Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-03

Horses, DoaCSp guns ana erOuS were always at the veterans service, an although he exercised wise discretion in availing himself of these privileges, they were yet of inestimable value in the eyes of one whose poverty would otherwise have rendered an indulgence in field sports impossible.
 Col. Howard, somewhat inconven- fenced by an old wound and tenderly devoted to his invalid wife, seldom now rode to hounds, but his place was ably filled by Frank, who was one of the most dashing members of the hunt, and a recognized leader where all were bold and daring horsemen.
 Very often, when there was a great meet, Miss Graydon and twelve-year- old Ethel Howard would ride to cover with the gentlemen, and it was quite natural and proper that on these occa- sions the gallant old lieutenant should take charge of the younger lady, while Frank attended upon Agnes, who looked especially charming in her close fitting habit, and rode, as she did every thing else, to perfection.
 To see these two, splendidly mounted and glowing with health and exercise, ride side by side was a sight for the gods to revel in, for a more beauteous and well matched pair never delighted the eye of an artist. Each seemed so perfect complement of the other that to neither could be awarded the palm of superior beauty, and it was seldom, indeed, the fair young horsewoman feared to follow where Frank led. And so the happy days passed on in inno- cent pleasures and no less delightful and faithfully performed duties. No one, not even the naughty old colonel himself, deemed that there could be danger in such intimate asso- citation; for had it not long ago been ar ranged that Frank Howard and Lady Louisa Grafton, sole heiress of the wealthy dowager countess of Mill brook, should in due time join hands and fortunes, and consolidate into one the vast estates of Linwood and Mill brook, now lying in tempting proxim- ity?
 True, the parties most concerned had not yet been informed of this prudent agreement on the part of their elders, but the thing was so obviously proper and correct that no doubt they would see it for themselves, and conveniently fall in love one with the other without | prompting; more especially as the Lady Louisa, besides being most eligible | pdrti, was really an uncommonly agree ! able and attractive girl.
 | Meantime, the heir of Linwood hunt ed and fished, shot and rowed, played cricket and tennis, kept an eye on his fathers interests among the tenants and conducted himself generally in g manner worthy of his high station even going so far in the punctilious dis charge of duty as to look not infre- l quently into the schoolroom to see how his little sisters were getting along! l For many weeks Miss Graydon. ir the innocence of her heart, accepted these visits in good faith, and would often even playfuly ask the Cambridge | graduate to aid her in some difficult language lesson; but by and by her al too willing assistant began to notice that she wore an air of constraint anc did not welcome his visits with her old time cordiality; and, still more strange seemed less apt in teaching than for ! merly; sometimes becoming confused | over simple problems in mathematics or, perhaps, rendering curious and un heard-of translations of some familiar classical author.
 These growing signs of distaste fo1 his society greatly piqued the young man, and he could account for then only by supposing that he had beer guilty of some ndiscretion-neverthe less his approaches had been mos guarded.
 At last, one day, he asked Miss Gray don pointblanlz whether she felt an noyed by his visits. The poor girl, witt slightly heightened color, ingenious ly replied: "No. MT. Howard, hay,