The morning call., 1891-10-25
SHE TRUSTED HIM.
CHAPTER I.

leaned against the brown trunk OF an
ancient oak, her straw hat tilted over her
forehead, her hands clasped behind her
head and her bright eyes directed to
Young gentleman seven years her senior.
who. lying on his chest, his elbow on the
grass, his hand supporting his handsome
head, was thoughtfully plucking OF the
delicate seeds of dandeiion.
1t was bright, warm, pleasant summer
day. The birds in the branches above
seemed to reyel in it, while the western
breeze came richly perfumed from the rose
garden, which could be seen through the
trees extending before a fine old house oil
the Tudor period.
Il should fancy you had plenty OF practice
in that line to be an excellent judge, Meg
responded her brother Shouldn't think
Won had ANYTHING at Deyor to do except be
idle"
Really. now," responded the girl, with a
coutempluuus pout of her red lips, il
answer for 1t that we find quite as much i'm
portant occupation at Devor as Captain
Richard cashmere does in Dublin, loungtng
in a barrack-yard. inspecting drill, flirting
with the bellies of Merton Square, dawillng
over mess and grumbing at the monotony
of a soldiers existence when not on active
service"
you're right there. madcap Meg"
laughed her brother, displaying a set OF
whine. dazzling teeth beneath his dark
mustaehe.
i should think so, Dick. Else, if bar
rack life in Dublin were not duller than
life at DevOr, why ever should you get leave
and undergo the miserles OF the long
Journey, just to pass about week here? -.
go To see you and Laura, Of course, Neg .
Most affectionate of brothers." laughed
the girl; then with more gravity, " though
pom my word, Dick, l can't tell what else
should bring you. for you disagreed with
uaua the first day; without It's want OF
change OF air, for l confess you are much
thinner and paler than when you went
Am L? You don't say So" said the
Young officer with a short laugh as-perhaps
Mwas unintentiOually dOne-he altered arms,
shading his face more from MS sister
N either men nor women, my dear Meg
can, YOU know. retain the bloom OF youth
forever. BY the way, what are Laura and
Horace doing?
Spoouing, Of course"
:. Meg, for heavens sake, don't be fast.
Every girl is nowadays, Dick. l but
follow the lead Of my betters. It's the
"Fashion-nonsensel II So I'm glad to
say the vulgarity is going out, ike the mania
for riuking and spelling bees.
" But which has outlyed both, There,
Dick" she added, gayly, you having
reached years of reason-that is, l suppose
so-tell me your idea OF what a woman
should be"
A man proves to have reached years of
reason when he Weds, and his Idea OF
perfect woman is she he chooses for MS
wife. \. least Meg, that's what Ii ought
.sOh! most wise solomon What 1t
ought 10 be, was good rider, as papa would
say" laughed the girl, IWInlng some but
terCupS. " But when are you going 10
marry, Dick?"
When two Sundays come in a week"
" Better have said when five Sundays
come in a February, Tor that Will be Ia 1850,
and | should like a slsteT-ln-laW.'
In that case" said the Captain, with a
forced smile, i must try TO give the matter
more serious attention.
Meg was quiet q space, then, leaning for
ward, remarked, affectlunateIy:
Dick what is wrong dear? Something,
am sure. Is it because papa worries you
about getting married2 You see you are
tile only son, and DavOr Will be yours /;
while it does seem strange to Laura aud me
that you've never been in love-
Captain cashmere, drawing himself into
a sitting position. threw u quick glance
round among the trees, then answered in q
low tone:
Meg, you are about the widest madcap
know vet l believe l can trust you better
than any one, and-Well, the truth is, I'm
miserable, so want some one to cnnIlde in.
Miserable you, dear Dick? ALL l
knew there as something" said Meg, with
ready sympathy.
"Sompthing indeed am in love. Meg"
'You?" aud tie girls face became radi-
ant: then it clouded ms she saw her broth
er's ''0b, Dick You don't mean to say,
,.h,avar he has tha had tasta not Ii Ike
you in return? Perhaps she Is already en-
gagged ?'
W orse than that. Meg" answered the
Captain, gloomily. she is married."
''MarTied! What! been forced to marry
some one else, though loving yOuP"
NO: nothing so mantle. She was mar
ried before l knew her She was married
when | loved her-nay," with a nervous
laugh, us married now love her"
"Oh, Dick" gaSpe0 his young sister.
Yes. its very terrible, isn't it? HALF
confidence IL worse than no confidence,
Meg: 50 I'll tell you all about it."
His companion, eagerly as sympathet-
ically, drew closer, and be began, at first IN
aa of-hand, shanefaced way, common to
men:
This was how it was. One evening,
during 4 thick fog. was making my way as
well and quickly as 1 could to barracks,
when close beside me heard the tramp OF
horses drawing some vehicle, followed by
womau's scream OF alarm.
Before | was aware Of what l was doing
! had dashed into the road. My hand came
in contact with q horses bride; my foot
struck something in the road. The some
thing, Meg, was a woman. She had been
struck dnwn in the fog
Poor thing! Was she hurt, Dick ?'
Thank heaven, but slightly. Pat had at
tie cry drawn his horse quickly back, so the
only harm done was the first blow of the
shalt that had knocked her down. Raising
her l carried her back to the pavement,
where street-lamp dispelled little OF the
Fare you much hurt?' l inquired, for
she was resting rather heavily on my
shoulder and breathing quickly.
There was brief silence, during which
she must nave been trying to recover COM
posture. Then she said in so sweet voice
that it thrilled me, while l had no need to
see her face to know was speaking to a
lady:
ened. Yet. but for your generous and
prompt aid. l might, | feel, have been
killed, or at least injured
81 am grateful neither has been the
case | answered, then stopped for she had
turned her face toward me, and never had
| seen one SO beautiful Yet how pale it
was while in the large, violet eyes dwelt a
strange sadness that seemed to move and
attract one against their will.
MY gaze must have been too eloquent Of
my admiration, for she half lowered the
veil she had raised the better to see through
the fog, and with faint smile SAID, step
ping back:
NO. indeed, am not hurt. ! can walk
easily. Therefore, sir, l will not trespass
further on your kindness"
=" Nay 1 broke in, excuse me. but you
must let me escort you home. | couldn't
indeed l wouldn't-leays you, after your
shock, to find your way there on such a
night
Il was firm, and finally she put her hand
lightly on my arm, telling me her address.
1t was respectable but poor street. in har-
monY, found as We passed some brightly
lighted shop windows, with her attire,
which was dark. neatly made and plain, but
worn as ladies' can only wear such dresses
making you needless Of the poverty of the
material.
81 need not say sought every opportunity
l could without offrnse to see her face. II
was exquisite! Ali Meg, it would nave
charmed even womanl'
And how old was she?" querled the sis
ter, deeply interested.
''She could not have been much over 90 IL
that. Well. ! saw her home, bade her good
night. waited till the door closed upon her,
then took the number Of the house.