Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-01-05

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son noIo understand. What am TO tel !
GeTdtd?' she asked.
'.Oh, he won't think anything Of that Sort
Grace declared, laughing; Gerald has very
modest opinion of himself. All that I am
afraid of is that he is too modest, and that he
will require great deal Of backing up before
he will consent to fight his own battle. Espec-
tally now that he knows how rich you have
become"
doctor Lavergne, remarked Chris, slowly,
" said a thing yesterday which I didn't like.
He said Lady Barnstaple would AJAX Mr.. Sew
erne to come here at once"
Lady Grace laughed again; but her laugh
ter sounded somewhat forced, and she
colored little. She had opened her lips to
make some reply when a servant came out
Of the house to tell the young ladies that
everybody had sat down to luncheon; and so
the dialogue came to an end.
Lady Barnstaple belonged to that set of
people who move about in pack. They are
in London during the season; then they are
at Goodwood and Cowes then they march in
q compact mass upon Scotland; then they
meet one another at various country houses;
and after that good many Of them go to
Cannes for the winter. A good many Of
them were assembled round the luncheon
table at which Lady Grace and Chris took
their places, and they were talking, as they
always do, with immense interest about one
another's affairs, so that the latter was
neither noticed nor addressed. She WAS glad
enough TO be so insignificant and to be free
to pursue her own meditaions, which, how
ever, received an abrupt check when she
overheard her hostess saying: eyes, Gerald
arrived last night. begged him to ask for
weeks leave to see his mother, and need
hardly add that he has gone of to Monte
Carlo for the day."
How imprudent Of your somebody ex-
claimed. Fancy deliberately inviting ones
son to the neighborhood of Monte Carlor
To which Lady Barnstaple responded, with
q demure smile, "Oh, I'm not so imprudent
as lookr'
Chris threw a roproachful glance across the
table at Lady Grace, who shrugged her
shoulders very slightly, and DR.. LaverGne
gained then and there reputation for sagac-
ity which may have been a trifie above his
deserts.
After luncheon Lady Barnstaple was very
affectionste to her yoang friend, who, for her
part, was extremely cold and stiff; but later
in the afternaon, when her mother had gone
out for a drive and tho party had dispersed,
Lady Grace found an opportunity of enun-
chatting sentiments which had at least tho
merit of common sense.
"You have no reason to be affronted Chris"
said she; "and If mamma had not been fond
OF you personally doubt whether soc, 900
would have tempted her. 1t is good,
large fortune, but it isn't enormous; and
dare say she would tell you that Gerald
might do better from worldly point OF
view. As for him, must leave him to
convince you that he isn't mercenary. If he
can't do 1t, of course can't l persuaded
him to go to Monte Carlo to-day, because 1
wanted him to DO out of the way. He didn't
know why he had been summoned, and when
told him he was so incredulous and so de-
spondent that thought had better see you
and find out whether there was any use in his
staying on. After what have heard shall
advise him to stay on; 1t seems to me it may
be worth his while"
Receiving no reply. Lady Grace added:
Perhaps it is only fair to tell you that he
was to como back by the o'clock train,
and that he may be hero at any moment"
Tnereupon Chris jumped up briskly, said
| goodbye, and walked away as fast as she
could. This was just what Lady Grace had
! felt sure that she would do; and she also felt
sure that if the train kept its time with any
thing like punctuality, her brother must in
| fallibly encounter Chris on his way up from
the station. More than that she could not very
we'll have done for him, and she had u tolor-
ably strong conviction that he would not
stand in need of any further assistance.
But Chris, as she fastened on her way with
| out any thought OF meeting Gerald Severne,
| was not at all sure that she would accept him
! II at any future time he should ask her to be
! his wife. She had as yet hardly taken in the
meaning of what Lady Grace had told her
she was still and perhaps rather unjusinably
sore against Lady BNrnstaple; she did not
relish the idea of being tolerated on account
Of the boarded treasure which had been be-
| Queathed to her. Possibly, also, she may
have been inwardly conscious that word OF
two from Gerald would conquer all heI
doubts and scruples for as she drew nearer
to the station it suddenly dawned upon heI
that she was walking along the road by which
he must needs make his way homeward; and
as soon as she realized that fact she struck of
into by-path between two high wallis which
she flattered herself, would effectually screen
her from view.
This strategic movement was not made witt
such rapidity but that somebody who haG
been scrutinizing her figure from afar caugh
sight of it and promptly followed in pursuit
The legs Of the pursuer being long, and hi.
anxiety to catch her up very great, it was no
many minutes before she heard the sound o.
approaching footsteps behind her, whereupol
she immediently quickened her pace. with
out looking over her shoulder. But escape
as she very soon preceived, was impossible
Four miles an hour Is probably the OUTSIDE
walking speed which can be obtained by an,
wearer of pettlcoats, and 1t would be too ri
diculous 10 break into a run. Chris, there
| lore, eoopteO Ine ulSnlheo course Oh turning
at bay, thereby bringing herself faco to face
not with Gerald severne, but with Va
Richardson.
There was a change in Val's appearance
change which was not at once preceptibl
to feminine eyes, although the general effec
was. He was no longer fashionably clad; h
wore n black coat and waistcos t; the pear
had disappeared from, his necktie; b
looked like o bankers clerk out Tor q holiday