyhinch
and all its shortcomings? Serious reiec-
ton.
Her mind flies on to the dinner and back
again to her just consummated visit to tho
butcher. There seems to her now some
thing sinister in the fact that he had so per-
sistently, 50 ins!dicUs!y put aside in the
bind Irish way that belongs to him her re-
quest to see the loin she had ordered before
leaving. Good heavens. can it bo possible
that that loin is still alive, that as yet its
primal owrec is free of knife or thcust.
She grows cold with horror as this fear
presents itself, and she sees laid out before
her minds eye tho tough joint that, should
haY fears prove true, will adorn the dinner
table tonight,
Her cousin is still talking, and she is say
ing Eyes" and moi in q distracted fash
ion, her mind running always ON the
treacherous butcher, and the shame that
his treachcry will bring her. when some-
thing is said that requires fuller answer.
IL is u mere nothing, but it serves 1t
rouses her.
"You don't find it slow here, thens'
"Slows STUPID you mean2 Oh, no.
There is always great deal to he done and
not so very much time in which to do it.
There are Tie usual things to battle with
every day, and often startling surprise
just TO wake us up a little. To-day" with
q lovely, gracious glance at him, ''the sur
prise has been very happy one"
He makes her no Immediate, ut least no
spoken, answer; but his eyes say as much as
need 10 said-perhaps, indeed, more.
"Now that ! see YOU" She says falter-
ingly, as she thinks of the mutton, ~ know
that you are not what thought you would
be; you gre another person altogether, as it
were."
"Yet tho moment your eyes fell on me
they knew me-"
Eyes, that was fatterng, admit,
laughing
''Oh, was it''' says he, laughing tooy
''Thank you. Then the ideal you had con-
jured up was of being very superior to
me Am too understand that!''
''I'm not going to explain or refute any
thing" dec ares she, with a charming
touch Of mutiny about tho mouth. 'T
think your instant recognition by me should
suffice YOU"
"You gave very sorry reason for that.
It showed you held me-something bet, er
than the organist and little dearer than
tho Doctors aY prentice"
81 don't remember saying that you were
'dearer' than anything" she replies
calmly.
There is a suspicion of coming battle in
her tone. 1t lends an additional color to
her cheek, az added luster to her eyes.
Provdentially for Delaney the house ut this
moment comes into view, and with it the
squire brenthless and beaniing, dozen dogs
of every age and description clustering at
his heels
$50 you've met her," he cries cneerily,
whilst yet a long way Off That's all
right She," evidently indicating the
Duchess. though his indications are vague,
"is worth dozen Of me. / hurried Ali
knew, but ono of those fellows from the
Kingston farm--you know 'cm, Norah-
caught me, and his tongle, once he gets an
opening, is as long as the lane that has no
fuf.,,ipr ~