Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-12-29
"CT1RIS.>
~ v. Z. 1oRHfR.

can't say Cnat evew promised TO marry yous
and you may be sure that shall not allow
myself to be entrnpped into runaway mar
riage."
perhaps you are right" returned Val,
coolly. "I am not sure that runaway mar
riage would be even possible, and have no
wish to get myself into trouble with the Chan
eery Court. But an engagement really do
think you win have to admit; and, as was
saying before your friend joined US. my opinion
Is that the wisest thing you lcan do will be to
go straight back to your cunts house. !
don't think you can doubt that love you,
Chris, and don't think youtmeant what you
said when you made that cruel speech about
my wishing to take advantagetof your having
got yourself into q mess. quite admit that
have no right to hold you to- your engage
msnt, because I'm so awfully hard up just
now; but for your own sake / am sure that it
would be better to announce IL Professionally,
and II you choose to throw ME over later
shall not complain"
This had generous sound; yet Chris could
not help feeling some doubts as to the gener-
osity and sincerity Of the speaker. She was,
however, ashamed OF doubling him, and tried
to throw as much friendliness as she could into
her reply, which was to the effect that she
could not admit any positive engagement
Ell diSagreeable things are said shout me,
! must bear them," she declared. II would
bear anything rather than attempt ID live with
Aunt Rebecca again."
Val was not q little surprised to find that
he could not move the Sifl from her deter
mination. He argued with her the whole way
back TO her hotel he even went near to losing
hts temper with hers but she stuck resolutely
to what she had said. Come what might, she
would never see her Aunt Rebecca again If
she could help IL; and he was beginning to
own himself beaten, and debate inwardly
nh ha haA has Hcn ia
mes or put himself in communication with her
family, when an unexpected and powerful
ally came to his aid.
This was no less q person than Mr.. James
Compton, who, when tho pair reached their
destination, was discovered under the porte
eochere with his hat In his hand, hopping his
forehead and apparently expoBtulating with
the landlord in Anglo-French.
"Oh, here she isp he exclaimed. "Wel
now, Christina, this Is too bad lit is really
toe bad have told you distinctly and re-
peatedly that IL you had any complaints to
mako they were to be addressed to me, and
that they would meet with such attention as
they might deserve. Instead Of which, you
must needs conduct yourself after this pre-
posterous fashionI Upon my word, one
would suppose that you were utterly ignorant
| Of the laws Of your counkryp
Zone would be right thep," replied Chris,
| composedly. ~ know nothing whatever about
l tho laws OF my country. But know that
won't go back to Balaclava Terrace"
"oh, dear mel dear msT calculated Mr..
| Compton. irritably; "that is a nice sort OF
thing to say to your trustee and your fathers
executorl Won't, indeed But, my good
| girl, there is such q word in the dictionary as
must, and people who say they won't dc
things may sometimes be made 70 do them.
"How," inquired Chris, "are you going 70
| make me return to England2"
quite sure. He changed his tone and re.
Piled:
"when tell you that Miss Ramsden is 60
riously Ill, indeed Epay say dangerously, ILL.,
and that her illness is chiefly due to your
thoughtless behaviour, trust that even you
will see the prcpristy Of starting for London
with me by to-night's mail. Perhaps, in the
circumstances, ought hardly to DO expected
| to reason with you, but am prepared to dc
SOL am prepared to do 50. Be so kind as tc
step into this room for few minutes"
And he led the way toward tho bureau
which the landlord, whe had been listening tC
the foregoing dialogue with mpch interest, in
dictated by q wave Of the hand. Then, anG
not until thon, he noticed Val, who indeed was
following Chris with an DIR Of authority anG
| protection.
"And pray. who is this1" he inquired.
The persen alluded to answered the ques
ton suRvely.
my name is Richardson" said ho. 81 hav,
been acquainted with Miss Compton for SOM
time past, and may as well mention at ono
that 1 am Engaged to be married to herr
Then 1t was pretty to see how the lawye
bristled up and frowned. "0h, nonsense h.
returned. "Pooh, poohi don't talk to M
like that, sir, II you please. You are proba
bly, aware that Miss Compton is not Of ag
and cannot engage herself to anybody with
out the consent Of her guardian" For thi
, Richardson was, at any rate, man, not al
unreasoning and incomprehensible girl, an,
could be treated accordingly.
IL But Val did not seem to be at all frightened
''Of course" be answered, politely, II ar
quite aware Of that, but don't despair Of oh
tanning her guardians consent. Perhaps
when you have done speaking to her, yo
will spare me ave minutes, III wait here 70
you" Whereupon he took out cigarett
and lighted It.
Mr.. Compton grunted, but did not refus
the interview solicited. Tho young ma
might, for anything that no knew to the cor
trary, be an eligible young man, or again b
might be IN position to give trouble. Eithe
way, Il would be as well to hear what he hR
To say for himself, so Val was left to the SOC
ETY. Of the landlord, while Mr.. Compton retire
In the bureau with Chris, who asked: "Ho
did you discover that was hereP"
"oh, that was net o matter OF much diff
Guilty. When I was sent for to your aunt
house yesterday morning, Ilsarned from tn
servant that you had stArted for the Cont
J, nent. and that you had told your cabman I
q drive to Waterloo. I crossed by Dover an
Calais last night, and on arriving here wer
It straight to the Lyons Station. thinking that
II all probability you intended casting yourse
upon the protection Of DR.. 1avergne at Cal
u mes. But as you had not been seen there, an
asI could not In any case, have left for Ii
south before tonight. Il seemed TO me be-
to make inquiries at che 81. Lazars terminu
where OF once obtained the information tn
1desired. You had been noticed there G
your arrival, and the address to which yo
had been taken was procured for me after
short delay. The French are people who
dislike ahd distrusts" concluded Mr.. Com
ton, whs had perhaps spoken to half dozt
Frenchmen In his Ife, ''but am bound
admit that In some respects they are mo-
Y business-like than we are"