The sun., 1890-01-12
DAPRIL'S LADY. F."
A NOVEL OF OUR OWN DAY
Written for The Sun by 1.-The Duchess
CHAPTER III.
eft was loon and his lAss
with hey and ho and hoy.noninoI
That DER tho green cornneld did pass
In the Spring time. the only pretty ring time.
when birds do sing hey. ding a-dingt
sweet loyera love thu gnrinlW
CHAPTER III.

when broa DO ginR hey'dinR hdinRl
Sweet lovers love the Spring"
Joyce Is running through the garden. all the
sweet wild winds Of heaven playing round her.
They are little wild still. It is tho end OF
lovely May, but though lanRuid summer Is
almost with US. a suspicion OF her moro spark
ling sister spring fills all tho air.
Miss Kavanseh has caught up the tail OF her
GOWN and is flying as II for dear life. Behind
her come the foe. fast and furious. Tommy.
indeed. is now dangerously close at her heels.
armed with ferocious- looking garden fork.
his face crimson. his eyes glowing with the
ardor OF the chase; Mabel. much In the back
ground is making n bad third.
Miss Kavanagh is growing distinctly out OF
breath. In another moment Tommy will have
her BY this time he has fully worked himself
into the belief that she is o red Indian. and
his lawful prey. and 10 prepared to mako q
tomahawk of his fork, and. having felled her. to
scalp her somehow when Providence shows
her corner round rhododendron bush that
may save her for the moment. She makes for
IT, gains 1t. dashes round 1t. and all but pre-
cipitates herself into the arms of young man
who has been walking leisurely toward her. "a
He is a tall young man. not strictly hand
some. but decidedly good to look at. with hon.
est hazel eyes. and a shapely head. and alto
eether very we'll set up. As rule he Is one Of
tn0 UObb CnoeTlul peOplo hilN0, anu lE0Lu0u-
dous favorite In his regiment the --Hussars.
though Just now II might suggest itself to the
intelligent observer that he considers he has
been hardly used. A very little moro haste
and that precipitation must have taken place.
He had made an instructive movement toward
her with protective arms outstretched; but,
though n little cry had escaped her. she had
maintained her balance and now stands look
ing at him with laughing eyes and painting
breath. and two pretty hands pressed against
her bosom.
Mr.. Dysart let's his disappointed arms fall TO
his sides and assumes the aRgrieved air OF one
who has been done out OF good thing.
'You!" says she when at last she can speak.
Il suppose So" returns he discontentedly.
He might just as we'll have been any one else,
or anywhere else-such chance-and gonel
Never were you so welcome p cries she.
lodging behind him as Tommy. fully armed.
and all alive. comes tearing round the corner.
"Ah. ha. Tommy. sold! I've got champion
now. Pm no longer ahivering in my shoes. Mr..
Dysart will protect me-won't you. Mr..
Dysart2" to the young man. who says "Yes"
without stirring muscle. He would have died
at his present post willingly. because she has
laid her dainty fingers on his shoulders. stand
ing behind him. from which safe position she
mocks at Tommy with security. We're the
owner OF tho shoulders to stir. the owner OF
the fingers might remove those delightful
members. Need It be said that. with this awful
possibility before him. Mr. Dysart Is prepared
to die at his post rather than bulge an inch.
And indeed death seems imminent. Tommy.
charging round the rhododendron. and finding
himself robbed OF his lawful scalp. grows
frantic. and makes desperate passes at Mr..
Dysart's legs, which that hero circumvents
with considerable display OF policy. such as:
say, Tommy. old boy. is that your How
dye do? Glad to see me, aren't your" This
last very artfuly. with Wow to softening the
attacks. You don't know what I've brought
you'll" This is moro artful still. and distinctly
o swindle rs he has brought him nothing. but
on the spot be determines TO redeem himself
with the help of the small toy shops and sweety
shops down In the village. Put down that
fork like good boy and let me tell you
how"
"0h. bother you!" says Tommy. Indignantly
"Id have had her only for you'll What brought
you here now2 Couldn't you have waitedP
Yes, what brought you 2" says Miss Kava-
nagh. most disgracefully going over to the
other side, now that the danger is at an end.
aud Tommy has planted his tomRhRwk In O |
bed close by.
DO you want to know ?" says he quickly.
The fingers have been removed from his
shoulders, and he is now free to turn round |
onu iooh NJ Luo cHhTHllnS ldCo Uobluo Hllu.
No. no" says she. shaking her head. I've |
been rude. suppose; but 1t is such a wonder
tul thing TO see you here 80 soon again"
why should not be here?"
OF course! That is the one unanswerable |
question. But It is puzzling to those who
thought Of you as being elsewhere"
III you are one Of those you fill me with
gratitude, that you should think Of mo even
for moment"
Well haven't been thinking much" says
she frankly, and with the most charming little
emile; " don't believe was thinking Of you
1t all, until 1 turned the corner Just now. and
then. confess. was startled, because be-
ueved you to be at the antipodes"
Perhaps your belief was mother to your
thought"
oh. no. Don't make me out 30 nasty. Well
but were You thero2"
Perhaps so. Where are they" asks he
Rloomily. "One hears a good deal about them,
butthey comprise 80 many places that now
adays one is hardly sure whore they lie. At
Ill events no one has made them clear to me-"
Does It rest with me to enlighten your"
aSks she. with little aggravating half glance
rom under her long lashes. well. the North
fole' Kamtschatka. Smyrna. Timbuctoo. Ma
Wen stop there, think" says he. with
faint gnnece
There! At Margate2 No. thanks. You
ean. II You like. but as for me-"
don't suppose you would stop anywhere
Mn me-" says he. Il have occasional glim-
merngs that hope mean common sense. But
wen have not been SO adventurous as to
wander toward Margate. have only been to
'own and back again"
What town."
9, Ehf What town." says he. astonished.
london. YOU know"
IA. no. don't know" says Miss Kavanagh. a
u'!lS petuantly. "One would think there was
yuy one town in the world, and that all you
snEnsh people had the monopoly OF It There
eo1ner towns. suppose. Even We poor Irish
.Iknineants have a town or two. Dublin
'CISs a1t under that head suppose
ondouotedly. OF course" making great
uaeIe 10 abase himself. 1t l. mara snoh-