The Forrest City times., 1891-11-20
Dark OarrelI's Bride.
CHAPTER ".

VI cannot help It." said lima. HWhv, sir Philip, look as much n country gem tleman as you dov' Miss Durnford glanced hastily at her niece; her Transatlantic freedom of man. ner somewhat disturbed the good lady's equanimity; but it was so free from Transatlantic forwardness, so child.like and charming, that no one could misintcr. pret 1t; and Sir Philip Darrell was the last man to be anything but pleased by it.. He laughed and said-
 "No, no, Miss Durnford, rather for me "'Fifty years of Europe, then a cycle of
 Cathayp"
 "so Cumberland is Cathay, and your splendid ancestral home a prison?"
 "Ab," said Darrell, carelessly, though again with the tone of bitterness lima had noticed before--''a short life and merry one."
 "I should say long life and a good one," replied Miss Durnford.
 "Long lifes Defend me from itr' As he said the words he caught fleeting look from Ilma's brown eyes, & look so full of pain and unconscious pleading that a quick flush crossed his cheeks, and he bit his lip; but, recovering himself, and with
  an improbable subject, he asked lima if chc would like to go over the Court.
 "Oh, so much " she said eagerly. "My cousins say 1t has such lovely pictures, and all sorts of beautiful things"
 "You must honor me then, and your aunt and cousins will, hope, favor my poor house also. You will hear some dis maj stories of the cavaliers and ladies you xcf In ha ,afo hata always been turbulent set, and" He stopped abruptly, and added, turning to Miss Durnford, ssPerhaps you would kindly let me know in day or two, what day would suit you--all days are alike to me.o
 "But indeed, Sir Philip, you must not make me fix day." was the reply.
 "You will, am sure; it would be so kind of you'-and he spoke in his most winning manner. "Thanks. One of the gardeners has been raving over some rare exotics. l forgot what he called them.- You must please choose as many of them % you like. 1 remember your old weak ness for out-of- the-way fowers."
 "You left orders with your head.gar. dener for my fancy to be gratifed," said the old lady. "No, no, Sir Philip; can. not encroach any more on your kindness. Why have whole range of flowers that are admired by all which came from your hot.housesW
 "Have you? I am so glad. wish you had hot-house full. l must sec to it-the more the merrier. Why should the fow- CTS waste their sweetness on the desert air?"
 There were tears in Miss Durnford's eyes as she thanked her guest; but more than one cause made the tears rise. It was not that in any case Sir Philip would not have been equally lavish; but there always seemed lack of that interest in anything belonging to him which a man would feel in what he looked to en- joy for lifetime; he always spoke as q mere wanderer through ths brief exist ence. There was always that under-cur- rent of feeling which, put into words, would have been, "W hat are these things to me? 1 have no hold on them. do not care for them; let me give them while they are mine to giye.o
 "Would any da. this week suit you, Sir Philip:" asked Miss Durnford, rising from the table.
 "Certainly, and the earlier the better for my pleasure, l mean, not my conyen- ience."
 "Friduy?" Darrell bowed.
 "rhen," he said, .sl will call at the Larches and pay my devoirs they will not mind the forenoon-but will they have breakfasted?"
 "Oh, yesw
 1 will walk up, if you will allow me to leave Hassan with you little longer"
 "With the greatest pleasure; and hope you will give Us some more of your compa- ny when you return for him."
 at is very good of you to tolerate such . scapegrace as am," replied Darrell.- Il shall be most happy"
 lima had intended to run over to the sarches that morning, having been re- quested to do so by her cousins; but now she must give that up, as she could not inc trude on Sir Philip-it would be rude, though she was sure he would not mnd.- Miss Durnford however who was a wo- man of great common sense, came to the rescue. She regretted that lima would have to meet Sir Philip Darrell at all; but, as it was impossible to prevent this, she would not run the risk of some blunt remark from Roland or Rose, betraying that lima as expected, and thus giving the impression that she wished to keep Darrell and lima apart.
 "Ilma," she said, sI have asked you to go to the Larches this morning. Sir Phil ip will, I am sure, be happy to escort you.'
 Sir Philip bowed, and said he should be indeed happy; but the troubled look in his eyes deepened as lima hurried away for her hat; and, though the next moment he turned to Miss Durnford with some or- dinary remark, he was saying tD himself:
 .I must be true--true too the VOW whatever the cost. Heaven knows what 1t may bep