Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-17

Dr. Lavergne's garden, with an open letter lying upon her crape-covered knees, while she gazed abstractedly and sorrowfully at the sunny prospect beneath her. Her father was Head and buried, as was also her happy, Irresponsible childhood
 From the day of her fathers death the Lav- erRnes had insisted upon her taking up her quarters with them, and she had been willing enough to agree to what Mir. James compton, her fathers cousin and lawyer, Wr1tlng from England, called "a suitable tenn Porary arrangement" Jose, too had seen ana Wept with her, making her laugh through ner tears by imploring her to accept as gift the kn1fe which he had refused to sell her few days ago. Lady Barnstaple and Lady Grace had visited her frequently; and as for the Duchess of Islay and the other great la- olesS they had written her very pretty little notes. All things considered, therefore, 1t did notlook as though the orphan would be without friends in the woB4d; and so Mime. Layergne ventured to remark to her skepti- cal husband, who shrugged his shoulders and drew down the corners of his mouth, and returned: "My dear, you must allow them 8 little time to forget"
 It was not however, to be thought of that young English woman, with respectable con- nections in her own country, should be left under the care of 8 couple of obscure for eigners in the south of France, and the letter from MT. James Compton which lay on her lap gave Chris to understand that her so- journ under Dr. Lavergne's roof was about to terminate. It was written in the dry, precise style, and announced that, he was now able to absent himself from his avocations for a short time, he was upon the point of starting for Cannes ID order that he might escort her to England.
 Two days later he arrived-a thin, dismal, worried-looking man, who wore 8 tall hat on the back of his head, and had large hands and feet, and blinking blue eyes, and struggling gray whiskers which met under his chin. Chris had never seen him before. She knew nothing of her relations. This one, at any rate, did not look as if he would prove much of an acquisition; nor did he seem to mean what he said, when he greeted her with mournful: "How do you dc, Christina? am glad to make your acquaintance at last."
 He drove up from his hotel to dinner with the Lavergnes; and 8 very dreary repast this turned out, both for entertainers and enter tained. It was great relief to Chris when her cousin, setting down his coffee-pot and declining Dr. Lavergne's proffered cigarette, requested her 10 take Q turn with him in the garden. He proceeded to business without any predatory observations.
 "It has been decided" said he, ''Ehat your homo henceforth will be with your mothers only sister, Miss Ramsden, whom believe you do not know personally. She lives in the neighborhood ot Primrose Hill; the ad- dress is 25 Balaclava Terrace, N.W."
 "I have heard of Aunt Rebecca," observed Chris. reaectively. 'I remember that my father said she was odd. What is she like2'
 "I don't see how can be expected to an- swer such question" returned Mir. Comp ton, with . shade of irritability.
 "1 dare say she will give mo enough to eat," said Chris, laughing little. ,
 "Wel, I hope so. Should she fail to carry out her part of the contract you will do well to address a letter to mo. must now tell you that your poor fathers personality is very much smaller than should havo SUD- posed it to be. He really appears to have spent every penny that he made by his writ ings."
 '0f course ho had a perfect right to do what he pleased with his own," said Chris; for she had no idea of allowing her fathers actions to be criticised by this pedantic law yer.
 q do not mean to say that your father has left you wholly unprovlded for; but I fear that you have been accustomed to a rate of expenditure which would be quite out of keeping with your present circumstances. You will henceforth receive 8 hundred @ year from mo until you come of age, when my trust will determine; and out of this sum you will have to defray the cost of your dress, washing, and travelling expenses"
 "It will be quite enough" Chris declared.
 "I am glad to hear you say so but must warn you that the sum which have named can not by any possibility be exceeded. Does that dog belong to your"
 'He does," answered Chris. "Peter, come and speak to your cousin"
 Little dog" said MT. Compton, making an effort to unbend, "give me your paw"
 "Pooh p returned Peter, with @ scornful snort and wheeling round, trotted off on tip toe. Peter had long before this instituted olfactory Investigations as to the person of MT. James Compton, and apparently did not think much of him.
 "I suppose" observed that gentleman, ''you will leave your dog here?"
 "Leave him here p exclaimed Chris. "Cer- tainly not. I shall take him with me-"
 MT. Compton shook his head.
 "Miss Ramsden will object, fear," said he.
 ''Then," returned Chris, calmly, q shall not live with her. Where go Peter goes."
 "But really, my dear Christina, you must excuse my telling you that that is not 8 proper way to speak. How can you help liv- ing with Miss Ramsden?"
 q won't, that's all, Chris answered with out loss of temper.
 James Compton, as his wife and children had long ago discovered, was weak sort of person in private life, though he had the name of being hard and uncompromising lawyer. He looked at the girl, who looked 3l|fI|a6(alAI|X!| :|;|| 3f|(alI|X