Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-01-06
CHAPTER XVIII.

When Chris and Gerald Severne were left
standing together on the road, they became
conscious of q certain embarrassment and of
q difficulty In discovering what to say next.
Chris, for her part, was q little ashamed of
having appealed for aid against so pusillani-
nous an assailant; moreover, she was not
free from painful doubt as to whether her
motives might not have been misinterpreted
To exculpate herself, she said at length
ST was really frightened when you came up.
didn't think he would leave me unless soNle+
body made him; so, as ! recognized you,
called out. I should have called out to any
other Englishman whom had seen passing"
81 am very glad that happened to be the
one," remarked Gerald, land am sure you
were quite right to call me, Miss Compton.
He would certainly have tried to brighten you
more il you hadn't; and of course you wero
quito helpless in a lonely road like this and
with night coming on. Perhaps" he added,
dif1dently, you will allow me to see you homo
now"
ooh, no, thank you, answered Chris laugh
ing; that is not necessary. am not likely
to encounter any more Mr.. Richardson's"
mo; but it is getting rather dark, and per-
haps you have some distance to CO."
Scarcely more than a stones throw. am
quite accustomed to walking about by myself,
and would much rather that you didn't go
out Of your way, please. Good night, Mr..
| Severne."
Gerald hesitated. "of course, if you object
| to my company" he began.
"Oh, it isn't that. Well, then, yes; to be
| honest, should rather object TO your COM
| pany Just at present. After such horrid and
| untrue things have been said about us, We
couldn't talk with any comfort, could we?
Very likely we shall meet again before you
| leave Cannes, and then perhaps We shall have
had time to forget them"
that thav eai1 nd
| still moro sorry that some of them wero I'M
true" replied Gerald; "but we needn't talk
| about them. hope you will allow an old
friend to congratulate you upon having freed
| yourself from that fellow. have heard of
| him from my father, who came across him at
| q good many race-meetlngs last autumn, and
| l knew he was q baddsh lot, though didn't
| suppose him to be such an utter scoundrel rs
he seems to be. However, hope you won't
be troubled with him any more"
Chris was not sure that she altogether liked
| this paternal tone, though it set her more at
her case, rs possibly it may have been in
| tended to do. She did not at once move away,
but stood where she was, arranging the stones
on the road in patterns with tho tip OF her
sunshade for a second or two. 81 suppose"
shercsumed, presently, "you did believe that
! had gone to Paris to meet him."
| 'Well-you almost told me so. At least,
was stupid enough to think you did,
"But you don't believe it now.''
"Of course l don't; and l am not In the
least surprised at your having bolted from
that old aunt OF yours. A moro unattractive
old woman 1 never came across. What 6
house tool can't imagine your living in sucf
house."
"oh, that was nothing" said Chris. "a
could have put up with the house, and with
Aunt Rebecca, too; but-did you hear about
Peter2"
Mr.. severne had not heard Of the tragedy
referred to, and when he was told Of it he was
as indignant as Chris could have wished hin
to be. ''The old beastp' he exclaimed, and h
declined to withdraw that strong expires sion
even whom he was replinded that the lady o
whom he spoke was dead. 81 don't see WHY
that should make any difference" he declared
"One doesn't speak tenderly Of Burke ant
Hare, although they are no more. hope, fol
her sake, she repented before she died; bu
no amount Of repentance could undue wha
she had DONE"
"Do you know" said Chris, ''that is jus
what feel. She did repent in a sort Of way
believe, and most people would think tina
she had made ample amends by leaving M
ali her money; bit 1: wasn't me whom sh
killed, you see. I think have forgiven her
90 far as I am concerned; only am no
grateful to her, and can't pretend to be, 70
| all this money, which she had to leave behin
| her, and which didn't particularly want. D
| you think ought TO be gratefulP"
By this time Chris bad resumed her home