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


and somehow or other he seemed - be more
In his proper place thus attired than in
the borrowed plumes whercwith he had
dscked himself for . season. There was a
change. too, in his manner, which had lost
all trace Of swagger. He took of his hat and
said, quito humbly :"I saw you and couldn't
resist following you. wanted to hear from
your own lips That you had forgiven me-"
Perhaps this was not quite the most judi
cious possible mode Of addressing lady who
did not want to be addressed at all. Anyhow
Chris felt annoyed with him and little in
clined to despise him, and thought that, since
he was at Cannes, he would have shown bet
ter taste by avoiding her. However. she was
reluctant to hit q man who was down; so she
answered: 81 forgave you long ago, Mr..
Richardson: I thought you understood that.
And was very glad to hear that you had
found something to do and was not in want
any more. Still, after all that happened, IL
would be better for US not to meet again.
You are only passing through Cannes, 1
SUPPOSED"
Val smiled. 81 have come all the way from
Cadiz to see you," he replied. "I hoard that
you were here, and came, borrowing the
money for the journey and very nearly quar-
reling with my employer, who didn't seem to
| believe that rich relative Of mine was dying
| at Nice and had telegraphed for me. Chris,
II you have really forgiven me, as you say you
know how love you, and you can imagine
what sort OF an existence have to look for
ward to without you. You did like me little
once-pm sure you dldp
"No," exclaimed Chris, whose heart had
been touched for O moment, but who was de-
termined that there should be no miscon-
ception on this point; II mover liked you in
the way that you meant If I had, perhaps
your having tried to rob Aunt Rebecca would
| made diffarAn0A-T know
it was, I was only too glad and thankful to be
| free. It may sound unkind to say so, but 1t
is the truth. never should have consented
| to be engaged to you II my cousin had not in
sisted upon it. He said you had a hold over
mo because Of our having been seen together
In Paris"
ct think" observed Val, "you forget that
there was something very like an engagement
before that time. You didn't quite refuse
me, you know; you gave me to understand
that there was nobody else whom you liked
| better"
"Nor was there" answered Chris slowly |;
/ "but-"
"But whatP Is there somebody else now,
then7 Good heavens, Chris is it possible
that you can have fallen in love with that
red-bearded fellow"
Certainly noti I wish you would not say
such unpleasant things. AS 1t happens. Mr..
Ellncombe Is married already; but in any
case"
"Then II Is the other one," interrupted Val.
81 thought as much Trust old Lady Barn
staple to snap up 600 900 when she gets the
chancei Well, admire her promptitude !;
but can't say that admire your discern
msnt. man who is willing to make love to
| you after what Mr. Severns saw in Paris
must DO man with no sort Of foolish pride
about him."
"You are very insolent," said Chris, coldly =;
"but don't see what you can expect to gain
by your insolence. I have not seen Mr.. Sc
verne, nor do wish to see him but he has
nothing whatever to do with the-ths disgust
I feel for you. II is horrid to have to say such
o thing, but I am sure that you would not
have come here If you had not heard that
had inherited Aunt Rebeoca's money"
This was quite true, and Val regretted that
in his ohagrin he had let out his knowledge Of
| the fact that Chris was now richer by zoo, 900
than whom he had seen her last. He had
played his cards rather clumsily; but then, to
be azure, his cards had not been worth much
even to skillful player. He produced the
last enc now, and did so with a bravado
which would OF itself have suff1ced to insure
its failure.
Listen to me, Chris" said he. "I'm not
going to pretend that I'm over and above
scrupuious; you know enough Of me by this
time TO know that, and you know also that
love you. ] won't see you married to any
other man living IL I can help it, and you must
see that can easily enough prevent young
severne from marrying you. Engage your
self to him, and give you my word that I'll
| 60 straight to Lady BarnstRplo and tell her
| that you ran of to Paris to meet me. You
won't DO able to disprove 1t. People can't be
married at q days notice, you must remem-
Der; so leave you to judge whether Lady
Barnstaple will havo courage enough to wei.
| come q daughter-in-law about whom heI
friends will have every excuse for saying some
| queer things"
fthe disgraceful unmanIiness of this threat
/ did not deprive it Of all its terrors for Chris
J | Il was at all events sufficient to render any
| further intercourse between her and Va
Richardson impossible. She turned away
without word and walked quickly bach
toward the high-road, whittier she thought
that he would be less likely to follow her thar
II she were to proceed on her way toward the
less frequented quarter for which she hat
been bound.
However, he did follow her. He had burned
| his ships, and he knew very well that if he die
| not get her to listen to him now, no seconC
opportunity OF doing so would be given him
He changed his tone when he caught her up
he entreated her to pardon his brutality, al
leging that he had been half maddened by thu
thought Of her belonging to another man; h
swore that II she would only trust him h,
would prove himself worthy Of her love. Blu
| TO none Of his words did Chris vouchsafe tn
slightest notice; and so they walked on, h
. pleading and protesting and she looking
C straight before her, until they reached tn
. high-road, when he suddenly seized her hand
y thus forcing her to halt.
Il It was in this attitude that &c raid Severne
y, who was sauntering slowly up from the sta
ton, with his hands behind his back and hi
= head bent, discovered the pair. He stare
and stood still for one moments then quick
ened his pace and passed on, without raising
| his hat. There are circumstances undo
which people prefer not to be recognized. an
doubtless he remembered that he had ono
before been too ready to intrudO upon Mis-
Compton and her present companion.
- But Chris, VITO quite understood what hi
thoughts were, could not endure to be agai
30 misjudged. Moreover, she was furiousl
y angry with Val, and was beginning to be jus
J little bit frightened. Therefore sh
pocketod her pride, and called out: en-