Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-18
"CHRIS."
BY ". T. MORRIS.

and hostess. She remained at the end of the garden, and meditated upon her future, while Peter comforted her to the best of his ability by rubbing his head against her and licking her hands. "Dear old Peter," she murmured, "you are the best friend have in the world now.
 "I hope not" said voice close behind her.
 "Oh, MT. RichardsonW p sho exclaimed, "is that you2 am so gladl Only minute ago | was wondering whether should see you to | say good bye. I am going away the day aiter | tomorrow" The young man groaned. "I thought as | much. said he, "I couldn't bear to let you | co without telling you how awfully sorry I | was to hear of-of your misfortune you know" "Thank you," answered Chris; "I was sure you would be sorry" q wish had known. And now you are going away. You won't quite forget me- VIII your" v
 "Never," Chris declared emphatically, "1 shall always remember that it was you who gave me my dear Peter. Perhaps 1t was not precisely in that way | that Mr. Richardson was desirous Of being remembered. He did not, however, enter any verbal protest, but went on to speak of Chriss | fate and fortune putting some questions with | regard to the latter which, to an experienced | person, would have sounded significant. All | that she could tell him was that her aunt was to be remunerated for taking charge of her, l and that she was to have an allowance of a l hundred pounds year for her personal e@- | penses till she came of age. l "Four years hence-it's @ long time. FOOT l little Chris" murmured MT. Richardson; "have they made you ward in Chancery: l Chris could not say. ."What does ward in | Chancery meanr" she inquired.
 "It means among other things, that sup l posing your uncle had made you one, should expose myself to don't know what if were 1 to run away with you and marry you to-mor- row-which is what I should like to do," res l piled MT. Richardson.
 Chris was not best pleased, and she at once | expressed her displeasure. Il would rather 1 you did not make jokes of that kind again" she said with dignity.
 "But the worst of it is that it isn't a joke at | all: it's the soberest of sober earnest" re- ! turned the young man. "Chris, dear, I'm an | impecunious beggar; have no right to pro- | let you go without telling you that love you. | Is 1t any use2 Will you wait for me, ChrlsF'
 "Oh, no P exclaimed Chris, snatching away f her hand, of which he had suddenly possessed himself. "I like you very much, and you have boon very kind to me; but-but-oh, no, you must not think of that, pleaseP
 GAS if could help thinking ot 1t! Tell me at least this much-do you care for any one else7"
 "You know I donrl Didn't you hear me say just now that Peter was my best friend lp the world2"
 "welI, I am not jealous of Peter. Especially if, as you say, he reminds you Of me. LOOK here Chris. if you'll give me something tc live for, I'll try to reform and give up my naughty habits. If you won't, l shall go straight to the deuce and it will be short enough journey, goodness knowsP l Whether Chris was actuated by pure benev' olence, or whether her heart was in some de- ! hryf hand9Oma l face and the warmth with which he pleaded his cause, certain 1t Is that at the end of an- | other quarter of an hour she found herself after fashion engaged to MT. Richardson.
 It was only after a fashion. With great generosity, he declared that he could not and would not bind her down to formal engage ment; his prospects were too uncertain and | her own feelings were evidently too unde. cided for that. He hoped to see her again. | he said, in the course of the summer, and meanwhile their quasi-betrothal had better remain a secret. Chris did not altogether like this condition, but gave in to it on being as' sured that 1t was made for her sake.
 "As far as am concerned" Val said, "1 should be only too glad for all the world to know that am engaged to you; but 1t would not be fair, because there is no actual engage ment. It's a contract which is binding upon me, but not upon you; that's what wanty you to understand"
 Y All the next day she was busy packing up !. and bidding farewell to her friends at Cannes and on the day after that she had to part with the good people whose house had been a
 second home to her.
 "Write to us often, my child," whispered
 Mme. Lavergne, as she embraced her; '' and
 do not forget that your room will always be
 ready for you, just as you left 1t. One never ? knows what will happen; troubles may al'
 ways come; and some day you may be glad h to think that therO is an old woman in France t who loves you like her own daughter" S Unfortunately, Dr.. Lavergne had been
 grieviously affronted by an ill-advised offel ' on the part of Mir. James Compton to reim' purse him for the expense in respect tc ' Chris's board, but when the girl threw hel
 arms around his neck and kissed him he sud
 denly melted and, if the truth must be told
 shed a few tears.
 Goodbye, dear mademoiselle, goodbye [
 he said. cWe shall miss you much more thai
 you will miss us-that is natural. But somt
 day you will come back to us, will you not?
 But by this time Chris herself was crying = bitterly, and could not get out a word. It diC
 not seem likely that she would ever see hin
 again, for he was over seventy ,and she woulC
 not be her own mistress for four long year
 to come.